Shuttle's SB81P XPC
Introduction, Specifications & Bundle
Although they now face some stiff competition from the likes of Biostar, Iwill, Soltek and MSI, among others, Shuttle deserves credit for almost single-handedly spurring the so-called small form factor revolution. When they initially released the venerable SV24 almost three years ago, many PC lovers were immediately enamored by the tiny system's bold design, feature set, and aesthetic appeal. Admittedly, the first few small form factor systems introduced by Shuttle didn't appeal to many die hard enthusiasts because they lacked AGP slots and were quite loud, but Shuttle's follow-up products most certainly got their attention. Once the XPC proved its viability in the marketplace, Shuttle devoted significant resources to improving and expanding the product line, and have since introduced a myriad of small form factor systems that rival the feature-set of any full-sized system. And now, we're at the point where enthusiasts can choose between a small form factor system and a full-sized system, without sacrificing much in terms of features and performance.
Today on HotHardware, we're going to take a look at one of the latest additions to Shuttle's XPC line-up, the SB81P. With this XPC, Shuttle once again breaks new ground. This is the first XPC to support Intel's LGA775 platform, it's the first XPC to use Intel's new i915G chipset, and the SB81P marks the debut of Shuttle's "P Series" chassis. There is certainly a lot to see here. So, without further delay, we bring you the Shuttle SB81P XPC...
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| Processor ·_Intel Socket 775 Pentium 4 / Celeron D Memory ·_Dual-channel DDR 400/333 ·_DIMM slots (2GB max) x 2 Motherboard ·_FB81 (proprietary) Intel 915G + ICH6-R chipset ·_800/533 MHz FSB ·_32-bit PCI slot x 1 Graphics ·_16X PCI Express slot ·_Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 ·_DVMT memory architecture Audio ·_8-channel audio ·_Digital (SPDIF) audio ports ·_Analog audio ports Network ·_Gigabit LAN Storage ·_Serial ATA 150 headers x 4 FDD header ·_(1) IDE header ·_5.25" storage bay x 1 ·_3.5" storage bays x 3 |
Front-panel I/O ·_6-in-1 card reader ·_USB 2.0 ports x 2 ·_FireWire 400 port ·_Microphone port ·_Headphone port ·_Power button ·_Reset button Rear-panel I/O ·_PS/2 Keyboard socket ·_PS/2 Mouse socket ·_USB 2.0 ports x 2 ·_FireWire 400 port ·_VGA-out ·_Gigabit LAN (RJ-45) ·_8-channel audio out ·_SPDIF I/O ports ·_Coaxial Audio port ·_Serial port ·_CMOS Reset button ·_Optional Parallel port Silent X (system cooling) ·_Integrated Cooling Engine (ICE) ·_Intelligently-engineered airflow mechanics Power Supply ·_Silent X 350W Dimensions (L x W x H, mm) ·_320 x 210 x 220 Weight (net / gross; kg, lbs) ·_4.25 (9.35) / 6.05 (13.31) |
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The Bundle: Shuttle ships the SB81P XPC with an interesting assortment of accessories. Included with the SB81P itself, we found three separate user's manuals detailing the installation, features, and capabilities of the SB81P and the FB81 motherboard that powers the system, along with a driver CD, power cable, two small silver feet, a Molex splitter, a small package of thermal paste, and short floppy and SATA cables. What's interesting is that the long ribbon cables and medley of mounting screws that came with most older XPC are no longer necessary, thanks to the creative use of uniquely designed mounting rails for all of the drives, that require no tools to install and use. These new rails simply snap onto the drives and lock into place when they are installed in the system. We found the rails to be a pleasure to work with, and hope that other manufacturers of small form factor systems take notice. |
