Small Form Factor Which Shuttle to buy

Hey All,

Long time viewer first time poster.

Recently i upgraded my AMD processor to a 3000+ from a 1700+. I quickly learned that i would need to reinstall windows due to some issues arising from this upgrade. This has lead me down the path of a total system upgrade.

I really like small forfactor machines. My current rig is a Antec Minuet Case with a shuttle MN31N mobo and the afore mentioned processor. I originally bought this mobo because it had 2 video outputs(great for prgraming DBs). The graphics are pretty mediocer but in general it has served me very well.

I don't have alot of funds to work with but i do know i will be spending top dollar on a very nice grapics card. most likley the Nvidia 6800 GT AGP so i can get alot of milage out of it.
Video Card

My question is which shuttle barebones should i pick up. i have been flipping between two modles. Keeping in mind i have a socket a proc and really will not be uprgading this for sometime due to the capital investment in the 6800.

First Choice
Second Choice

I am pretty sure that the video card will take up the extra PCI slot so i will be using the onboard sound. Does anyone know if i can use the 6800 as the primary and the onboard for extra monitors?

Any input would be welcomed.

Thanks,
Kenn

 

I hear good things about the SN45. I'm either would suit your needs. I have the XPC myself (s478 version) and I love it to bits.

 

I have the SN45 but Ive built an Ideq 200N which is very similar to the SN41 with the same geforce 4mx graphics.

If you're not playing too intensive graphics games then the SN41 will do, but I'd say go with the SN45, its cheaper cause it doesnt have the onboard graphics and then buy a second hand geforce 5200 or ati 9600 or 9800 pro as these will give you much better graphics on games.

The 6800GT only has a single slot cooler, you cannot use any double slot graphics cards because they are ordered differently with the AGP slot being next to the side of the case and then you get the PCI slot.

I guess this is so some of the heat from the graphics card and exhaust through the side holes of the case.

To your last point I dont know if you can use the onboard graphics as a secondary monitor. Now I may be getting some of this wrong but I thought that the systems with onboard graphics use some of the system memory for graphics so you sacriifice some memory. So if you're buying a 6800GT most come with 2 monitor outs 1xdv1 and 1xdsub. Buy an XFX card and you can get one with 2xdvi outputs, that way you can disable the onboard.

 

Please don't buy a geforece fx5200, you can't game with them at all. It's not even in the same league as a 6800GT.

Yea as JonDixon said, the SN45G (btw the SN45Gv3 has come out now with some other features, may be worth looking into) only has space for a single slot graphics card, so if you've got a graphics card with a cooler that takes up its own slot, you're not gonna be able to fit it in. If you're looking at high end cards still, then try to find a single slot 6800GT or get a 6600GT, as these have single slot coolers. Got one running in my SN45Gv3 and it's brilliant.

 

I suggested a 5200 or something similar in replace of the geforce 4mx on-board graphics.

As most cards give better performance than that and 2nd hand can be picked up for $30-$50

 

Thanks for the great input guys.

After posting i did some more browsing on newegg.
May go with a higherend card the 6800 Ultra. But i see it does have the extra large cooler. I was already going with a dual DVI card so when prices on LCD's come down in the next year i can invest in them. It is only a 100 bucks more for a very sweet card, i think this even the one you need to run the new Apple 30in display. I have dedicated 500 to the card knowing it will last me a long time with good performance.

I see what you mean about the AGP being on the outside. I am not above cutting the side to fit the cooler, may even look good if it is nice tight fit. Hell i might even just leave the cover off.

 

I'd watch out for leaving it too close if i were you, if you're unlucky you might have to leave the side off because it simply won't fit. Not a nice situation to be in really. The 6800/6600GT with a small cooler might be a better idea and in truth they aren't that much different except in high-performance gaming, but then you generally have to have the system to back it up too.

 

that is a real good point krikkit. i do play a few games that would benifit from the better card, but anything would be a vast improvement to what i have right now. My biggest concerns are dual display and not with 2 different cards, or using the system onboard and addin.

what about power? can the shuttle handle a 6800GT?

Blue infinity which card are you using you never specifically said between the 6600 and 6800.

 

I have an sn45g and its my baby!

I don't think the 200w psu can handle a 6800gt but it can handle a 9800xt no probs according to shuttle. If I was installing a 6800gt in one Id get a silentx psu like this one http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1761.html
they can handle 6800gt's ect and will fit an sn45g. Personaly I woulden't bother with all this and would get an sn45g and a 6600gt which is lower power consumption and runs cooler. Its much cheaper and still vastly supirior to cards like the 9800po ect.

 

I'd say a shuttle can easily handle a 6800GT, the shuttle PSUs are extremely high quality.

I'm using an XFX 6600GT (pic: www.nuclearchimp.com/xfx_card_heatsink.jpg ) and it runs fine on the Shuttle 250W PSU, it's also able to play most games at high resolution and high detail so it's great value.

 

Sorry about the repost but I'm in a hurry, lots of things to do...

The Shuttle SN45Gv3 comes with the new SilentX 250W PSU, so if he gets that then I'd say there would be enough power for a 6800GT.

 

awsome deal fellas,

i was browsing for the v3 but can not find a reseller her in the us. so i think i am going with the v2 and the 6800GT.

Thanks again for all the great advice.

 

No problem mate, let us know how it goes!

 

I'm sure the V2 comes with the 250W SilentX PSU anyway doesn't it?

Anyway, good choice. To be honest, there's probably no point spending any more on the GFX. Even a 3000+ will hold back a 6800Ultra, so I reckon a 6800GT is a good choice

 

Mine didn't

 

Upgrading your CPU won't require a fresh install of windows

 

Buy mine! (in sig) j/k i know you want a socket A, but realy if you were gonna do alot of gaming it may not be a bad idea to upgrade to a socket 754, you can get a low end AMD 64 for around 100$

 

Quick catchup

Just caught up on all the posts and will answer all the questions I saw:

1, The only difference between the v2 and the v3 model is the v3 now has onboard SATA. Both models have exactly the same psu (250w silentx)

2, The v2 and v3 can both handle running a 6800GT. I have an XFX 6800GT in mine and has dual DVI output, so if you're requirement is dual display this card is perfect.

3. No ultra card will fit in a shuttle fact. Also as most ultras have 2 molex connectors as well, I think a shuttle will struggle to power it.

4, I have a 3200 400fsd XP chip and I can definately say that with the 6800GT the bottleneck is now cpu, so Im looking to upgrade to 939.

 

unless you upgrade your mobo at the same time