IBM's ThinkCentre S Series is the company's smallest desktop PC to date. The ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small reviewed here is a further 35 per cent smaller than the ThinkCentre S50, but retains all of the features a typical business user needs. It is also IBM's quietest desktop PC ever and takes up to 75 per cent less space than a traditional IBM desktop chassis. The Pentium 4-based model also sports mechanical improvements, including a noise reduction from 41dBA to 39dBA, improved air flow, and wider spaced USB ports to fit most memory keys. Cable routing is now also bundled out of the way for easier access to components and cable ends, and user-serviceable components are coloured blue for easier identification. If you need a general business workhorse with market-leading build quality and support, the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small should be considered - especially if form factor is important.

Pros: Robust tool-free chassis; superb security and support features
Cons: Slow; no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; single PCI slot and optical drive bay


IBM's ThinkCentre S50 is an ultra-small desktop computer designed for businesses. In fact, it's Big Blue's smallest desktop PC to date (measured by total cabinet volume). With a footprint smaller than many laptop PCs, and a robust steel enclosure that'll take most office abuse, the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small saves space - without compromising function. It also includes IBM's patented ThinkVantage Technologies, an intelligent and effective collection of hardware and software tools that should help your company to reduce system operating costs by reducing management time.

The wholly-black ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small PC is around 35 per cent smaller (280x260x85mm) than the current ThinkCentre S50, but retains all of the features a typical business user needs. It is also IBM's quietest desktop PC ever - 39dBA at idle, at operator's position. However, it weighs a mighty 8.1kg. While this is relatively heavy, it's actually about the same weight as IBM's first laptop computer, the 5140 PC Convertible (5kg), which was launched in 1986. Some of the key attractions of a small-footprint PC such as the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small is that it saves valuable deskspace, which will be greatly appreciated in smaller offices, healthcare and finance environments, and allows the system to effectively serve as a pedestal for a monitor, thus helping to save even more space.

Another great feature about the system is its tool-free case. Simply pressing two buttons on either side of the steel chassis allows you to lift the top-part of the system, letting you quickly and easily access components inside the machine, such as the processor and memory. The hard disk even has a handle to release the drive from its bay, and the optical drive can be removed simply by pressing a large release button. Internal cables are also immaculately positioned and tied, so there's no hindrance of any sort when accessing components. All of these features help to make the PC serviceable and upgradable and should help to limit the downtime and cost associated with on-site support.

The system features an internal 200-Watt power supply, one PCI slot, one slim-line optical drive slot, one 3.5in. internal hard disk, and an Intel Pro-1000 Ethernet NIC. The 'caddy' that surrounds the hard disk locks it into place without the use of tools or screws, and rubber bumpers on the caddy help to decrease vibration and deliver quiet operation. Compared to the first version of the ThinkCentre S50, other mechanical improvements have been made to the overall design, including noise reduction from 41dBA to 39dBA, improved air flow, and wider spaced USB ports to fit most memory keys. User 'touch points', or areas most commonly accessed for maintenance, are coloured blue for easy identification, which is another really neat feature that shows IBM has really thought about usability with this system.

The ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small is by no stretch of the imagination the fastest or most versatile platform currently available, but it's based on a robust and reliable set of components that should serve all but the most demanding business users. For instance, the base system reviewed here is powered by a 2.8GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor (lower-priced Celeron processors also available), Intel PCI-based Extreme Graphics 2 GPU (outputs up to just 1024x768 pixels and doesn't support DirectX 9.0), 256MB of PC2700 DDR SDRAM (expandable up to 2GB), 40GB ATA-based hard disk (upgradable to 160GB), SoundMAX Cadenza 2:1 audio chipset, and a slimline DVD-ROM drive. There is no room for a 1.44MB floppy disk drive, but IBM does provide a matching USB optical wheel mouse and PS/2 keyboard. Microsoft's Windows XP Professional SP2 is pre-installed as standard, with no option from IBM for a Linux installation.

Connectivity options are also basic, but the system is not really designed for users to frequently connect external peripherals. The front of the system houses two USB 2.0 ports (additional two at rear), as well as headphone and microphone ports. At the rear of the system is a Gigabit Ethernet NIC, V.92 modem port, parallel and serial ports, as well as two PS/2 ports. Unfortunately, there are no FireWire ports or a built-in modem. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections aren't supplied either, which may not please smaller companies looking to set up a wireless network.

Besides the diminutive form factor and quiet operation, another significant benefit of the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small is the inclusion of numerous IBM ThinkVantage Technologies. Rescue and Recovery with Rapid Restore, for instance, is a one-button backup and recovery solution that can easily restore previously saved data, settings and applications after a software failure. Also included is the familiar Access IBM feature, a superb portal to IBM support that taps into a rich set of onboard resources, diagnostic tools, automated solutions, and links to updates and service online for customers with Internet access. IBM PCs are also among the most secure PCs, thanks to IBM's Embedded Security Subsystem. Consisting of an integrated security chip and downloadable Client Security Software, this hardware and software-based solution provides a secure repository for storing sensitive keys, identity information and confidential data.

Performance of the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small can't really be compared to a fully-fledged desktop PC it's designed solely for general business use. This is reflected by both its components and its relatively low asking price. Nevertheless, the system handles general business and multimedia applications adequately, shown by Business Winstone 2004 and Multimedia Content Creation Winstone 2004 scores of 14.7 and 15.1, respectively. Gaming and high-end multimedia is a no-go area really, as indicated by a 3DMark2001 SE score of 2311 - one of the lowest we've recorded. IBM makes no claims that the system is designed for multimedia usage, so you shouldn't either. If you need a general business workhorse with market-leading build quality and support, the ThinkCentre S50 ultra-small should be considered - especially if form factor is important.


About our tests:
BIOS uses VeriTest's Business Winstone 2004 and Multimedia Content Creation Winstone 2004 benchmarking applications to test the overall performance of desktops and laptops. Both suites are application-based benchmarks that measures a PC's overall performance when running market-leading, Windows-based applications on Windows platforms. They are a single large test that run programs through a series of scripted activities and return a single score. The activities focus on what we call 'hot spots,' or periods of activity that make your PC really work - the times where you're likely to see an hourglass or a progress bar. PCMark04 Pro is Futuremark's application-based benchmark for measuring component-level performance. It uses portions of real applications instead of including very large applications or using specifically created code. Futuremark's 3DMark2001 SE runs game tests to provide an accurate overview of a system's gaming performance. In all benchmarks, the higher the score, the faster the computer.

BIOS, Nov 29, 04 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Desktop PC