Samsung hasn’t officially announced the ArtPC Pulse yet, despite previously hinting it would be making the reveal on October 10. The lack of a news post from the company hasn’t deterred Amazon from launching the computer though, revealing its eye-catching chassis and unusually high-end hardware.
The computer has a full metal body that closely resembles the Mac Pro. There are some noticeable differences though, particularly towards the top of the “dustbin” design. Samsung has integrated a Harmon Kardon 360-degree omni-directional speaker into the Pulse’s top panel for built-in audio. There’s also circular ambient lighting around the body that clearly differentiates the ArtPC Pulse from the Mac Pro. It also makes it look a little similar to a gas cooker as blue pulses appear in a gap in the computer’s chassis.
According to Samsung, the ArtPC Pulse’s cylindrical design makes it around 87 percent more compact than a typical PC. It weighs 8.6 pounds and measures up at 5.5 x 5.5 x 12.2 inches. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a place for the Pulse, whether it be on a desk or tucked away out of sight. Despite the extraordinarily compact form factor, Samsung has still found enough space to install some high-end components that give the Pulse the power to compete with more traditional premium desktops.
The processor is a sixth-generation Intel Core i7 that runs at 3.4GHz. There’s 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256GB NVMe SSD to act as the primary storage device. Samsung provides a dedicated AMD Radeon RX460 graphics card with 2GB of memory to cater for gaming and video editing applications. While it’s a competent card, it’s not especially powerful and will likely prove to be the ArtPC Pulse’s most significant weakness.
The computer’s Amazon listing suggests that Samsung will be selling “expansion modules” for the ArtPC Pulse that will enable users to add additional hardware after purchase. The company has not said how the modules connect to the computer or how many will be available. So far, only one has been revealed, a storage expansion module that adds a 1TB HDD to the included 256GB SSD.
“The Samsung ArtPC Pulse is a completely new type of computer,” Samsung’s product description reads. “It features a gorgeous premium aluminium body with an exquisite expandable design. It’s approximately 87 percent more compact compared to average desktop PCs, yet delivers a similar level of performance as bigger machines. This is more than just a PC.”
As pre-built consumer-oriented PCs go, the ArtPC Pulse is a credible offering. With a distinctive space-saving design and some serious hardware inside, Samsung could appeal to home business owners and gamers who don’t have space for a regular PC. The ArtPC Pulse will ship with a Microsoft Signature Edition version of Windows 10 preinstalled, meaning customers won’t have to waste time stripping bloatware out of Windows the first time the PC is turned on.
Samsung will be hoping the eye-catching ArtPC Pulse can distract consumers from the damage being caused to its brand by its Galaxy Note 7 disaster. Earlier today, the company said it is suspending production and worldwide sales of the Note 7. Some analysts have predicted the company could lose over $10 billion in revenue.
The ArtPC Pulse is available to pre-order from Amazon now for $1,200. Alternatively, a $1,600 version includes the 1TB HDD expansion module in the box, if you require more storage than the 256GB SSD provides. Both versions will start shipping to customers on October 28.
