Specifications

Before making our final verdict, let’s browse through the detailed specs of the Gigabyte TA2:

• Processor: VIA C3 (Ezra core, 800MHz frequency, 133MHz FSB);
• Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-6VLE266 (VIA CLE266 chipset, mini-ITX form-factor or 170x170mm)
  • One DIMM slot for DDR SDRAM, support of up to 2GB of PC1600/2100;
  • Integrated 2D/3D UniChrome graphics core, output to DVI-I and S-Video;
  • AC’97 codec;
  • 10/100Mb network controller;
  • IEEE1394 controller;
  • USB 2.0 controller;
  • One IDE connector;
  • One PCI slot.
• Additional features:
  • Connectors for the optical drive and PCMCIA controller (optional);
  • Support of Wake On LAN (WOL);
  • Support of Disk on Module (DOM);
  • Support of boot-up from USB devices: USB HDD, USB FDD, USB Flash and so on.
• Front panel:
  • Two USB 2.0 ports;
  • Microphone and headphones sockets;
  • Optical drive (optional);
  • PCMCIA controller (optional);
• Back panel:
  • Two USB 2.0 ports;
  • DVI-I connector;
  • S-Video connector;
  • IEEE1394 connector;
  • RJ-45 network connector;
  • PS/2 ports for the mouse and keyboard;
  • COM/LPT connectors;
  • 3 audio sockets (Front/Center/Rear Out, Line In/Out, Mic In);
• Dimensions: 213x234x64mm;
• Power consumption: 40W.

Conclusion

Gigabyte TA2 mini-system successfully handles typical office tasks that it has actually been designed for: data input and visualization, spreadsheet-, text-, and document-processing and so on. The VIA C3 processor provides enough performance for such operations.

The low heat dissipation of the CPU allows doing without powerful fans. Adding the mini-ITX form-factor of the mainboard, we get a low-noise compact system. The expansion opportunities include installation of a PCMCIA controller, optical drive, USB drive or external drives through USB 2.0/FireWire interfaces.

You shouldn’t view the Gigabyte TA2 as a replacement of your home personal computer. This system can’t run calculation-heavy programs or 3D games. The processor may also be not strong enough for you to watch movies comfortably. The maximum you can hope for is listening to music.

Thus, the Gigabyte TA2 is a system for those who are not into computer games, but use their PCs for work, learning, Web surfing and so on. In this case, the advantages of this mini-system – its small size, little noise, low power consumption and heat dissipation – will outweigh its main drawback, the low performance of the central processor.