Shuttle XPC SB65G2: Big Performance in This Small Package
by Wesley Fink on September 9, 2003 11:32 PM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Shuttle SB65G2: BIOS and Overclocking
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Shuttle uses the familiar Phoenix-Award Bios in the SB65G2 system. Most will be very comfortable with the menu/submenu arrangement that has been used for many years.
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Most of the submenus and options are familiar, including a full PC Health submenu with Smart Fan adjustments and a complete readout of fan speeds, temperatures, and power levels. As you can see in the screen capture above, Shuttle also provides much better help for setting these options than you usually find.
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You might not expect full control of memory timings on a SFF system, but Shuttle has provided excellent options for tweaking your memory for best performance.
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Overclocking controls were a surprise in the SB65G2 BIOS. The very complete ranges would do justice to any Intel 865PE motherboard, and include FSB to 355, vCore, vDimm, and vAGP.
FSB Overclocking Results
The last system you would ever think about overclocking would be a Small Form Factor system like the Shuttle. You buy this type of system for the small size and quiet unobtrusive operation. Since Shuttle appears determined to prove you don’t have to give up anything in a SFF system, we decided to take them at their word. The following setup was used on the Shuttle SB65G2 SFF for FSB overclocking:| Front Side Bus Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | Intel 3.0 800FSB Pentium 4 |
| CPU Voltage: | 1.525V (default) |
| Cooling: | Shuttle I.C.E. heatpipe/fan |
| Memory: | 2x512MB Mushkin PC3500 Level II DS |
| Power Supply: | Enhance SFF 200W |
While we could boot into Windows XP at overclocked speeds as high as 240 FSB at default voltage, the highest stable FSB overclocking we could achieve at default voltage was 228 (912FSB). This translates into an astounding 3.4+ GHz speed in this little system with a 200-watt power supply. This 3.0 CPU is known to perform as high as 245 on other Intel motherboards, but keep in mind that our Intel testbed has a 470W power supply. The limitation is clearly the power supply, as we would expect, but the fact we could overclock to 228 on this loaded SFF box is a testament to the solid Shuttle design.
At 3.42GHZ, we ran the machine overnight, stress-tested, ran benchmarks, and still could not get the system to fail or the automatic setup of the fan to kick into high speed. With a loaded SB65G2, 1 GB of memory, 120GB hard drive, CD burner, and an ATI Radeon 9800 PRO all drawing power, consider these excellent results to be the worst overclocking that you are likely to see on this machine. A card drawing less current or a slower CPU will make fewer demands on the system and allow an even higher overclock.
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Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
to #20, I don't know what information you've been gathering but you're definitly wrong. The SB62G2 does have SPDIF In/Out (check out shuttles website- www.shuttle.com/hq) and the older SB52G2, which was the prior model had it also. So try informing yourself before you post comments as fact.Rekonn - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
to #21No, that is a separate issue. Shuttle has been selling fixed versions of the SB61G2 for weeks now, and will honor an RMA for those that do have that problem with the 9500/9700 series.
Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
Audio (#5 and #6)Is this the problem you two were experiencing?
"Evidently, there is currently an issue involving any SB61G2 which is used with an ATI Radeon 9500/9700 series graphics card. Here, the issue leads to poor audio performance including cutting and crackling within applications. The media and public have been informed that Shuttle is well aware of this issue and a timely solution is on the horizon."
http://www.hardocp.com/article.html?art=NDg3LDQ=
Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
Note that, as far as I can tell, the sb62g2 does not have spdif.Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
Can I use external CD-ROM and install hard disk rack in the open 5 inch bay on XPC?I would like to have the option of swapping different hard disks and use Windows or Linux at different times. So I want to install Lian-Li hard disk rack in the only open 5 inch bay and swap in hard disk for Windows or Linux. The CD-ROM has to be external through USB2 or Firewire.
When I first install OS, can XPC boot up and recognize USB2 connected CD-ROM and start to install Windows or Linux from CD?
Of cause I can always install a floppy drive in the open 3 inch bay and start the installation process from floppy disks. But I have so much trouble with floppy drives that I want to skip floppy drive altogether. Is my configuration possible?
Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
what about meshed side panels found on the SB62G2 and the SB52G2?Also are the C-Media Chips better than the Realtek 6 channel chips on the previous models and the SB62G2?
Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
Prescott support? Any info as to whether the prescott chips will work in this new Shuttle?spikemike - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
Is there much performance differences with a 865G chipset and the 865PE chipset?Anonymous User - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
The final SB65G2 will have a number of changes over this early sample, including:220W PSU
Black anodized chassis
integrated 802.11b
Cleaner analog output on the front jacks
MSRP of around $350
It should be available in late September
CitizenKain - Wednesday, September 10, 2003 - link
At some point, I want to replace my beefy Antec 1000 series case with one of these. I hope they release a one based on a NForce chipset, but with all the new bells ans whistles like SATA.