Pick of the Week: 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME Shipped with Intel Core i7, NVIDIA Maximus

BOXX Technologies (Austin, TX) introduced the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME, a new compact professional workstation that, the company says, delivers outstanding support for frequency-driven applications used in engineering, architectural, and product design workflows as well as visualization, 3D animation, modeling, and motion media. The 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME is built with overclocked 4th generation Intel Core i7—Haswell—processor and is available with NVIDIA Maximus technology.

The 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME workstation. Image courtesy of BOXX Technologies.

The Intel Core i7 processors are said to offer a significant performance increase over previous Intel technology while providing better power efficiency. Intel describes its Core i7 processor as providing maximum performance for demanding tasks such as HD, 3D, multitasking, and multimedia. Processor features include Intel Smart Cache for increased performance, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology for smart multitasking, and Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, which is said to provide an automatic burst of speed when you need it.

NVIDIA Maximus technology combines the visualization and interactive design capabilities of NVIDIA Quadro GPUs (graphics processing units) with the high-performance computing power of NVIDIA Tesla C2075 GPUs. This combination, says NVIDIA, enables Maximus technology users to complete simulation or rendering plus visualization simultaneously on the same workstation.

“Visualization professionals get the best possible experience for complex simulations, rendering, and ray-tracing using NVIDIA Maximus technology, a key component of the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME,” said Sandeep Gupte, senior director of the Professional Solutions Group at NVIDIA in a statement accompanying the BOXX announcement. “With its continued innovation and the integration of NVIDIA graphics cards, BOXX offers workstation users the latest tools essential for creating and perfecting ideas.”

In addition to its quad core Intel Core i7 processor running at speeds up to 4.3 GHz, 4150XT also features advanced liquid cooling and a new compact chassis measuring 6.85 W x 14.6 H x 16.6 inches D (17.4 cm x 37.1 cm x 42.2 cm). This blending of characteristics, says the company, ensures quiet operation while making the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME ideal for space-constrained environments.

The 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME workstation. Image courtesy of BOXX Technologies.

Front-panel ports include two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0, and 7.1 HD audio (one audio out and one panel mic). Rear-panel ports include four USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, one Gigabit Ethernet, one S/PDIF Out (optical), and onboard video (DVI-D port and HDMI port). The 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME can be expanded through its two 3.5-in. internal drive bays, two PCIe 3.0 x16 slots (single at x16 or dual at x8/x8), one PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4), and one PCIe 2.0 x1 slot.

BOXX Technologies reportedly is the only workstation manufacturer featuring the new micro architecture safely overclocked and backed by a three-year warranty. Base unit pricing for a 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME equipped with a 4.3 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU, 4GB DDR3 memory, 1 GB NVIDIA Quadro K600 graphics card, 500GB SATA hard drive, 20X DVD RW drive, 64-bit Windows 7 Professional, keyboard, and mouse begins at $2,800 (US and Canada). The system can accommodate up to 32 GB of memory and up to two NVIDIA Quadro, NVIDIA Tesla, NVIDIA GeForce, or AMD FirePro graphics cards or Intel HD graphics. A variety of storage options are available as is the Linux operating system.

“Architects, engineers, and visualization pros require the latest technology and reliable innovation for greater efficiency and productivity,” said Shoaib Mohammad, BOXX vice president of marketing and business development in a press statement. “From the overclocked Haswell Intel Core i7, to features like liquid cooling, NVIDIA Maximus technology, and a new space-saving chassis, BOXX delivers maximum workstation performance in a minimal space.”

For more information, the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME, visit BOXX Technologies.

Download the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME Spec Sheet.

Read David Cohn’s review of the 3DBOXX 8980 XTREME in the July 2013 DE.

See why DE’s editors selected the 3DBOXX 4150 XTREME as their Pick of the Week.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.