Conclusion and thoughts
Shuttle's brief when producing a micro-ATX-based nForce2 solution was, I'm guessing, in producing a stable motherboard which integrated some of the more desirable features into a small form factor. With the target audience consisting of large OEMs and system integrators, the MN31N's mix of features, integrated graphics and relatively small footprint, coupled with a low price, should see it appeal to its desired market well.
As we've seen with Shuttle's S.F.F PCs, small doesn't necessarily entail a lack of features or performance. Maximising the nForce2's basic specifications by providing integrated DX7-class GeForce4 MX video with dual outputs, dual channel DDR capability, USB2.0 ports, Firewire ports, 6-channel sound, S/PDIF header, and 100Mbit LAN, it only omits the full package by not specifying the second 3COM LAN. Performance when tweaked well, as our benchmarks have shown, is directly comparable to an MSI full-size nForce2 motherboard. Shuttle have omitted the voltage manipulation section from the robust BIOS. That's to be expected, though.
If you're planning on running the integrated graphics present, do yourself a favour and run the MN31N in dual channel DDR mode. The extra bandwidth allows the integrated graphics to perform near their potential, and barely hinders non-3D performance. Looking at the benchmark scores, you could just about play most modern games at 1024x768x32; that's reasonably impressive for an on-board solution. The dual VGA outputs are a nice touch and give the end-user that little extra display flexibility, all run through the intuitive NVIEW program. Subjectively speaking, the 2D performance leaves a little to be desired at 1280x1024x32, though.
It's safe to say that a well-executed motherboard based on the nForce2 chipset is going to be a decent performer. The Shuttle MN31N takes all the best bits from the nForce2 and bundles them into a micro-ATX form factor. We're still left with the all-important AGP slot and 3 PCI slots, too. It's stable, fast, and the on-board graphics work relatively well if the board is run in dual channel mode. From a pure enthusiast's point of view, a degree of voltage manipulation and a fixed AGP / PCI speed would have been nice, but that's not what the MN31N is about. It's our belief that each product should be viewed in relation to its target market. In that respect, therefore, the Shuttle MN31N is a winner. Recommended. Don't be surprised if you see one of these boards sitting in an small integrated system from someone like PCWorld. Pricing has yet to be finalised, but expect to see it for below £100.
Highs
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Stable as the day is long
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Performance is in line with standard nForce2 motherboards
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BIOS is surprisingly adjustable
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Carries an almost-full complement of nForce2 features
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Integrated graphics are more than reasonable once the MN31N is run in dual channel mode
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An excellent base for a small, low-cost, and high-performance PC
Lows
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A Firewire cable should have been included in the package (nitpicking)
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Doesn't ship with TV-Out capability
