The last two years has seen Tranquil PC diversify from their core consumer business, silent Media Center PCs, into the development of a wide range of low-power home server models, from the single drive T7 series to the five bay SQA-5H. With the recently released iXL Power PC (and its big brother, the iXVL) the company are getting back to their roots with an all-new, passively cooled media center chassis, powered by Intel’s Core i3 processor. Our review model landed last week, so let’s take a look at Tranquil PC’s latest generation of media centers.
Specifications
The iXL is available in a comprehensive array of configurations, from a stripped back barebones edition (£289 + VAT) where you supply the processor, RAM, Storage, OS and optical drive through to fully built models (From £389 + VAT) which are assembled for you by the company (and personalised with laser etching if you’re so inclined). A Core i5 variant of the PC is also available for those seeking additional performance, although we found the Core i3 processor perfectly adequate for Media Center usage.
Base specifications are as follows:
| Processor: | 64 bit ready Intel Core i3-530 (2.93GHz) Dual Core with HT |
| RAM: | 2x DDR3 1066MHz Slots (up to 4GB) |
| Storage: | Internal bays for 1x 2.5" SATA 1x 3.5" SATA, 1x slim Optical (SATA) drive 3x eSATA to rear panel (or 2x eSATA if 2x int. HDDs used). All SATA support 3GB/s |
| Front panel: | Power switch, Power LED, IR RX/IR RX LED, Media card reader / 2x USB |
| Front ports: | 2x USB2.0 Card reader (SD card, mini SD card, XD card, MMC card) |
| Rear panel: | 12V DC power in / 6x USB2.0 / 10/100/1000 LAN, 3x eSATA, DVI-I, HDMI Optical SPDIF, Mic in, Line in, Line Out (front), Rear Surround, Centre (subwoofer) |
| Weight: | Base unit (nett) 6Kg |
| Power supply: | External AC/DC with country specific power cord |
| Dimensions: | 240 (w) x 250 (d) x 110 (h) incl feet (mm) |
| Unit construction: | Aluminium and steel (typically >70% recycled materials) |
| System heat sink: | Aluminium with custom heat pipe cooling system (TranCool4) |
| Colour: | Satin Black |
| Working temp: | Maximum 48’C ambient |
| PCIex expansion | 1x slots 1x - 16x Low Profile only |
| Mounting options: | Desk or cabinet |
| Power consumption: | 33W - 90W (base unit) |
| Software: | K-Lite Codec Pack |
Tranquil also provide options for an integrated TV tuner, with support for an internal low-profile dual tuner DVB-T (Freeview) or dual DVB-T + DVB-S/S2 for satellite owners, although this option was not supplied with our review model. A choice of standard DVD or Blu-ray drives are also available. It’s a strong specification for a modern Media Center PC. Whilst their are lower power options available in the market (notably a range of nettops offering an Intel Atom + NVIDIA ION combination) which perform well, you’ll be reassured that the Intel Core i3 will handle whatever media task you throw at it without grumbling.
There is a little overkill when it comes to storage expansion – Intel’s DH57JG motherboard, which powers the iXL, already is generously specified with an eSATA port as well as six USB 2.0 ports (one of the reasons we selected the board for our test Vail Home Server) to which Tranquil have added two extra, front-mounted USB ports plus a further two eSATA ports on the rear. Whilst I can see the logic and convenience of the front facing USB ports, three eSATA ports seems excessive for a HTPC.
Networking is handled by the motherboard’s integrated Gigabit Ethernet socket, which does a fine job of handling high definition video. An integrated 802.11n wireless option is not available, which is potentially a missing for those who do not have their living room networked.
What’s in the Box?
Unusually, open up the iXL and you’ll find your new PC is packed for protection in a Tranquil PC branded rucksack – that’s certainly a first for us.
In box you’ll find:
- Tranquil PC iXL Power PC
- External Power Supply Unit
- Power cable
- Intel DH57JG Driver CD
- Spare SATA Cable
Manuals are located on the PC itself in HTML format. Both offline and online versions are included, so you can be sure that you have the latest version of the manual when you need it.
First Looks
Tranquil PC have created a compelling design for the iXL – clad in black satin aluminium, the iXL is one of the best looking PCs we’ve seen from the company, with rounded corners which call to mind the retro radios of the 1950s.
But that’s where the retro analogies end, as the iXL packs in a whole lot of cutting edge hardware. Many companies out there can ship a bunch of off the shelf components in a reasonable looking box, but it’s clear that Tranquil PC have taken a lot of care in engineering a great looking, but highly functional design that utilises a series of fins on the right hand side for passive cooling. The chassis itself is robust, well constructed and compared to some of the hardware we’ve reviewed from the company, has been assembled extremely well, with no rough edges. It’s the best we’ve seen from Tranquil PC.
