New Shuttle Opinions

pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
edited September 2003 in Hardware
Well, McBain got me looking at shuttles, and I think I'm going to get one, just wondering if anyone has any experience with them.

http://us.shuttle.com/specs2.asp?pro_id=279

Thats the one I'm looking at, and adding on to it will be-

9800 non-pro
OCZ 3200 CAS2 256x2
Maxtor 8mb cache 40gig
3000XP 400FSB

Now, a few questions. That Shuttle only has a 200W supply in it, I know that is REALLY pushing the envelope of what I need to have. Is it possible for me to jam a bigger PS in there, or is that thing proprietary? Will that 200 even work?? Also, I see it has the Realtek audio, instead of the Soundstorm. Doesn't the Realtek use the processor more? (I can't remember the diff, been so long since my last purchase). Doesn't matter though, I just want the optical out for my 680s.

If this doesn't work, its off to buying an Abit and all the required goodies, but I would love one of these little beauts!! Thanks guys.

edit// NM about the audio, seems the Realtek is onboard, just doesn't have the bells and whistles as the soundstorm, doubt I can tell anyways :)

Comments

  • JimboraeJimborae Newbury, Berks, UK New
    edited September 2003
    Speak to shorty he used to have one. I'll hopefully be build four in the near future if i get the work.

    Regards

    Jim
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    (Pseudo Takes Deep Breath)

    SHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRTY!!!!!!!!!!

    :wave:

    :respect::respect::respect::respect::respect:
  • MancabusMancabus Charlottesville, VA
    edited September 2003
    Beware: Shuttle has terrible support. At least the US one did. I sent them a few online requests for support, and this guy came back after 2 months and said call our long distance number (not toll free), and that that was the best way to get help.

    The problem I still have is hardware related, hangs at verifying DMI pool data, only fix disable internal CPU cache (booooo), trying new BIOS chip.

    The main problem with any barebones PC is just that, integrated everything (some which can't be disabled) and you need tiny hands to install stuff most of the time.
  • ShortyShorty Manchester, UK Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Pseudonym said
    (Pseudo Takes Deep Breath)

    SHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRTY!!!!!!!!!!

    :wave:

    :respect::respect::respect::respect::respect:

    They are very nice if you need something small, light and semi portable :)

    Shuttle have some problems with their nForce2 units, which they are slowly resolving with BIOS updates. Shuttles are great, but it depends on WHY you want one.

    They don't have much expansion and large video cards are a tight fit (dont attempt to use an All in Wonder). I got rid of mine as I never took it anywhere and my main rig just had more power and expansion ( I like my RAID).

    So would I recommend one? Hell yeah! They are alot of fun (plus modding them is a new craze) but consider if you will get frustrated with it at a later date. Plus, Shuttle's support does totally blow. Only get one if you are prepared to deal with it.

    The power supply is VERY efficent. I ran my 9700pro, hard drive, gig of ram, DVD drive and 2500+ Barton without a problem ;)
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Cool, thanks Shorty. The system is strictly a gaming system so anything beyond a Vid Card isn't needed, and OCing isn't too much of thought (My desktop will become the tweaker toy). I just think they are cool, and wouldn't mind having something nice and portable. Just shootin for something different :)

    Now to get to the purchasing. TMinus 2 weeks, hope those nonpro 9800s don't disappear like the softmod 9500s did.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Ooops one more question. Read the [H] review of that shuttle, definitely has me sold on it, but my one question is the dimensions of the Radeon 9800 compared to the 9700. Is there a size difference between the two? I'm pretty sure there isn't, but just being safe. Thanks
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    No size difference.

    The only major gripe is the use of the OCZ memory (~Just cringes terribly~), otherwise, looks great.
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    if its gaming...i definatly wouldnt go for that......200 watts doesnt offer u enough stabilty..and the cooling cant be all that good...i would just go for a antec lanboy aluminum case...small and u can tug it along newhere..PLUS it has a better psu
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    The 200 watts provides plenty of stability for the outlined system. SFF PCs operate much differently from standard PCs in regards to power requirements, to such an extent that 200w is fully capable of power the listed components with no stability problems.

    Furthermore, cooling on SFF PCs has evolved to such an extent that it functions quite nearly to a standard full PC. Utilising both heatpipe and fan technologies, a SFF box can be adequately cooled for even the most rigorous of tasks.

    Additionally, the performance of a Shuttle SFF PC utilising AMD processors or Intel processors (Particularly the former) exhibits near-identical performance at the speeds it is intended to maintain. Moreover, it even includes a margin of overclocking ability.

    Besides, there's a certain point behind SFF PCs. They're smaller than towers of any kind.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Thrax said
    No size difference.

    The only major gripe is the use of the OCZ memory (~Just cringes terribly~), otherwise, looks great.

    Yeah, I know their stuff isn't the highest regarded, but its cheaper, its CAS2, and this system really isn't going to be Oced too hard, if any. We'll see, something better may pop up by the time I order this stuff.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Cas 2 from OCZ means 40% chance it will do Cas2. I'm quite serious too.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Thrax said
    Cas 2 from OCZ means 40% chance it will do Cas2. I'm quite serious too.

    Hmmpf, interesting. I'll have to do some digging, thanks.
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Good call Thrax, made me look again and I found all those dual packs that Mushkin offers. 10 bucks more!!
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    http://anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.html?i=1861

    I know that this isn't the NForce version, but it looks like they have come a long way.
    Anand has some comments (good) about adding cards and power. I am mighty tempted too.
  • Red-DawnRed-Dawn Been kidnapped and being held hostage in Edinburgh
    edited September 2003
    I was thinkin of pickin 1 of these up to take to uni, purely for portability. whats the weight like when u got it fully loaded with parts???
  • pseudonympseudonym Michigan Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    THANKS edcentric. That was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted to see someone dumping a 9800 in one of those, and how running all that crud worked on the power supply. No worries now!!
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