Asus unveils enhanced Eee Box 206

Mini desktop PC gets HD upgrade

Asus has upgraded its Eee Box line of desktop PCs

Asus has unveiled a new addition to its desktop range, which adds a discrete graphics card and high-definition output to the small form factor.

The Eee Box 206's quiet, low power design makes it well suited for a basic desktop machine for enterprises to roll out to the majority of its workers, or as a home entertainment PC, according to the company.

Asus has bundled an ATI Radeon HD3450 graphics card with 256MB of DDR2 memory into the new Eee Box 206, which runs on an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of DD2 RAM and a 160GB Sata hard drive.

With the increased focus on multimedia, the 206 comes pre-installed with Windows XP Home Edition and Asus' customised Eee Cinema media player, as well as a remote control, and a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Asus said that the increase in video processing power will not affect the PC's green credentials, as it consumes only 20 watts of power. It is also made from environmentally friendly materials, making it fully compliant with the Restriction of Hazardous Substances and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directives.

The company claimed that this could save users around £105 a year in electricity costs compared with a standard desktop PC being left on 24 hours a day. Although the multimedia focus is aimed at the home user, the low power draw and convenient size make it a compelling option for businesses, Asus said.

The Eee Box 206 model is available now in plain black or patterned white with a recommended price tag of £309.99.