The Icewhale ZimaBlade is a small single-board server built on Intel Celeron processors from the Apollo Lake generation, with up to 16 GB of DDR3L RAM, eMMC storage and two 2.5-inch SATA bays. The closest Thinvent match is the Thinvent Treo Mini PC with Intel Celeron N5095A, which pairs a 4-core Celeron with up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and a 2 TB SSD. For buyers who want more processor headroom, the Thinvent Treo Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U runs a 6-core processor with up to 64 GB of RAM.
ZimaBlade vs Thinvent Treo Mini PC
| Specification | ZimaBlade | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Celeron N5095A | Thinvent Treo Mini PC, Intel Core i3-1215U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Celeron N3350 (2 cores) or N3450 (4 cores), Apollo Lake | Intel Celeron N5095A, 11th generation | Intel Core i3-1215U, 12th generation |
| Cores/Threads | 2C/2T or 4C/4T | 4 cores | 6 cores |
| Max frequency | 2.4 GHz (N3350), 2.2 GHz (N3450) | Up to 2.9 GHz | Up to 4.4 GHz |
| RAM | Up to 16 GB DDR3L, 1 slot | 4 GB to 32 GB DDR4 | 4 GB to 64 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 32 GB eMMC onboard, 2x 2.5" SATA3 | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD | 128 GB to 2 TB SSD |
| Form Factor | Single-board server, 107 × 80 × 23 mm | Mini PC, 199.5 × 181.5 × 29.5 mm | Mini PC, 199.5 × 181.5 × 29.5 mm |
| Operating System | ZimaOS | Windows 11 Pro; Windows 11 IoT, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux™ Embedded Linux, Without OS, DOS | Windows 11 Pro; Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux™ Embedded Linux, Without OS, DOS |
| Ethernet | 1x 1GbE | 1x 1000 Mbps | 1x 1000 Mbps (dual LAN on the Wi-Fi SKU) |
| Display output | 1x Mini DisplayPort 1.2 | 1x HDMI, 1x VGA | 1x HDMI, 1x VGA |
| Wireless | Not confirmed | Wi-Fi 5 dual band or no WiFi | Wi-Fi 5 dual band or no WiFi |
| Expansion | 1x PCIe 2.0 x4 | Not confirmed | RS485 option |
| Housing | Not confirmed | Aluminium, powder coated | Aluminium, powder coated |
Key differences
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Thinvent Treo with Intel Celeron N5095A supports up to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, above the ZimaBlade's 16 GB DDR3L maximum. The Treo with Intel Core i3-1215U goes to 64 GB.
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The Treo Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U has 6 cores and reaches 4.4 GHz, against the ZimaBlade's 2 or 4 Celeron cores at up to 2.4 GHz.
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Thinvent Treo ships with an SSD from 128 GB to 2 TB; the ZimaBlade uses 32 GB of onboard eMMC plus two 2.5-inch SATA3 bays. The Treo has an M.2 SSD and no 2.5-inch bays.
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The ZimaBlade is far smaller (107 × 80 × 23 mm, 175 g) and includes a PCIe 2.0 x4 slot. The Treo is a desktop Mini PC with an aluminium housing and a VESA mount.
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Thinvent Treo buyers choose Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT, Ubuntu Linux, Thinux™ Embedded Linux, Without OS or DOS. The ZimaBlade ships with ZimaOS.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the ZimaBlade when a very small single-board unit with two 2.5-inch drive bays and a PCIe slot is the requirement. Choose the Thinvent Treo Mini PC with Intel Celeron N5095A for a compact desktop with more RAM headroom and an SSD up to 2 TB. Choose the Thinvent Treo Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U when 6 cores, up to 64 GB of RAM and a choice of operating systems matter more than size.
