Shuttle XPC SB65G2: Big Performance in This Small Package

Final Words

The evolution of the Small Form Factor systems has been interesting to watch since AnandTech first looked at a Shuttle SFF in late 2001. That early system was a Shuttle Socket 370, and was as different in performance from the XPC SB65G2 as you can imagine. The early reviews talked about how cute, handy and quiet the SFF systems were, and we forgave the less than stellar performance as a necessary compromise for the small size.

That’s quite a change to the SB65G2 we are evaluating today. This system is being compared to the very best 865/875 systems recently reviewed, and it is holding its own against them. We even evaluated overclocking a system that’s barely larger than a toaster — a system already running a 3.0 800FSB CPU with 1GB of dual-channel memory and the current power hungry top-of-the line ATI Radeon 9800 PRO. Our toaster-size SFF overclocked just fine. In every test we ran, it was as stable, cool, and quiet as you could want in a computer.

We have now reached the point where we will compare the SFF to any PC we test, which means you will have to forget thinking about the SFF as a cute compromise. As we have clearly shown in the benchmarks, the SB65G2 is a great system compared to any 865/875 system. It is still cute, maybe even elegant, but we can no longer consider it compromised.

The other area where Shuttle has done a stellar job is increasing the performance to completely competitive levels while maintaining, or even improving, the quietness we have come to enjoy with the better SFF systems. Our Noise Level measurements show the Shuttle remains one of the quietest machines available when running on the low setting for the ICE cooling fan. In all our tests and overclocking, the fan never once needed to kick into higher cool, so you can comfortably expect quiet operation from the SB65G2.

This brings us to a new twist on the SFF machines, and that is value. With the barebone SB65G2 selling for less than $300, you will need to compare the cost and convenience of the SFF XPC box to the cost of conventional components when building a system. The price for a balanced Aluminum chassis PC, power supply, top-performing Springdale motherboard, and effective and very quiet heatpipe cooling system seems a very good value. If you would prefer the same system with integrated graphics, the Shuttle XPC SB61G2 is also available at about the same price. It also has the 8X AGP slot, so there is room for that future graphics upgrade.

Consider the Shuttle XPC SB65G2, a full-featured, top-performing Springdale in a very small and quiet system at a very good price. If that appeals to you, then the Shuttle XPC SB65G2 or the SB61G2 will definitely please you.

If you are looking for a capable SFF system, then continue checking our reviews at AnandTech. There are several other interesting SFF system reviews that are in the works.