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The Zotac ZBOX ID89 Plus is still useful as a compact media player or basic office PC, especially after replacing its slow mechanical hard drive with a SATA SSD. Its 2013-era dual-core processor and Intel HD Graphics 2500 are the limits: it can handle everyday desktop work and video playback, but it is a poor choice for serious modern gaming.
What the ID89 Plus includes
The reviewed Plus configuration combines an Intel Core i5-3470T dual-core processor (2.9GHz, with Turbo up to 3.6GHz) with 4GB of DDR3-1600 memory, a 500GB 5,400rpm 2.5-inch hard drive and Intel HD Graphics 2500. The Plus package was a ready-to-use hardware configuration rather than just a barebones mini PC.
| Feature | Reviewed configuration |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3470T, dual-core; 2.9GHz base and up to 3.6GHz Turbo (HotHardware; bit-tech) |
| Memory | 4GB DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM (HotHardware) |
| Storage | 500GB, 5,400rpm, 2.5-inch hard drive (HotHardware) |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 2500 |
| Wireless | 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Wired network | Two Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| Display and audio | HDMI, DVI and optical S/PDIF |
| Other connections and accessories | USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, card reader, infrared remote and VESA mounting kit |
The approximately 188 × 188 × 51mm chassis is small enough to mount behind a compatible display. ZOTAC’s archival platform manual documents the dimensions and the supplied VESA mount and screws.
How well does it perform?
Video and media playback
In bit-tech’s 2013 testing, Full HD video, Blu-ray ISO files and online Flash video played without slowdown, visible jitter or audio falling out of sync. That makes the ID89 Plus a plausible media-center machine for compatible playback tasks, not proof that every current streaming service or codec will work on it.
#1 Best Overall
- T POWER Made with Brand-new Adapter - Input Voltage Range: AC 100V - 240V - DC 19V 90W output for compatible Beelink and Zotac ZBOX desktop Mini PC computers
- WARNING This adapter is designed for compatible Beelink and Zotac Mini PCs requiring DC 19V power Output Voltage = DC 19V Maximum Power = 90W X NOT for devices requiring a different voltage X NOT for models requiring more than 90W
- √ COMPATIBLE WITH Beelink SER Series Beelink SER3 Beelink SER4 Beelink SER5 Beelink SER5 Pro Beelink SER5 Pro 5700U Beelink SER8 Beelink SER9 Pro
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- Zotac ZBOX Series Zotac ZBOX SD-ID12 PLUS Zotac ZBOX SD-ID13 Zotac ZBOX IQ01 Zotac ZBOX CI320 Nano Zotac ZBOX ID41-U Zotac ZBOX HD-ID11 Zotac ZBOX ID81-U Zotac ZBOX AD10 Zotac ZBOX AD12 Zotac ZBOX ID61 Zotac ZBOX ID64 Zotac ZBOX BI320 Zotac ZBOX AD02 Zotac ZBOX CI520 Zotac ZBOX MI525 Zotac ZBOX MI542 Zotac ZBOX CI Series Zotac ZBOX CI545 Zotac ZBOX CI543 Zotac ZBOX CI521 Nano ZBOX-CI545-P-U ZBOX-CI543-P-U ZBOX-CI543NANO-U ZBOX-CI521NANO-U Zotac CI540 Zotac CI549 Zotac CI547 Zotac CI527 Plus ZBOX-CI540NANO-P ZBOX-CI549NANO-P Zotac ZBOX MI Series Zotac MI548 ZBOX-MI548 Zotac MI545 ZBOX-MI545NANO Zotac MI543 ZBOX-MI543NANO-P-U Zotac MI542
Office and everyday desktop use
The Core i5-3470T was a strong part of the system for its generation. For ordinary desktop tasks, the processor remains more useful than the bundled hard drive makes the PC feel: the 5,400rpm drive can make startup and application loading sluggish. Replacing it with an SSD is the most direct way to improve responsiveness.
Gaming and graphics
Intel HD Graphics 2500 is integrated graphics, suited to basic display and media duties rather than demanding 3D workloads. The ID89 Plus should not be bought as a gaming PC; bit-tech specifically warned against serious gaming. A faster drive or more RAM cannot remove that graphics limitation.
