XPC SN85G4 and SN85G4V2

Full Gaming Power
The Reichelt/Shuttle SN85G4SY races through the benchmarks with very good results. It beats the competitors by narrow margin in the "3DMark2003" with 5.854 points, but outperforms them by far in the benchmarks "Far Cry" (26.3) and "UT 2004" (117.3 fps) at 1280x1024 resolution.
The Reichelt Shuttle SN85G4SY wins the Mini-PC comparison in superior style: Performance, equipment and craftsmanship are excellent for a price of 1.099 Euro.

Statement of the editor: "Sexy Power Dwarf"
My 28-kilo PC monster has not in the least any chance compared with the compact Shuttle SN85G4SY from Reichelt. This is especially true, when i want to go to a LAN party. I get into a sweat even when I just think about carrying my current PC. This "Black box" has not only a weight of just 4.5 kilo, but is also faster, more stylish and less expensive than my "big fatty" and I can go relaxed to every LAN party. (...)

+ high gaming performance
+ good craftsmanship
+ well equipped (Athlon 64/3200+, 512MB PC3200, ATi Radeon 9800Pro, S-ATA 160GB, 8x DVD,...)

Conclusion:

(...) What really impressed us is the way Shuttle managed to marry quiet operation and cool thermals together, and in of all their systems, it just happened to be an Athlon 64. The 2nd generation SN85G4 really shines with the upgraded ICE Cooling System and new SilentX 240 Watt PSU. The PSU runs far cooler than the previous generation, and the upgraded ICE does a fantastic job at cooling the Athlon 64. The temperature and noise measurements are almost hard to believe.
We were also impressed with several other aspects of the SN85G4V2 including the integrated cable management, (...), Serial-ATA RAID support, as well as the system’s potential for overclocking.
Shuttle’s upgraded XPC Installation Guide is also a welcome change, pointing out several aspects of Windows XP installation such as using a Serial-ATA driver and unplugging the media card reader, (...). (...) if you’re one of those people who’ve been waiting eagerly to upgrade to this new CPU, the SN85G4V2 makes a great SFF to go along with it.
With quieter operation, cooler temperatures, married with the sheer power of the Athlon 64 CPU, the SN85G4V2 is a worthy upgrade to the original SN85G4 and our recommendation for the best Athlon 64 based SFF available to date. The SN85G4V2 has won our SFFTech Recommended Product award hands down.

The Shuttle SN85G4 has already been tested before with a very good rating of 1.74. In this review it even improves its rating by 0.34 points. No surprise that it even obtains a "1.4" due to its good equipment: ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, Athlon 64 3200+ processor, 1024 MB DDR 400 memory, LG 8x DVD writer, 160GB serial ATA harddisk, card reader, Wireless-Lan and XPC backpack. The editors are sure "With the XPC SN85G4 Shuttle delivers one of the fastest mini PCs."

Conclusion: Super-fast SFF gaming PC!
Rating: 1.4

Conclusion:
The Shuttle SN85G4 impresses through its high performance and its low noise. In addition, it has a functional and well-engineered design, with a shining workmanship. (...)

Conclusion:

The Shuttle barebone caused no problems during our tests. It was absolutely stable all the time. Especially the improved power supply has to be pointed out compared to former barebones (...). The cooling idea is well thought over. Thanks to Cool&Quiet support, the SN85G4 is absolutely fit for living-room. Performance has also been improved since our AN50R test in October 2003.

What we liked :)

+ Very good stability and compatibility
+ Cool&Quiet support 
+ Very good performance 
+ Audio onboard with S/PDIF 
+ Onboard-LAN 
+ Good for overclocking 
+ Detailed manuals 
+ Plentiful delivery content 
+ SATA RAID 
+ Firewire 

After the convincing results of the barebone and after answering the question: "Would you use this product for your own needs?" with YES, the SN85G4 receives the Editor's Choice Award.

