Shuttle SS51G XPC

Shuttle's SpaceWalker SS50 showed us that PCs don't have to look boring. However, despite an array of features, including IEEE-1394 and six-channel audio, the SS50 was restricted to on-board graphics or an ageing PCI solution. It was a huge step forward for small form factor PCs, but we were still left wanting more. Shuttle's response is the SS51G XPC, boasting fast DDR 333 memory support, USB 2 and an AGP slot.

When we first reviewed the SS50, we were amazed at the number of features Shuttle managed to pack into the tiny chassis. Incredibly, though, the SS51G's feature set is even better. The FlexATX Pentium 4 motherboard uses the SiS651 chipset, which boasts key changes such as support for PC2700 memory and Intel's latest Pentium 4 CPUs with a 533MHz front side bus.

One complaint we had about the SS50 was that it was noisy, mainly due to the huge Pentium 4 cooler. Shuttle has tackled this with a new ICE (Integrated Cooling Engine) heatpipe system that uses the PSU fan to provide cooling without the need for a separate CPU fan, significantly reducing noise.

Perhaps the most important new feature, though, is an AGP 4x slot, which can accommodate a typical AGP graphics card. There's still the option to use the integrated SiS315 graphics chip too, which will be fine for normal 2D use. Shuttle has recognised the need to provide modern outputs by including a partnering AGP card with DVI, S-Video and composite video outputs.

The SiS962 south bridge controller provides the SS51G with two UltraATA/133 IDE channels, a floppy disk controller, four USB 2 ports and three IEEE-1394 ports. There's also an integrated Realtek 8100B Fast Ethernet MAC for networking duties, integrated six-channel audio, plus the usual PS/2, serial, parallel and audio ports including S/PDIF in and out.

To test the SS51G, we added a 2.4BGHz Pentium 4, 512MB of PC2700 memory (with 32MB used for graphics), a 40GB UltraATA/100 hard disk and installed Windows XP. The 2D benchmark score of 1.33 is excellent and compares well with full-sized desktops.

3D performance using the integrated graphics is less inspiring, though, scoring 1,833 in 3DMark2001 SE at 1,024 x 768 in 32-bit colour. However, install a Radeon 9000 Pro and this jumps to 6,209 at 1,280 x 1,024 in 32-bit colour. However, it's worth noting that we experienced some instability using PC2700 memory and a GeForce4 Ti 4400. Installing PC2100 memory solved this and resulted in 8,206 in 3DMark2001 SE at 1,280 x 1,024 in 32-bit colour. If you're planning to use PC2700 memory, check with Shuttle that it will work correctly.

The Shuttle XPC SS51G proves that small dimensions don't necessarily mean restricted performance or features. The issue with the GeForce4 Ti and PC2700 is a concern, but the XPC's mix of features and style is compelling.

Author: Gareth Ogden