Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Shuttle SS51 Reviewed

Posted by michael on from the cute-and-quiet dept.

hilldaddy writes "AnandTech has a review up of the new Shuttle SS51 XPC. Looks like they finally added an AGP slot. Read the review." We've done several previous stories on the Shuttle mini-PC systems.

21 of 201 comments (clear)

  1. Hexus .co.uk review...... by H3XA · · Score: 5, Informative

    in case you manage to /. Anand's servers.

    Hexus - http://www.hexus.co.uk/review.php?review=395

    - HeXa

  2. Need AMD version... by Junta · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Anyone in touch with people building system component by component realizes a great majority of these are AMD based, since they get to see the processor price difference and know the price/performance problems with P4 vs. Athlon. I personally have been eagerly awaiting a version with AGP for AMD, and then I might buy in... I want to have an All-in-Wonder in one of these babies to integrate into my entertainment system...

    --
    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  3. Bought an SV24 by carambola5 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Looks great with the aluminum casing. Was pretty cheap too at $300 for the case, proc, mb, power supply and RAM. Yes, no hdd, fd, or cdrom. This is going to be a diskless system, and I'd have to say that the SV24 fits the bill quite nicely. I'll put up a page when the project is finished.

    --
    IWARS.
    People, in general, disappoint me. Politicians even more so.
  4. oops... by H3XA · · Score: 4, Informative

    .... fogot the other two reviews...

    http://www.viahardware.com/ss51xpc_1.shtm
    http://www.ocworkbench.com/2002/shuttle/ss51/ss51g p1.htm

    - HeXa

  5. Re:interesting by gosand · · Score: 3, Funny
    Many mac people claim that they have the best computers because of their size and portablity. Perhaps Windows (or hopefully linux) will be able to show people that we to can make really weird looking small computers too.

    Psst. Windows and Linux are operating systems, not computers.

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

  6. Re:one more step ... by H3XA · · Score: 3, Informative

    that would be the SS40G..... no AGP slot though - wait and there should be a AMD equivalent of the SS51 soon.

    http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2002q3/shuttle- ss40g/index.x?pg=1

    - HeXa

  7. NICE audio feature! by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Did anyone notice that the three audio ports can be remapped between input and output at the user's discretion? Want surround output, set them all to output. Want to record something? Switch a port to input. VERY nice - But is the audio quality up to snuff?

    --
    retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    1. Re:NICE audio feature! by Zathrus · · Score: 3, Informative

      No. There is no certification for Dolby Digital. All you have to do is match the spec, which is pretty broad.

      The only actual certification process out there is THX, and it's not as great as one might think. THX has bastardized itself into so many sub-varients that you can get crappy little computer speakers that are "THX certified" and still sound like junk. The THX certification process for speakers as a whole has been suspect for a long time now. THX certification for pre-amps, amps, and receivers is another matter, and some of the additional processing it requires (such as reduction of high frequencies) is very valuable (although often available even w/o the THX logo now -- getting that logo is expensive).

    2. Re:NICE audio feature! by Coplan · · Score: 3, Informative
      It's interesting that you bring up audio quality. My friend has one of the old Shuttle bare bones systems, and the sound quality is comparable to the average gaming platform sound card (SB). It's not bad, and it can play MP3s and the like pretty well. Problem is, it's a no-frills on-the-motherboard sound card. So you can't expect nice features like the SB Audigy.

      You especially can't expect anywhere close to the S/N ratios or the Response curves that you get with professional quality sound cards. FYI, The SB Audigy, even though SB would like you to believe so, IS NOT professional quality.

      Good for a hobiest or a gamer. But if you want to write music...the Shuttle small profile systems are not for you. For that matter, anything on the motherboard is often not good enough.

  8. Re:Change in view? by Junta · · Score: 3, Insightful

    While an expensive solution, apple seems to have cable reduction high on their list. You have one cable between monitor and system driving power and signal, one cable to keyboard and mouse (since mouse plugs into keyboard, which makes a *hell* of a lot more sense than the traditional PC way, Sun and Apple have it right..). But if apple is unacceptable, their are keyboards and monitors with built in USB hubs, so you can have a more convenient spot to plug stuff in. Of course, if you have a monitor with speakers and a USB hub you want to use, you have speaker, display, usb, and power cable going to it... Nasty... Technically you can get away with 4 cables out of a mac, network, power, display, keyboard, but add one for sound for a decent rig... Hell, get an iMac and not worry about the display cable at all, just worry about not being modular and having something in need of repair or upgrade...