The passive cooling is impressive, and the highest temperature with overclocking is 60ºC at full load. And remember - this is with a very compact cooling system! Another nice feature is the 6in1 card reader in the front. This is with no doubt a great product.

Pros.

•  Small
•  Great design
•  Great performance
•  Overclocking potential
•  The accessories
•  6in1 card reader

Score: 95%

Ausstattung: 24/25 Punkten
Leistung: 14/15 Punkten

Fazit: Gute Leistungswerte, starke Grafikkarte und üppige Bestückung: Der Shuttle XPC ist ein guter Griff für alle, die viel PC in kleinem Gehäuse haben möchten. (...)

There must have been real excitement in the editorial department of PC Action: "Having just arrived at the editorial department, everyone pounced on this elegant, black, little PC with a greedy view in their eyes. The reflecting front appears noble and gives you a first impression of what is still to come inside." (...) "Hardware at its finest", is the verdict, because the "results are good" and "the SN85G4 is not only the right weapon for every LAN-party, but also a fast companion at home."

Conclusion:

Rating: 88% - PC Action Gold Award

Conclusion:

"Mesh" has taken a great little small form factor box and built a high-quality and well specified PC around it. (...)

Conclusion:
The Shuttle SN85G4 is a great machine. It boasts plenty of power under the hood and loads of features and extras, while presenting a very well designes and aesthetically pleasing exterior. 

Rating: 8/10 points

"Great configuration", judge the editors of the German gamer magazine "PC Games" about the Shuttle XPC SN85G4 - the "midrange sample of the XPC-gaming-series" includes the following components: XPC Barebone SN85G4 (black), Athlon 64 3200+ processor, 1024 MB DDR 400 RAM, ATI Radeon 9600 XT graphics, LG 8x DVD burner, 160GB Serial ATA hard disk drive, card reader, WLan and XPC-backpack.

"The noise of barebone-systems meets normally with criticsm because of the small cases and fans. The SN85G4 has a agreeable
working noise from 1.9 Sone because of the ICE-heatpipe. The noise doesn't rise at 3D-apllications."

Result: "The Shuttle XPC SN85G4 is not just a great alternative for LAN-parties but also by the attractive case perfect for the playroom."

• Processing: excellent
• Gaming-performance: good
• Final rating: 1.74 (excellent)

Built for AMD Athlon 64, the SN85G4 has a very good construction
(including cooling system), and is very silent.

All in all the Shuttle systems did very well.

PROS:
+ great speed
+ fantastic looks, performance without compromise

The Shuttle XPC is a veritable "mini-powerhouse", not only small and good-looking, but any Athlon64 processor can be inserted into its full nForce 3 motherboard. This is really something!

... here's the Shuttle SN85G4 - a mini-PC that can satisfy even the wildest demands of the most power hungry gamers. The XPCs we have seen so far have not been ugly at all, but this model is downright elegant. After we have removed the cover, we can see that in spite of the cramped interior everything is pretty much in order. The SN85G4 is based on the NVIDIA nForce 150 chipset. It supports all the socket 754 processors and has 2 "normal" DDR400 memory slots. Sufficient power is provided by a 240 Watt PFC power supply.

Advantage:
+ Athlon 64 CPU support
+ stylish looks
+ efficient and quiet cooling
+ good expandability
+ built-in cardreader

Performance 9/10
Design 9/10
Noise 8/10
Price 7/10

Translation:

