Conclusion and Thoughts
Most manufacturers stamp their mark on motherboards in more ways that one. Apart from the obvious manufacturer's name and model number, most companies have signature features that make the board instantly recognisable to those in the know. Shuttle are a case in point. The dark-blue PCB colour, relatively uncomplicated and understated layout, and generally weak accompanying bundle are all features that we've come to recognise from this manufacturer who is more popular for their S.F.F cube systems.Shuttle have risen from the usual mediocrity surrounding their bundles. One can now make plentiful use of the board's better features. The features count puts this board firmly in the realms of deluxe, yet we always have a persistent feeling that Shuttle are holding back in some department. Shuttle, in our eyes at least, stand just above average in the motherboard world. They never seem to make a bad board, and they never seem to make a board that just screams 'buy me'. At least they're ready to act quickly on each important chipset. This Springdale board followed hot on the heels of their impressive Springdale-based S.F.F cube.
I'd like to stray off the beaten path for a moment and talk about the Springdale chipset in more general terms. Our reviews try to be objective when reviewing any new piece of hardware. We spend time on looking at the individual merits and detractions of each new item that passes through the labs, yet most users, whether rightly or wrongly, will undoubtedly focus their reading on the benchmark results. We've seen a number of Springdale boards now and one has stood out by implementing PAT (Performance Acceleration Technology) by default. Right now, when looking at a chipset through retail boards from all the major manufacturers, one can say that the Canterwood is still faster overall.
However, if a number of manufacturers are able to fully exploit the merits of PAT, the Springdale turns from being the poor cousin to one who has just had six numbers come up in the lottery. The possible deviation between the benchmarking results of a PAT-equipped and PAT-less Springdale's results makes it difficult to judge and evaluate correctly. The Springdale, it has to be said, is already a winner in most peoples' eyes, so the unlocking of PAT will almost make the more expensive Canterwood redundant, seemingly. Coming back to the review board, if Shuttle had sent this board with a PAT-enabled BIOS, we'd be waxing lyrical about its prodigious benchmarking potential, yet we find ourselves lamenting the board in certain areas.
Shuttle's task is a difficult one. Because they're not as well known in the U.K as, say, ASUS or ABIT, they have to make their boards better than these truly established names if they're to be considered as possible purchasing material. The AB60RS is another fine, stable motherboard with a limited BIOS. Is that enough though ?. Only time will tell.
