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Review: Shuttle XPC SN85G4 SFF PC

by Tarinder Sandhu on 22 October 2003, 00:00

Tags: Shuttle

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qat7

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Specifications and bundle

Processors
  • Supports Socket-754 CPUs. Athlon 64 3200+ is the only one currently available
Chipset
  • NVIDIA nForce3 150 single-chip chipset
System Memory
  • 2x 184pin DDR 
  • DDR200 / DDR266 / DDR333 / DDR400 support @ 2.5v
  • 2GB maximum system RAM 
Slots
  • 1x AGP  8x AGP compliant (1.5v)
  • 1x 32-bit PCI 33MHz slot
Front Panel Connections
  • 2x USB 2.0 ports
  • 1x Firewire port (4-pin)
  • Headphone
  • Microphone-in
  • Line-in
Back Panel Connections
  • PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports
  • 1 COM / serial port
  • Parallel port
  • 1 Firewire port
  • 2 USB 2.0 ports
  • RJ45 / LAN Port
  • S/PDIF In (optical)
  • S/PDIF Out (optical)
  • 3 Audio ports
On-board storage
  • An IDE controller on the nForce3 150 provides IDE HDD/CD-ROM with PIO, Bus Master and Ultra DMA133/100/66/33 operation modes.
  • Can connect up to 4 IDE devices (space permitting)
  • Silicon Image Sil3512A controller supports 2 SATA devices with RAID0 and RAID1 support
Audio
  • Realtek ALC650 on-board sound (6-channel), powered by AC'97 from the nForce3 150
Other features & Extras
  • VIA VT6307 2-port FireWire controller 
  • Realtek RTL8201BL physical layer for 10/100 LAN, powered by nForce3 150
BIOS & Voltages
  • Speeds of 200MHz - 250MHz 
  • CPU Voltage 0.8 -1.7v in 0.025v increments until 1.6v and 0.05v up to 1.7v
  • DDR Voltage 2.5 - 2.9v 
  • AGP voltage 1.5 - 1.8v 
  • Chipset voltage 1.6v - 1.9v
  • HyperTransport voltage 1.2v - 1.5v
Case Size (mm)
  • 200 x 181 x 280mm
  • 1x 5.25" bay 
Software
  • Motherboard drivers
  • Peripheral drivers
Others
  • PSU lead
  • Screws and bolts
  • 2 manuals
  • 1 UDMA 133 cable, 1 twisted UDMA33 cable, 1 Floppy cable, 1 SATA cable, and a driver CD.

The two manuals are quite decent in their own right. The one on the left highlights installation with colour pictures. This should enable first-time users to construct a system easily and efficiently. The FN85 motherboard's manual is usual Shuttle fare. It's easy to read, explains pretty much what one would need to know and goes into detail when necessary. Shuttle's XPCs enjoy a burgeoning accessories market. One can add literally any kind of extra / feature that is deemed necessary. That's perhaps why the accompanying bundle is more basic than spectacular.