Shuttle XPC ST61G4: Tiny Computer with Big Integrated Video
by Wesley Fink on January 23, 2004 12:23 PM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Shuttle XPC ST61G4: The Test
Neither the ATI 9100IGP, which is Direct X 8.1, nor the Intel 865G are capable of running every benchmark in our standard system tests. However, since ATI and Shuttle fully expect the ST61G4 to be purchased for the integrated graphics capabilities, it is important to compare performance of ATI 9100 IGP to Intel 865G. We ran all the benchmarks that did not require DX 9 on both an Intel 865G SFF and the ST61G4. This should give you a good idea of how the performance of the ATI 9100IGP compares to Intel's integrated video solution.In addition, we ran the full suite of benchmarks with our standard ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card, to provide better data for comparison of the ATI chipset to the performance of Intel 865/875chipset-based systems.
In all benchmarks, we had to run the Mushkin PC3500 Level II and the OCZ 3500 Platinum Ltd at 2-3-3-6 timings. The system would not boot at all with 2-2-2-5 timings, or 2-2-3-6. The ATI 9100IGP apparently requires slower memory timings because, even when left on Auto, the Mushkin memory, which has SPD timings of 2-2-2-6 at DDR400, was reset by the board to 2-3-3-6 timings.
| Performance Test Configuration | |
| Processor(s): | Intel 3.0 800FSB Pentium 4 |
| RAM: | 2 x 512MB Mushkin PC3500 Level II 2 x 512MB OCZ 3500 Platinum Ltd |
| Hard Drive(s): | Seagate 120GB 7200 RPM (8MB Buffer) |
| Bus Master Drivers: | Intel INF Update v5.00.1012 Intel IAA for 875P RAID not installed for consistency of Test Results |
| Video Card(s): | ATI 9100IGP Integrated Graphics Intel 865G Integrated Graphics ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB |
| Video Drivers: | ATI Catalyst 3.10 |
| Operating System(s): | Windows XP Professional SP1 |
| Motherboards: | Shuttle ST61G4 (9100IGP) Soltek Qubic EQ3401M (865PE) Biostar iDEQ 200T (865G) Shuttle XPC SB65G2 (865PE) Asus P4C800-E (875P) ABIT IS7-G (865PE) |
All performance tests with the ATI 9800 PRO 128MB video card were run with the AGP Aperture set to 128MB with Fast Write enabled. Resolution in all benchmarks is 1024x768x32 unless otherwise stated.
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marvinpa - Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - link
From all of the reviews I got the impression this box would be very quiet, butthis was not the case. With expectations given by these reviews I must say the machine
keeps quite a loud humming sound. It has 4 fans in it, but the loudest is the one
connected to the cpu heatpipe in the back. The metal casing is also sensitive to resonance
sounds which are quite annoying.
Installing the sata drive was also quite an annoyance.
Apart from that the machine does perform quite well, and is optically pleasing.
Johnmcl7 - Sunday, April 4, 2004 - link
I see recommendations to go with an 865G system, but no actual SFF recommendations - would anyone care to provide some? I'm looking to rehome my 533Mhz P4, not bothered about overclocking and I like the look of the G4 case, as it's quieter and temps are lower. However, I do wish to use a 9800 pro graphics card, so I've been also looking at the Soltek EQ3401, however, this has no card reader and the temperatures are higher although it is slightly cheaper.John
sprockkets - Friday, January 30, 2004 - link
The ICE exhaust fan has always been 80mm on Shuttle systems. I use a Panaflo fan to make my system quiet. The picture of the rear of this unit seems dated because the new power supply has a new grill with less restrictions. Unless they changed that. The power supply in my Shuttle ss40G sounds ok to me, with a 2400+ Thorton installed and a Hitachi 120GB drive with Linux and Distributed Folding running it goes around 41C internal and 51c for the processor.SupermanCK - Thursday, January 29, 2004 - link
why no temperature readings...i can make a very quiet case too if there are no fans inside...i think that whenever you have a review with sound measured, you should always measure the temperature of the case too...artifex - Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - link
Well, from what I've been reading on the manufacturer website, there actually is a floppy connector on the mobo, and a cable, so you could install with an open case and leave the floppy hanging out in order to have the drivers for the SATA RAID when it asks for them.Still, in the future it'd be nice if actual useability issues like this were addressed a bit more. I'm not asking you to imagine all possible configurations, or anything, but if it says it supports something, a quick test to see if it's practically useable might be nice :)
SUOrangeman - Monday, January 26, 2004 - link
Just as an aside, there is apparently a way to embed drivers (for such things like RAID controllers) into you Win2K/XP/2K3 discs. I don't think that method was used in this case.In my free time, I'll have to see if this method actually works.
-SUO
vedin - Monday, January 26, 2004 - link
::doesn't know jack about setting up RAID:: Um, use a bootable CD?artifex - Sunday, January 25, 2004 - link
still wondering about the RAID/installation issue :)Wesley Fink - Sunday, January 25, 2004 - link
PrinceGaz -Thanks for catching the typo - corrected.
PrinceGaz - Sunday, January 25, 2004 - link
Looks like a nice small and quiet box for a caravan, dorm-room or the like, but it could never replace my main box.Its nice to see Intel have a sense of humour with their "Extreme" graphics, or is it meant to stand for "extremely slow"?
One slight typo on page 11- "As we have done on other SFF tests, the ST61G4 was loaded just as a user would likely set up their SFF system. We installed a 3.0 P4, 1 Mb DDR400 memory..." - personally I'd install slightly more memory in my SFF system ;)