AMD processors combining x86 CPUs and Radeon GPU technology have defined the current era of console gaming, but what if these small form factor boxes were wide-open devices, capable of running Windows 10 and PC games? And what if the under-powered Jaguar CPU cores were replaced with Ryzen instead for improved processing power? Last month, Chinese manufacturer Zhongshan Subor unveiled its Z Plus machine, which ticks all of those boxes – and I’ve spent the last week experimenting with an early production unit.
To date, all we’ve seen of the Z Plus is a render of the casing, some opportunistic motherboard shots and some ‘guerrilla’ photos of the machine on display at last month’s ChinaJoy gaming event in China. First impressions of the actual unit in hand are very pleasant indeed – the packaging is slightly larger than a PS4 Slim retail box, and much smaller than the Pro. Breaking the three seals and opening up the package reveals hardware that is very console-like in nature: stacked vertically, the Z Plus is taller than the PlayStation 4 Pro but a good chunk thinner.
It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into its cooling too – vents are liberally deployed across the sides, rear and bottom of the unit while peering inside seems to reveal a very large heat sink. The design is somewhat more futuristic and industrial than the Sony and Microsoft consoles, with more than a nod given to its intended roles both as a PC and as a console. A brace of USB 2.0 ports are on the front, but on the back we get dual HDMI 2.0s, four USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, Toslink, analogue audio and the power input. The Z Plus uses the same ‘kettle’ cable used by PS4 Pro and has a similar integrated 100-240v multi-voltage PSU.
Subor also deserves credit for system accessibility too. The Z Plus has an AMD SoC, meaning that the integrated CPU and GPU cannot be upgraded – and neither can the eight gigs of onboard GDDR5 memory. However, storage can be easily swapped out. A front section of the console is easily removed, giving you quick access to two 2.5-inch SATA drives. Our unit came with a 128GB SSD for the OS and a 1TB Toshiba mechanical drive – and both of them can be swiftly exchanged for superior storage solutions. It’s considerably easier to work with than PS4 and Pro – and obviously Xbox doesn’t let you upgrade internal storage at all.
The Z Plus ships with an Enterprise version of Windows 10 IoT (Internet of Things) and there was some concern that this may have some limitations on the kind of software you can install. Booting up the machine initially allows you to choose language and location, and once set, the rest of the set-up is fully English – despite the unit’s Chinese origins. Once into Windows proper, the Z Plus runs exactly like a normal PC. I installed Classic Shell for a traditional start menu, and had no problems at all installing a range of titles from Steam, Origin and uPlay. Benchmark software runs exactly as you would expect it to – though overclocking tools like Ryzen Master or MSI Afterburner do not function as they can’t identify the SoC hardware.