2006-02-07 - Hjemme PC: "8 out of 10 points"

"Dual-Core action in a shoebox-sized cube," was the experience the editors of the Norwegian computer magazine Hjemme PC had with the Shuttle XPC Barebone SD31P. The "liten boks", Norwegian for "little box", was surrounded by a lot of praise, when it left the labs of Hjemme PC. Its large capacity of the case and support for Intel Dual Core processors helped it manage good marks.

It's up three hard disks the Shuttle XPC Barebone SD31P can house, making the testers favouring the Shuttle XPC Barebone SD31P. Once the case is taken off and the assembly is started, the easy mounting of the hard disks becomes obvious. The integrated drive cage with rails is an excellent alternative to tiny fixing screws. The hard disks could be installed without great efforts of work and time.

The barebone's heart is the Intel 945G chipset, already featuring built-in onboard graphics and the sound chip from Creative offers 7.1 channel surround sound. "This is kind of a quality seal", praise the editors from Hjemme PC. In addition to that the editors credited the Shuttle XPC Barebone SD31P for its "great potential for high speed operation" that could be managed due to the Intel Pentium D processors working inside. Of course, the testers were curious to see how Shuttle could cool the CPU with the punch-packing performance. Even here the Shuttle XPC Barebone could score, as under full load the cooling stood its ground and the initially expected "deafening air flow" didn't turn up.

Conclusion:

"The Shuttle XPC Barebone SD31P is a small, stylish box with clever innovation and great potential for high speed operation."

Positiv:

• Very easy assembly
• Space for up to three hard disks
• Great potential for high speed operation

Overall:

• 8 out of 10 points

Source: Hjemme PC, December issue 2005