Zotac Zbox Magnus EN374070C review

In recent years, a up-to-date type of integrated graphics processors has appeared in minicomputers. So armed, such machines offer a cost-effective and delightful way to play in 1080p. However, if you’re looking for a compact PC with performance closer to desktop-level gaming performance, the options are rather narrower.

Machines that combine separate GPUs in their design are both rarer and more steep, but they allow you to overclock performance in terms of resolution, frame rate, and graphics settings they can achieve. Connecting 13^vol-gen mobile Intel i7 processor with an RTX 4070 laptop card, the Zotac Zbox Magnus EN does just that and takes the fight to Asus’s ROG NUC 970 and Minisforum’s AtomMan G7 Ti in terms of 1440p gaming performance.

The Magnus is a barebones device from the get-go, although some vendors offer pre-installed RAM and storage for a fee. There are several CPU and GPU configurations to choose from, but our test unit featured Intel’s penultimate i7 mobile chip, the Core i7 13700HX. With eight performance cores and eight performance cores running from 3.7 GHz to 5 GHz turbo, it’s a powerful chip that delivers desktop-level performance and is a product of Intel’s last-generation philosophy of power at all costs.

This is reflected in Intel’s claimed maximum power draw of 157W, though we suspect Zotac has chosen to tune this at the hardware level, and wisely considering the narrow cooling capacity on this device. After a Cinebench 2024 rendering test with all cores running at their maximum, the chip performs at a rather reasonable 60W in the long run.

Where the chip shows its age is in RAM compatibility, which goes up to DDR5-4800. Low-latency RAM at this speed can still provide more throughput than higher-latency sticks at higher rated speeds, but you’ll absolutely pay for the privilege.

Like the ROG NUC 970, the Zbox Magnus comes with an RTX 4070 mobile graphics card, which is different from the desktop version of the GPU. It has 8GB of dedicated VRAM instead of 12GB, slightly lower clock speeds, and a narrower, 128-bit memory bus. However, as we’ll see, it still performs admirably at 1440p.

In terms of design, the case consists entirely of grills, with no frills: a uncomplicated black box in which every surface, except the front fascia, has some form of intake or exhaust. The top is basically one vast inlet with a dust mesh for the CPU and graphics card cooling system. And while this means plenty of fresh air for your out of breath CPUs, it also means you’re thoroughly exposed to the full range of sounds emitted by the Zbox cooler.

From idle to full load, you’re faced with constantly modulating wind as the fans rise and fall to counteract heat build-up, and air is drawn in or pushed at different speeds through various grilles and mesh panels. Tucked away under a desk or behind the TV is fine, but we don’t recommend placing Magnus right next to your desk unless you’re using a headset – it’s not Great-loud, but the constant variable frequency changes start to wear out pretty quickly.

While the CPU and GPU are soldered, the SODIMM RAM and M.2 storage (there’s enough space for two drives) are interchangeable. Like a wireless card, but since the Magnus comes with a Killer WiFi 6/Bluetooth 5.3 card, there’s really no need for it.

If you prefer the barebones option and decide to install your own M.2 drive and RAM, Zotac makes it incredibly straightforward. Flip the unit over, unscrew the two thumbscrews, and the bottom of the case slides off, exposing all the crevices you need to work with. No complicated mechanisms, no fiddly arranging components, it’s just the simplest and most user-friendly design possible, and that’s great.

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In terms of I/O, the front panel has a Thunderbolt Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, an SD card reader, and separate 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks. On the back there are two Killer Lan 2.5G ports, one HDMI 2.1, two DisplayPort 1.4 ports and a further four USB 3.1 Type A ports. Certainly versatile, although I would happily swap one of the five USB 3.1 ports for another Thunderbolt port or even a standard port USB Type-C

So let’s get down to business and as expected from a machine with powerful silicon, the Magnus handles games very well. At 1080p, it trumps everything you throw at it – 173fps in Total War: Warhammer 3 runs incredibly glossy, and 154fps in Cyberpunk using the Ray Tracing Ultra presets looks and performs simply fantastic.

Moving up to 1440p and ultra settings, things are still very rosy, with everything moving at 60 frames per second or better. Cyberpunk with RT Ultra enabled still hits a solid 79 frames per second, Forza with full RT runs smoothly and stutter-free at 60 fps, and Warhammer 3’s more demanding campaign engine hits the same frame rate.

We also ran a few other games without the built-in benchmarks to get a general feel for performance at ultra-settings at 1440p resolution across the board and found similarly encouraging results. Helldivers runs at a barely variable 68-72 fps in every environment and combat situation we tried. Motive Studios’ amazing remake of Dead Space is a ghoulish meat feast, enjoying a range of 94-125 frames per second for the final boss battle in 1440p/Ultra/DLSS Balanced resolution. A Plague Tale: The stunning Hives level in Requiem looks and runs fantastic at 90-120 fps. In brief, I have no doubt that Magnus can handle any title at 1440p.

The machine is undoubtedly on par with Asus’ ROG NUC 970, and does so at a lower price (a quick browse around the web reveals many sites offering the Magnus at much lower MSRP prices, so shop around). One of the key differences between the two machines is the choice of processor; The NUC 970’s Intel Ultra 9 185H processor is newer and more proficient than the 13th generation Core i7 in Magnus; it can take advantage of faster DDR5 speeds and likely increases the price of the machine. The truth, however, is that when paired with an RTX 4070 mobile, they perform at a very similar level; you just don’t feel the difference when the game starts.

In terms of price/performance, if I had to choose between these two machines, our recommendation would be the Magnus. However, there is one more factor to take into account, which we have already mentioned, and that is noise.

Setting the ROG NUC 970 to still mode almost eliminates fan noise, with no noticeable loss of performance. With Magnus, you stick with what you get – an proficient cooling solution, but one that can’t be adjusted and a noise level that’s very difficult to ignore. Even airy tasks can put fans off, and it’s impossible not to notice any change in pitch and frequency. It is possible to isolate fixed frequencies, but variable ones – not so much.

I rely heavily on gaming audio via hi-fi speakers, reserving a headset for multiplayer and night-time sessions. In my case, Magnus is just too talkative, but your mileage may vary; If you only ever take off your headset to sleep, eat, or interact with other Earthlings, I doubt you’d be as concerned.

Like the ROG NUC 970, this machine is not intended for those who plan to upgrade their CPU or GPU in the future. It’s aimed at someone who wants solid, out-of-the-box gaming performance at 1440p and for whom dimensions are a key factor. If you can live with its “lively” sound profile, the Zotac Zbox Magnus EN performs solidly at 1440p.