We tested: GOpc (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan)
If until more than two decades ago desktop computers were characterized by large and cumbersome cases that required us to free up quite a bit of space in the room, in recent years computers have been squeezed into tiny cases that have become popular thanks to the fact that they can be pushed into hidden places.
Such is also the GOpc, which was sold in the Partner network for NIS 1,099, and came to us for review.
And not that a tiny computer is a particularly new product, but the change in shape, size, availability and price are the surprising thing here.
We tested and tried to answer the question - can it replace a regular computer?
Design and initial operation
The GOpc, which the company defines as "a computer the size of a Hungarian cube", is really small (5 cm high and 6 cm deep and wide).
On top of its upper part is the company logo and a large ventilation hole that hides the fan of the tiny computer underneath;
On the front is another small ventilation opening, and below it is a blue LED to indicate when the computer is on.
Also, overall the build quality here is pretty good and the materials are high quality and include high quality hardened plastic.
The computer comes with Windows 11 installed out of the box and the initial activation is done in Hebrew - with several screens where you need to fill in a username, connect to an available WiFi network and a Microsoft account (if available), enter an access code, and more.
And let's move on to the less happy part: as soon as you press the silver power button you hear the computer's fan "hitting work".
And even if you sit in a not particularly quiet room - you will probably hear him.
The computer comes with Windows 11 installed out of the box and the initial activation is done in Hebrew (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan)
At the back you won't find a huge variety of connections and it includes a power connection (for power supply), two USB 3.0 inputs and an HDMI input.
On the right side is a slot for a memory card (microSD) to expand the storage volume and an Audio Jack (3.5 mm) connection for headphones or speakers. Along with the computer, in the kit you will receive a power supply and power adapter, an instruction booklet in Hebrew and a device for hanging on supporting computer monitors. You will have to purchase an HDMI cable separately - and you should remember that you also need a screen, keyboard and mouse.
In the back you won't find a huge variety of connections (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan)
Performance: Excellent computer for streaming
Let's start with the specifications on paper: it includes an Intel Celeron J4125 processor (intended for the low-end market), a graphics processor - Intel UHD Graphics 600, working memory (RAM) of 8 gigabytes and storage of 128 gigabytes.
Even if you look at the specification detached from the case, it is very weak - and this is also reflected in the current work.
Is it possible to run Photoshop, video editing software or games on it?
No.
_
How is it as a home computer?
Fine, as long as you mainly use it for word processing, surfing the web or watching YouTube or Netflix.
However, keep in mind that opening too many tabs in Google Chrome, or several applications running simultaneously in the background, is very little work.
On top of that, even though it is tiny, upon starting a lot of work it is evident that the tiny computer heats up quickly but maintains a relatively stable temperature, in other words: give it a few moments to cool down before you put it back in the bag.
Mainly suitable for word processing, surfing the Internet or watching YouTube or Netflix (Photo: Walla! Technology, Yanon Ben Shoshan)
However, in practice, working on one platform, with one task, the GOpc proved to be effective.
Even when we opened more than three tabs in Google Chrome, it did not cause any problems and managed to play a 4K video on a large screen.
On the other hand, when we opened several applications at the same time and more than 10 tabs in Google Chrome (which is known to eat memory) - we received a reminder that this is not a particularly powerful computer.
The result was slowness in switching between tabs, many lags and a lack of synchronization between the sound and the image in YouTube videos.
In the bottom line
As mentioned, don't expect a "normal" computer here.
The GOpc is a category in itself: one that can be suitable for basic office use or for students (and we are talking about word processing, Zoom calls and emails), or as a replacement for media streamers in the living room.
One significant disadvantage, at the level of the user experience, is that most of us tend to leave the computer on when we are not working on it, and in this case, it feels uncomfortable to leave this tiny computer running regularly, especially when it heats up quickly.
Looking for a good computer for games, slightly heavier software for editing photos, sound and video?
You should look for a "real" computer with a higher budget.
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