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Shuttle XPC SB81P Barebones Runs Cool and Quiet
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1. PCI Express And Socket 775 Now Available In Barebones

Intel's latest Socket 775, which represents Intel's vision of future PC applications Socket 775 , is now available in a Barebones form factor in Shuttle's XPC SB81P.

To appreciate the XPC SB81P, a look inside the box is warranted. This motherboard has the Intel i915G chipset with Socket 775. The i915G's integrated graphics feature DirectX9 functionality. The performance of the integrated graphics core, also called Graphics Media Accelerator 900 or GMA 900 for short, is enough for older games, which involves less sharp graphics during gameplay. For typical office and 2D applications, the GMA 900 provides more than enough performance.

Along with the new CPU socket, the motherboard features another novelty, namely a PCI Express expansion slot for 16x graphics cards. The new Intel platform means that users should not expect to find an AGP slot.

Simple black design

Easy to take along: box with carrying handle
2. Quiet Barebones With PCI Express, Continued

Front ports: USB, FireWire and audio

Rear view: peripheral connections

Modest onboard graphics: 3D firepower falls short
3. New: PCI Express And Socket 775

The XPC SB81P is the first, but certainly not the only Barebones to have the new PCI Express interface for graphics cards. As the logical next step, Intel's new Socket 775 is now to make its entrance into the realm of mini-PCs as well. This model still does without DDR2 support; the XPC SB81P still works with "regular" DDR modules. Working storage can be expanded up to 4 GB. For optimal memory performance the little Shuttle requires two identical DIMM modules that are operated in dual-channel mode.

The next XPC Barebones version will support the still quite expensive DDR2 memory according to the manufacturer.

Onboard sound was upgraded in the XPC SB81P from 5.1 to 7.1. The sound ports are all located on the back of the Barebones.

The new PCI/PCI Express team

Read about Socket 775 .
4. View Into The Interior

The three knurled screws on the Barebones can be easily removed in order to open the XPC SB81P's case. First the drive cage has to be taken out. To do this, two cable ties have to be removed, which are only there for added security in transport. Once the cage has been taken out you get a usual view of life on the inside. The CPU socket is covered up by a tunnel system made up of fans, plastic covering and a CPU cooling unit. Only after you've taken off these plastic parts and disconnected the CPU fan can you actually see the new Socket 775 for Intel processors.

It's got to go, else you can't install anything.

Installation is easiest from the top.
5. View Into The Interior, Continued

Open system: lots of room for putting in hardware

The expansion card slots also take some getting used to in the way they look because there is no familiar AGP slot. To expand the onboard graphics this system requires a graphics card with PCI Express interface.

6. Ventilation Duct Provides Adequate Cooling

The cooling system is new too, being used in the XPC SB81P for the first time. The Barebones' case lid is not totally enclosed, but rather has a number of small, square ventilation slits in the side panels towards the front through which air is sucked into the case. The air is then blown through a plastic duct through the heatpipe and cooling ribs of the CPU fan. Finally, another fan rapidly ejects the heated air on the opposite side.

The principle is simple, but ingenious. Our measurements showed that the air outflow reaches a temperature of 51°C. Two plastic air ducts and two fans make sure that as little heat as possible makes it into the interior of the Barebones.

If you think that these fans make a great deal of noise, you are mistaken. Even after several hours under full load our gauge indicated only 41 dB(A).

It's got to come through this hollow passage, the air does

In on the right, out on the left, without interior warming
7. Ventilation Duct For Proper Cooling, Continued

Large ventilation apertures for air in and outflow.

Quiet CPU cooling with heatpipe technology

Keeping a cool head: still in the green zone after nearly 3 hours
8. Accessories

Everything you need is included in the package. Three manuals in English make mounting the hardware easier. The motherboard and ICH6R chip set are described in great detail. Installing drives, CPU and working storage is explained at length with color pictures.

Exemplary: many good user manuals

CD-ROM with drivers and software

Drive rails for CD-ROM and hard drives
9. Conclusion

With the XPC SB81P Shuttle has shown that the latest technologies like PCI Express and Socket 775 don't have to stop short at Barebones. CPU cooling is done quickly and effectively by a clever system made up of fans and heatpipe to remove heat generated by the CPU's high dissipation levels before it is able to heat up the Barebones' interior. Under full load the CPU exhaust reaches a good 50°C, which is remarkable at a decibel level of 41 dB(A).

Technical Data

Manufacturer and Model Shuttle XPC SB81P
Dimensions 330 x 220 x 220mm
Connections & Controls
Front
Audio 1x mic & 1x headphones
USB 2x USB 2.0 Type A
FireWire IEEE 1394 1x 6-pin
Card reader SD, MMC, SM, CF, MS
Buttons Reset, Power On
Drive Bays 1x 5.25" & 1x 3.5"
Back
PS/2
Monitor-out 1x VGA, (not DVI)
USB 2x USB 2.0 Type A
FireWire IEEE 1394 1x 6-pin
Serial / parallel port 1x / no
Sound 5x (usable as 7.1)
SP-DIF 1x in, 1 x out
Coaxial RCA no
LAN 1x (10/100/1000)
S-Video no
Composite (Cinch) no
Modem no
Fans
CPU 1x 85mm (310 g)
Power supply 1x 80mm
System/Case 2x 60mm
Motherboard
CPU support Intel Pentium 4 (incl. Prescott)
Socket LGA775
FSB clock 533, 800 MHz
Northbridge Intel 915G/Grantsdale
Southbridge Intel ICH6R
Memory
Type DDR SDRAM
Classification DDR333, DDR400
Mode Dual-Channel
No. of slots 2
Max. memory 4 GB
ECC/Registered Memory no/no
Onboard Graphics
Manufacturer/Chipset Intel 915G/Grantsdale
Memory in MB Framebuffer 1, 4, 8, 16, 32
Fixed memory 64 or 128
internal I/O components
Storage Controller ICH6-R
Storage Ports IDE 1x UltraATA/100
Storage Ports Serial ATA 4x S-ATA 150
RAID Support yes, only via S-ATA
Floppy Controller yes
Network Controller Broadcom Gigabit
Expansion slots
PCI Slots 1x 32 Bit PCI 2.3
PCI Express Slots 1x (16 Lanes)
AGP Slots no
On-Board Audio
Type AC97 2.2
Surround support 7.1 Channel
User Manual English
Cables S-ATA, IDE
Remote Control no
Software Driver, InterVideo Home Theater