When we think of small form factor PCs, we never really think of them being powerful. However, Lenovo have released a tiny workstation that weighs less than a 13-inch MacBook Air, that is 2.86 pounds for a desktop computer which is more powerful than most MacBook Pro. The ThinkStation P320 Tiny is crammed full of high-end hardware and this makes it an extremely attractive solution for those who are after something a bit smaller for their creative work.
The Hard Facts
If you think we were kidding about it being powerful, then have a look at these specs. There is a base model for $799 that will feature an Intel Core i3-7100T processor. But we aren’t interested in this version, we are interested in the high-end version with an Intel Core i7-7700T processor. Adding to this, all the models feature an NVIDIA Quadro P600 GPU. These are purpose built graphics cards that are designed for professional workstations. These cards are perfect for computer-aided design (CAD), computer-generated imagery (CGI) and digital content creation (DCC) professionals. Granted, the Quadro P600 isn’t the most powerful Quatro GPU on the market, however it is still three times more powerful than the integrated graphics that most small form factor PCs come with.
It can also be configured with 32GB of DDR4 2400MHz RAM and two 1TB M.2 SSDs (2TB). It also comes preloaded with Windows 10 Pro, which offers far more settings and features than the standard Home version. When it comes to O/I ports, the P320 Tiny packs a total of six USB 3.0 ports, a 3.5mm audio port, Ethernet port (LAN), four mini DisplayPorts and two full size DisplayPorts. However, there is a lack of HDMI and USB 3.1 Type-C ports. All of the available models feature Intel’s Dual Band AC WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1, which will mean that you will be able to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz wireless networks.
Wrapping it up
The Lenovo ThinkStation P320 Tiny is a pint size stick of dynamite that will handle a wide array of design and CAD applications. You will be able to do a fair bit of video editing on this tiny PC and you will even be able to run a great multi-monitor setup thanks to the large amount of DisplayPorts. Though the small size does mean that upgrading will be fairly limited and you might want to look at a good gaming PC if you want the ability to upgrade at a later stage. Overall, the ThinkStation P320 Tiny is a great asset and outperforms almost all of the small form factor computers on the market.
