10ZiG 55xx: Hardware 

• Hardware
• Firmware
• Linux

The 10ZiG 55xx is one of the smaller thin clients, similar in size to the Wyse Sx0 range. It is in fact a rebadged Clientron U720.

I haven't been able to track down when the 5500 range was launched, but a Clientron U720 datasheet was produced in March 2011 and the BIOS in my 55xx carries a similar date. A 10ZiG blog from March 2013 indicates that the 5500 series (suitable for "Task Oriented" roles) was still current then.

Specifications

The basic specs are:

Processor
Type    Speed	VIA Eden ULV 1GHz
Memory
Flash    RAM	1GB 1GB
Video
Chip    Max resolution	VIA VX855 16000 x 1200 32-bit colour
Ports
Network    USB    Serial    Parallel    PS/2	10/100/1000 4 x USB2.0 0 0 Kybd
Power
Plug    Input    Off    Running	Coax: 5.5mm/2.1mm 12V 3A (from label) 0W ~9W
Dimensions
W x H x D	36cm x 156cm x 121cm

According to data sheets I tracked down the 5500 series comes in a variety of configurations:

• 5566 512MB/512MB running 10ZiG Linux
• 5572V 512MB/1GB running 10ZiG Linux
• 5516V 1GB/2GB running WES2009

My particular model carried no specific model number other than a label bearing a generic 55xx marking. I found it to be fitted with 256MB of flash and to be running Windows CE. The firmware identified the product as "Windows Thin Client WTC-1000"

The supplied RAM (512MB) was faulty and I replaced it with a 1GB SO-DIMM

Graphics

From VIA's datasheet on the VX855:

" For the first time, the VIA VX855 MSP offers full hardware acceleration of the widest variety of leading video standards including H.264, MPEG-2/4, and WMV9, allowing smooth playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video. The advanced video decoding capabilities, when coupled with the media system processor's small physical size and a thermal design power (TDP) of a mere 2.3 watts, open up exciting opportunities for power efficient small form factor and mobile devices; especially the mini-notebook PC segment that will now be able to offer true 1080p HD video playback. "

Power Supply

The 55xx requires an external 12V power supply. Whilst the label on the side of the 55xx says "12V 3A" the unit only consumes the advertised 9W when running, so even a 12V 1A PSU should suffice. The plug is the standard 5.5mm/2.1mm fitting.

Processor

Linux cpuinfo reports:

PCI

00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Host Bridge: Host Control (rev 03)
00:00.1 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Error Reporting
00:00.2 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Host Bus Control
00:00.3 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 DRAM Bus Control
00:00.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Power Management Control
00:00.5 PIC: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 APIC and Central Traffic Control
00:00.6 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Scratch Registers
00:00.7 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 North-South Module Interface Control
00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Chrome 9 HCM Integrated Graphics
00:0f.0 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 EIDE Controller
00:10.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xx/62xx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a0)
00:10.1 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xx/62xx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a0)
00:10.2 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xx/62xx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev a0)
00:10.4 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB 2.0 (rev 90)
00:11.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875 Bus Control and Power Management
00:11.7 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX8xx South-North Module Interface Control
00:13.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VX855/VX875/VX900 PCI to PCI Bridge
00:14.0 Audio device: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8237A/VT8251 HDA Controller (rev 20)
01:03.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8110SC/8169SC Gigabit Ethernet (rev 10)

Expansion

As you would expect with something this small there is zero room inside to add any extra hardware. Click on the photo for a larger version.

Flash: The 256MB Flash memory is a Disk-On-Module (DOM) plugged into a standard 44-pin IDE connector.

RAM: The RAM that came fitted was a (faulty) 512MB DDR2 667MHz SODIMM. I replaced it with a 1GB part. The maximum that can be fitted is 2GB.

Battery: The CMOS back-up battery is one of those that attaches with wires to a socket rather being socketed in its own right. (It lurks on the board under the IDE DOM). This ups the (admittedly low) replacement cost by a factor of 10 or more.