CDRinfo.com: "Superb performance in small dimensions"
 The British IT online magazine CDRinfo.com recently tested the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 and managed to completely convince the editors with its "very good looking" design, the overall build quality the editors had "no complaints" about and "superb performance."
In other words, the SN27P2 the box "is exactly what Shuttle advertises."
The Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 is "Shuttle's proposal for the AM2 platform," write the editors of CDRinfo.com. Having unpacked the "well packaged and secure box" the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 which is built around the new P2 chassis is "very good looking," reports CDRinfo.com. A look inside reveals capacity for up to 8GB of RAM, thanks to 4 DDR2 memory slots and room for up to three hard disks.
Furthermore, the P2 chassis also features "improved cooling and airflow" and "a redesigned drive cage assembly." According to CDRinfo.com, the case "is light," but feels "very solid at the same time." With that in mind, "adding fast memory and VGA card, you can get a powerful, small box, able to play the latest demanding applications and of course games," explain the editors the market the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 is targeted at.
The front and back panel of the barebone provide a vast connectivity with six USB 2.0 ports, two FireWire ports external SATA, S/PDIF, 8-channel sound a clear CMOS button which is "very convenient," according to CDRinfo.com. Thanks to the number of connectors, "the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 is ready to connect to all your modern digital devices. Cameras, music players, VoIP phones, printers and USB flash drives."
Important to note about the SN27P2 is the ease of installation. "You don't have to worry about cabling" due to the integrated cable management. "Good move from Shuttle," the editors praise.
Performance-wise, the Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 "was found to be as fast as standard desktop AM2 motherboards in all tests," report the editors of CDRinfo.com. That said, "it includes all options for gamers and enthusiast users wanting superb performance and features in small dimensions," they add.
Pros:
- Small dimensions and light in weight
- Good retail package with additional cables
- Very good finish and solid aluminium structure
- Very good motherboard performance
- Four memory banks with up to 8GB DDR2 800MHz support
- Can hold three HDDs and one optical drive without any problems
- Uncluttered, keeps CPU temperature low
- Internal space is clean and tidy, you won't have problem installing all pieces together
- Has extra PCI and PCI-E slots for easy upgrades
- Shuttle offers several expansion slots for USB2.0, Wifi and card readers but at additional cost
- Can be overclocked under Windows with Nvidia nTune
- Has good overclocking capabilities
- Build-in PSU can handle VGA cards like Nvidia 7600GT/7900GS
- Drivers for VISTA are available from http://www.shuttle.com/
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