Rank #2
- World Wide Input Voltage 100-240VAC 50/60Hz. OVP, OCP, SCP Protection (OVP: Over Voltage output Protection. OCP: Over Current output Protection. SCP: Short Circuit output Protection). Tested Units. In Great Working Condition. UpBright 30 Days Refund. 24 Months Exchange
- UpBright New 19V AC / DC Adapter Compatible with Zotac Zbox SD-ID12 PLUS ZBOX-IQ01 CI320 Nano SD-ID13 ZBOX-ID41-U HD-ID11 ZBOX-ID81-U AD10 AD12 ID61 ID64 ZBOX-BI320 AD02 CI520 MI525 MI542 Mini PC Barebone System 19VDC 19.0V 19 Volts Power Supply Cord Cable PS Battery Charger PSU. Fits: Zotac ZBOX CI545 CI543 CI521 Nano ZBOX-CI545-P-U ZBOX-CI543-P-U ZBOX-CI543NANO-U ZBOX-CI521NANO-U CI540 CI549 CI547 CI527 Plus ZBOX-CI540NANO-P ZBOX-CI549NANO-P ZBOX-CI547NANO-P ZBOX-CI527NANO-U ZBOX-MA320-U AQ02
- Fits: ZOTAC ZBOX CI320 Nano Plus C ZBOX-CI320NANO-U ZBOX-CI320NANO-U-W2 ZBOX-CI320NANO-B/U/J/TW-W2 SD-ID13 ZBOXSD-ID13 ZBOX-ID41-U ZBOXHD-ID41 Plug ZBOX ID18 SD-ID12 ZBOX-IQ01 ZBOX-IQ01-U ZBOX-IQ01-Plus-U HD-ID11 ZBOX-ID81-U ZBOX-ID80-U AD10 ZBOXNXS-AD11-PLUS-U AD12 ZBOXNANO-AD12-U ID61 ZBOXNANO-ID61-PLUS-U ZBOXNANO-ID63-Plus-U ID64 ZBOXNANO-ID64-PLUS-U ZBOX-ID88-PLUS-U ZBOX-ID89-PLUS-U ZBOX-ID90-PLUS-U AD02 PLUS ZBOX-AD06-PLUS-U Nettop ZBOX-BI320 ZBOX-BI321 ZBOX-BI320-U ZBOX-BI320-U-W2 ID68
- Fits: Zotac ZBOX Nano ZBOX-ID83-U ZBOX-ID84-U ZBOX-ID84-PLUS-U ZBOX-ID85-U ZBOX-ID86-U Zbox-id86-plus-u ZBOX-ID88-U ZBOX-ID92-U ZBOX-ID91-U ZBOX-ID90-U ZBOX-ID92-PLUS-U ZBOXNANO Series ZBOXNANO-AD12-PLUS-U ZBOXNANO-ID69-U ZBOXNANO-ID67-U ZBOXNANO-ID65-U ZBOXNANO-ID62-U ZBOXNANO-VD01-B ZBOXNANO-VD01-U ZBOXNANO-AQ01-U ZBOXBI320UW2 ZBOXNANO-AD12-PLUS ZBOXNANOAD12PLU CI520 ZBOX-CI520NANO ZBOX-CI520NANO-P ZBOX-CI520NANO-U ZBOX-CI520NANO-P-U ZBOX-AD04 ZBOX-AD04-U PLUS ZBOX-AD04-PLUS-U ZBOX-CA320NANO-U
- Fits: Zotac MI548 ZBOX-MI548 MI545 ZBOX-MI545NANO MI543 ZBOX-MI543NANO-P-U MI542 ZBOX-MI542NANO-P-U MI526 ZBOX-MI526-U MI523 ZBOX-MI523NANO-P-U MI522 ZBOX-MI522NANO-P MI521 ZBOX-MI521NXS-P MI520 ZBOX-MI520-U ZBOX-MI520-P MN321 ZBOX-MN321-P-U Nano MI547 MI527 MI525 MI549 MI561 MI640 MI660 Plus ZBOX-MI547NANO-P ZBOX-MI547NANO-U ZBOX-MI527NANO-P ZBOX-MI527NANO-U ZBOX-MI525-P-U ZBOX-MI525-U ZBOX-MI549NANO-P ZBOX-MI561NANO-P ZBOX-MI640NANO-P ZBOX-MI660NANO-P Sphere OI520 ZBOX-OI520-P-U Mini PC
Which upgrades make sense?
Replace the hard drive with a 2.5-inch SATA SSD
This is the clearest upgrade for a system that still feels slow in routine use. The H61 platform provides a SATA 3Gbps interface, so a modern SATA SSD will operate within that older interface’s limits rather than at the speeds of a newer SATA connection. The documented drive bay accepts a 2.5-inch SATA drive up to 9.5mm high. Check that the replacement drive meets that height limit.
Increase the memory
The reviewed Plus unit shipped with one 4GB DDR3-1600 module. A compatible 204-pin DDR3-1600 SO-DIMM kit can increase capacity and may enable dual-channel operation, depending on the modules and BIOS compatibility. Confirm the exact memory specification and supported capacity for the specific unit before buying; the available sources do not establish a universal upgrade ceiling.
Rank #3
- Intel Processor N100 (quad-core 0.8GHz, up to 3.4GHz)
- Triple Display ready, 4K Ready @ 60 Hz, 2 x HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, DP-via-USB-C
- WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Dual Gigabit LAN
- 4 x USB 3.2 (1 Type-C), 1 x 2.5-inch HDD/SSD bay, 1 x M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 x1/SATA SSD slot
- Fanless, Passive / Silent Cooling. VESA Mount compatible
Keep expectations realistic
An SSD and additional compatible memory can make this machine more pleasant for lightweight work, but they do not modernize its processor or integrated graphics. For gaming, heavier creative work or demanding current applications, replacing the whole PC is more sensible than investing heavily in upgrades.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Ports, mounting and practical setup
For a compact computer from 2013, the ID89 Plus offers a useful range of connections: HDMI and DVI for displays, dual Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, optical S/PDIF, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, plus a card reader. The included infrared remote suits a media-center setup, while the VESA hardware can attach the unit behind a compatible monitor or to a compatible arm.
Rank #4
- 100% Brand New, High Quality AC Desk Power Charger (non-OEM)
- Input: 100V-240V AC; great for replacement or travel back up
- Build in Dynamic IC, Charger IC & Power fuse for rapid charging and over charge protection.
Power use and noise
In bit-tech’s 2013 measurements, the ID89 Plus drew 22W at idle and no more than 40W from the wall under full CPU load. Those are review measurements of that tested system, not a guarantee for every workload or configuration. Under the review’s unrealistic full-load scenario, bit-tech described the PC as barely audible while keeping the CPU at a respectable temperature.
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Price and buying context
Reviews in 2013 placed the Plus configuration at roughly £425–£430 or about $430 street, and noted that a Windows license could raise the total. Those are historical launch-era figures, not guidance on current used prices. Current stock, warranty coverage and resale value are not established here, so assess any second-hand unit by its condition, included accessories, operating-system status and the price being asked.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