    --
    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  9. Just what the Dr. ordered by Sean+Clifford · · Score: 4, Interesting
    This is what I've been waiting for. Assuming the mobo problem was just a glitch, I'll be getting one of these shortly. I've got a bunch of 50's (the original version) for work and while they're not exactly stealth-quiet, they're great little machines and look quite nice. Space is a premium, since each desk has to have 2 computers (w/KVM switch).

    This is gonna be my main box at home and primary LAN party box. My old box is gonna be relegated to the role of an Apache server. I'll put up a review of how well the SS51 runs my favorite distro when I get the thing in.

  10. Shuttlecom have a fascination with Javascript by wowbagger · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Like so many sites, the folks who did the web pages for Shuttle Computer Group seem to think that nothing can be done without Javascript - you cannot even view their site with JS turned off. I do wish these so-called web designers would realize that some of us either cannot run JS, or choose not to.

    I went to the Shuttle site trying to see if they had non-P4 systems - I'd rather get a 1800MHz processor that runs like 2200MHz than a 2200MHz processor that runs like 1800MHz. Also, I'd like to know how compatible this system is with Linux.

    Lastly, while it has 2 optical SPDIF ports, I'd like to have a unit with a co-ax port. Why? My stereo has one optical and one co-ax input, and the optical is being used by my DirectTivo - I'd like to use the co-ax for my MP3 player.

    Of course, what I'd really like is a simple USB -> SPDIF converter - no other I/O, just USB in and SPDIF co-ax out.

    --
    www.eFax.com are spammers
  11. will anybody ever figure it out??? by j1mmy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    they put a headphone jack, usb ports, and firewire up front, but the KEYBOARD AND MOUSE PORTS ARE STILL IN BACK. Are designers just dense? Many people actually use ps/2 mice and keyboards. If you're going to put ports up front, why not these too?

    1. Re:will anybody ever figure it out??? by zrodney · · Score: 3, Insightful

      buy yourself a new keyboard and mouse -- usb

    2. Re:will anybody ever figure it out??? by Webmonger · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Only ports that people need frequent access to belong in the front. If you're constantly changing your keyboard and mouse, you should stop eating soup over your computer.

  12. Re:Change in view? by stinkydog · · Score: 3, Funny

    Cleaning?

    I think a have a Vic-20 composting at the bottom of my cable pile. Just plug antoher power strip in and add another hub and you are good to go. I figure in a couple of years the cable pile will be nice and fertile and I will be able to plant some optrons there.

    SD

    --
    âoeWho knew something as harmless as willful ignorance could end up having real consequences?â
  13. SV24 Power Supply by Sean+Clifford · · Score: 3, Informative
    I RMAed my power supply directly to shuttle and they sent it back. I duct-taped an ATX power supply to the SV24 until the new one came in, then just swapped them out. Contact them and see if they'll replace just the power supply. If not, ask them if you can just buy a power supply. They've been very accomodating with me so far and components do fail, so they should be more than willing to sell you one - even if they won't replace it.

    (note - I'm not affiliated with Shuttle in any way, shape, or form)

  14. Another review.. by rehabdoll · · Score: 4, Informative

    Firingsquad also has a review up.

    http://firingsquad.gamers.com/

  15. Re:Upgradability goes further than just the mobo by Oculus+Habent · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is why this computer isn't for everyone. When you buy small, integrated systems, you instantly sacrifice some level of upgrades and expansion for the small box.

    Small, expandable, inexpensive. Pick two.

    --
    That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  16. Nifty design, but not that quiet by koreth · · Score: 4, Informative
    Three cheers to Shuttle for taking noise into account in their design, but I hardly think it's reasonable to describe 51dB as "near-silent" like the review does. With careful selection of components and some custom tweaks (replacing power supply fans, etc.) it's not too outrageously difficult to get a reasonably powered PC in the mid-30dB range. My desktop PC is about 35dB and it's still louder than I'd like.

    If you're willing to go with water cooling or something like the CALM System's evaporative cooling, you can get even quieter than that. Or you can do what I did and run cables under the floor so you can put the thing in a closet and shut the door.

    Yahoo's Silent-PC list and AVS Forum have lots of good info on building PCs a lot quieter than the new Shuttle.

    But not as tiny!

  17. Differing definitions of "good" by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Thanks for your input. If it's comparable to any SB, then it's pretty good for an onboard sound chipset. Not that I'm saying SB is better than most - Even super-cheapie Yamaha chipset cards are "acceptable", i.e. I can't tell the difference for gaming/home multimedia use.

    My definition of "bad" is the onboard audio on VIA KT266 chipsets, such as my Epox EP-8KHA. It SUCKS. It has this obscenely loud high-pitched squealing that gives you a splitting headache on 1-2 minutes flat. Needless to say, I'm now VERY wary of onboard audio solutions.

    --
    retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?