Why You Can Trust CNET Wacom Pro Engine module turns Cintiq Pro into a workstation
With an Intel Core i chip, Nvidia Quadro workstation GPU, storage, RAM and Wi-Fi, the Engine module turns the connected drawing tablet display into a standalone workstation.
The ExpressKey remote for the Cintiq tablets costs extra.
Wacom is increasingly creeping into full-on computing, culminating with the tablet, or "pen computer" as the company calls the format. Now, in conjunction with the Cintiq Pro 24 or 32 -- the latest in its series of monitors with pressure-sensitive-stylus support -- the company's announced what is essentially its first desktop system. The Cintiq Pro Engine is a module with workstation-class components that you slip into the Cintiq 24 or 32 Pro, turning it into a power Windows 10 all-in-one.
The Engine slips into the back of a Cintiq Pro 24 or 32.
The Cintiq Pro 24 is scheduled to ship in March, priced at $2,000 for the standard version (£1,900) and $2,500 for a version with touch support (£2,400). The 32-inch will follow later this year. They will only ship in the US, Japan, and selected countries in Europe, at least to start with; sorry for now, Australia.
Shop for Wacom Cintiq Pro 24
See all pricesIn addition to the new sizes for the Cintiq Pro line, these models have 4K UHD displays with 10-bit panels, supporting 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color gamut. They also inherit the latest version of Wacom's EMR technology, with 8,092 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt sensitivity.
There are two models of the Engine, slated to ship in May.
Cintiq Pro Engine
| Core I5 | Xeon | |
| OS | Windows 10 Pro | Windows 10 Pro for Workstation |
| CPU | Intel Core i5 quad core | Intel Xeon |
| GPU | 6GB Nvidia Quadro P3200 | 6GB Nvidia Quadro P3200 |
| Memory | 16GB | 32GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD |
| Networking | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet |
| Ports | 2 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x mini DisplayPort | 2 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x mini DisplayPort |
| Price | $2,500, £2,400 | $3,300, £3,420 |
Though it's not clear yet which version of each CPU they'll use, they're both supposedly VR-ready. Wacom says that the storage and the RAM are upgradable, which is great.
I do see one drawback in the fine print: The Engine attaches to the Cintiq via an internal USB-C connector, and the Cintiq's USB 3.0 connections run at USB 2.0 speeds so that the system has sufficient bandwidth for the 4K display.
There's also a new stand option so you don't have to live with those runty legs. The Ergo Stand will also ship in May, and supports rotation as well as folding down to an obtuse angle. As yet, there's no pricing for the stand.
