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The Asrock Vision 3D 252B is a stylish looking book-sized computer and unlike many previous mini PC models it comes in one of two colors, silver or black. Like other units we've reviewed before, our sample came in black.
The compact design and attractive exterior helps it blend into any home theater setup, while its small footprint also allows it to fit just about anywhere. The system measures 200mm (W) x 200mm (L) x 70mm (H) making it a fraction wider and longer than previous models. It can be mounted either horizontally or vertically, although rubber feet are only on the bottom of the case. Based on the Mini-ITX form factor, it has an internal volume of 2.8L while weighing 1.8kg fully configured.
The Vision 3D 252B feels very polished and it's obvious that Asrock has paid attention to minor details when designing their Mini PC series. The rear I/O panel has been given a coat of black paint, while all the ports have been properly labeled to make installation easier for the user. The Blu-ray player is a slot-loading model, so it's recessed into the case allowing it to blend in with the rest of the body.
Around back you'll find a significant amount of connectivity options for such a small computer, including a total of four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, LAN, HDMI, DVI, a powered eSATA 6Gb/s port, five audio jacks and an optical S/PDIF output. There is also a small DC-in power connection for a Delta Electronics 19v AC/DC adapter.
It's worth mentioning that this power pack can be purchased online for as little as $15, so should it die out of warranty, you aren't looking at a significant cost to replace it.
The front of the unit is identical to the original as the 252B features a headphone and microphone jack along with a pair of USB 3.0 ports, 4-in-1 card reader and embedded slot loading optical drive. There is also a power button which is worked into the design nicely and emits a blue light when active.
By default, all Vision 3D models including the new 252B come bundled with a Media Center Edition remote control to provide a convenient way to watch movies or listen to music from the comfort of your living room couch, completing the Vision 3D as an ideal HTPC solution. When compared to previous Vision 3D models from the 1xxB series the 252B scores an extra USB 3.0 port around the back and improved eSATA performance as this port has been upgraded from 3Gb/s bandwidth to SATAIII 6Gb/s. |
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sharks |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 12:16 AM
good looking PC with high quality specs. its a little pricey but I guess you are buying a mid range laptop without the screen  |
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Sean Russell |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 03:33 AM
Did you test it with any other games? Batman, maybe? |
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ProX |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 08:45 AM
Nice work as always, I would love to upgrade my HTPC with this @ Sean Russell - Why Batman? The gaming performance seemed pretty conclusive to me. |
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poster |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 10:00 AM
cool product but I really want Asrock to make an E350 version! |
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saymyname |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 10:49 AM
I have the first Vision 3D and I love it. I am pretty envious though after seeing this review. |
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mongoosenco |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 12:52 PM
From the looks of it at newegg and asrock Windows 7 is not included so the price is more like 1100 if you are using Windows 7. |
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Steve Posts: 80 Joined: 2010-02-08 |
Posted on: 12/15/2011 10:01 PM
Thanks for the feedback guys. Posted by mongoosenco on 12/15/2011 01:52 PM
Asrock has told me that it does come with Windows 7 installed, just as our sample did. Update: There seemed to be a lot of confusion here. Asrock are now saying no it does not come with Windows 7 installed. So to confirm you are correct there is no OS included. |
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Alex |
Posted on: 12/20/2011 06:01 AM
Great review! I do have a request though - do you mind expanding on the noise aspect a bit further considering this is an HTPC and all... I'd like to put this in a very quiet environment and would really hate to hear the fan. Silent would be absolutely perfect - especially considering the price, but I understand that perhaps active CPU cooling is needed. In that case, I'd like to get an idea of the noise levels being generated by the unit if possible. For comparison, I currently own an ASUS O!Play Live! and unlike the previous versions, this one is actively cooled as well and already seems just a tad noisy for my liking. Thank you very much for any help with this! |
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saymyname |
Posted on: 12/21/2011 01:34 AM
I have the original 3D Vision and I would say for the most part its silent. Hope that helps. |
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Alex |
Posted on: 12/22/2011 05:22 AM
@saymyname - thank you. I pulled the trigger on the 252B and (hopefully) soon I will provide some feedback as well. |
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Jose |
Posted on: 01/01/2012 11:28 PM
Thank u for such an excellent and thorough review. I would also appreciate if you could share your thoughts about the noise levels with this unit. Thank you! |
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smeden |
Posted on: 01/22/2012 03:09 PM
Can this blueray play in 3D? |
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Alex |
Posted on: 02/12/2012 09:51 PM
@Jose Its not bad - its not completely silent, but its fairly quiet. If you use it in a small quiet room, it will be audible when you're not watching something, but you don't really notice it when you're watching a movie. @smeden According to the specs, it can, but I have not tried it as I don't have a 3D TV. Overall, I've been fairly pleased with it. One thing that was disappointing to me was that it did not come with Win7 pre-installed - for this price, I would think they could put Win7 on it. I put Win7 on it with XBMC, got a Dinovo Mini keyboard and this setup has worked fairly well for me since. |