New Shuttle PC shopping list

[Kotatsu Neko]

I've been using an SB61G2 for a year and a bit now. 1gb RAM, 2x250gb HDs, Radeon 9800 Pro 256mb.

Overall, it's a great system, but not without it's problems.

- Noise. It's loud, really loud. Even when the fan is at it's lowest spin it's very audible and considerably noisier than my old Dell system. When I fire up a game, it's like sitting next to a vacuum cleaner.

- Heat. The front and gfx card side of the case are always hot, and when running Doom 3, almost too hot to touch. Worse, the heat is so extreme with Doom 3 (no other game though) that the memory overheats and I get on screen corruption,

I gather they are better now, and the slightly larger models now have completely different internals with much better air flow, as well as latest gen stuff such as PCI Express.

[marcus]

The wattage is a concern to me. I have a 350watt PSU I could use, but I dont know if they need to be a special size in view of the Shuttle casing. Is 250 likely to cause me any problems?

[Nijo]

Can't you stick the PSU on the outside with those things? (Sorry, not an expert).

[Super Stu]

The PSU is a special size (as you'd expect) and, from a health a safety perspective, wants to be inside the case.

[kazurm]

The wattage is a concern to me. I have a 350watt PSU I could use, but I dont know if they need to be a special size in view of the Shuttle casing. Is 250 likely to cause me any problems?

I don't think you can switch them, other than that, I've read reviews of the SN95G5 where they were quite positive about the PSU, stating that although it is "only" 250watt, it is a quality one, which would be able to handle your specs.

I'm searching for those reviews now...

I think this is one, and maybe this another. Both have a 6800GT inside.

[Super Stu]

You can buy replacement PSUs for the shuttle cases, if that's what you mean by "switch".

[kazurm]

@ Marcus: Just added two reviews of the SN95G5 with a 6800GT in their respective testsystem. Please see my last post.

[Inertia_]

Marcus: trust me, you'll be fine with that PSU. As I said before, their efficiency puts them beyond comparison to conventional PSUs.

[smokedog]

My shuttle is only 240watts I think and its running a 6800Gt "flash to Ultra" no problems.

[superkully]

The 6800GT pulls around 110W and the AMD64 about 100W? Then you've got the fans and HDD with a little more...

Hmmm... I'm not a master electrician but that's cutting it quite close isn't it?

But if it's working for other people then that's bloody grand! Good luck Marcus, those little shuttles are perhaps the only computers with (sounding a complete nerd now) character.

[marcus]

My Galaxy GT6800 GT wont fit :/

Also just read this - too late now..

"With the drive cage removed, the SN95G5's internals are easily accessible. Like all G-series cubes, the AGP slot is mounted along the outside edge of the motherboard, precluding the use of double-wide graphics cards."

Any advice on a card to get, as good performance as possible that isnt double-wide..?

[Super Stu]

Arf, didn't realise all those 6th gen cards were 2 slots in width. Mind, the ATI didn't look it from the pics I saw, although I've only given em a cursory glance.

You'd think whomever sent the bits (OCuk?) would have twigged and piped in with a suggestion.

[marcus]

OC wouldnt of known I was buying a shuttle, as I bought that seperately.

[marcus]

Ive since ordered this - http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=301212&cks=PRL

[kazurm]

Sorry to say I could have told you that that card wouldn't fit in, but didn't know which card you had/went for.

Your choice looks good IMHO, I bought a Sapphire X800 PRO (not VIVO) myself. Mind you, there are 6800GTs out there that fit in, for example one from PNY. Performance-wise they're about equal, I'd say.