Introduction

Since the publication of our DFI 855GME motherboard review, that also included our first look at the Penitum M processor worked as a desktop platform, I have been riddled with questions and concerns regarding Intel's mobile product.  Most of the questions that were posed to me were to far reaching into the future for me to really disclose or know for sure, but one suggestion that came up several times was how the Pentium M platform would do for a small form factor PC.  After all, its cool, its quiet, and it uses low power.  How does it NOT fit in with the very ideals of the SFF products available today?

With this is mind, I asked AOpen to send over their XC Cube model EY855-II system for a test.  Here is what seems to be the next best step for the current generations of Pentium M processors -- a home in a SFF case that can be quietly placed almost anywhere.

Let's first take a look at the default specifications on the bare bones system that AOpen provides, before we get into the details of the design on the following pages.

Specifications (from AOpen website)