80 % market share of Small Form Factor-PCs (SFF), over 400.000 XPCs sold so far, four years of experience and revolutionary, future-oriented technologies - if Shuttle had their way, this enumeration could be continued as you like. But it is not only their success letting them go a more aggressive and self-confident marketing on the sector of mini-barebone PCs.
Among well-tried things, the SN85G4 just outwardly features a plenty of innovations to be added partly innovative modifications on the inside. (...) It is not only the giant 240W PSU (not comparable to less powerful ATX-power supply units, the efficiency factor matters) that is now offered. Even the cooling does without noisy 40 mm fan. Instead of drawing the air off the PSU, now an internal 60 mm fan blows the cooling gas-mixture in the PSU. (...)
Great connectivity as usual, that is how the SN85G4 is presents itself from front to rear. The font panel is decorated with a line-in, mic-in, headset connector (line-out), two USB 2.0 connectors and one firewire. (...) The BIOS features wide selections and is clear- structured. (...) It is no doubt, the SN85G4 resp. its mainboard FN85 passed our test track the most brilliant of all circuit plates so far regarding compatibility. All modules were detected with its correct timings and ran perfectly under Windows according to its specifications.

Conclusion:

(...) We were totally shown the performance, we have expected from the Athlon 64 with a nForce 3 150. The system is in no way inferior to "grown-up" desktop systems and combines the best performance at present an AMD-user seeking for socket 754 can get with a shoebox-sized case. Very pleasing was in this context the compatiblity of RAM-modules. As the first mainboard, the FN85 was able to work with all modules without any problems. As a real progress compared with previous Shuttle-barebones we discovered the low noise development thanks to the improved PSU. In connection with Cool'n'Quiet, the system works in normal Windows operation very quietly. (...)
Front face plate, buttons, LEDs, connectors and case give us noble impression. The case is totally robust and free of sharp edges. (...) Regarding connectivity, it is in no way inferior to its predecessors. (...) To sum up: a barebone in reliable Shuttle quality has made a real step forward concerning speed and noise background without reducing looks, connectivity or workmanship. (...) Astonished looking people on the next LAN-party because of the system's potential performance is for free. That is why SN85G4 as the first barebone here on ComputerBase was given our "Leistungshammer-Award" for the best of performance. (...)

Conclusion:

Shuttle really has a hit on their hands with the XPC line of SFF PC’s. I now see why Shuttle is the leader in the SFF market. Shuttle has done a great job in the layout of the whole system considering the small amount of room to work with. Not only do you get stylish looks for such a small system, but you also get blazing fast performance to boot. The SN85G4 would make an awesome LAN box. Paired up with a 9800pro the SN85G4 will handle any current and future games very well. The lightweight and performance of the SN85G4 makes this a great choice for a people who frequent LAN’s. The SN85G4 will also make powerful HTPC with the optional remote and 802.11b wireless LAN. Overclocking was very easy and I was surprised at how well the SN85G4 overclocked considering its size and single fan. The performance of the Athlon64 and SN85G4 will surely put a smile on the face of any hardcore gamer, even at stock speeds. If you're tired of carrying that heavy full size tower to LAN’s and looking to upgrade I highly suggest you take a look at the SN85G4.

Pros

• Performance
• Size
• Detailed instructions
• Cooling System
• Sleek and Stylish

Recommended Product!

The latest system from Shuttle with its reflecting front face plate is super stylish. (...) The SN85G4 looks noble and valuable... (...)
The mainboard works with the current nForce3-chipset from nVidia. It offers good connectivity. (...) Besides it supports 6-channel-audio for a perfect cinema-sound. There are two active fans which are almost noiseless. Good: Hard disc and optical drive are not one on top of the other. This distance improves the cooling. Shuttle offers a wide range of accessoiries, which includes remote control, carrying bag and WLAN module and more.

Conclusion: The SN85G4 is a really piece of jewellery.

+ workmanship
+ design

Test result: "very good"

Fazit SN85G4:

Wer auf kleinstem Raum für die neue 64-Bit-Technik gewappnet sein will, liegt mit dem SN85G4 goldrichtig.

Fazit gesamt:

(...) Überhaupt merkt man es den XPC Würfeln an, das Shuttle den Job schon ein Weilchen macht. (...) Aber sie liefern das rundeste Konzept mit den wenigsten Schwächen und wissen, wie man mögliche Stolpersteine umgeht (...).  

Shuttle’s has put together a nice looking barebone that is going to have no problem competing as one of the best on the market. It looks great with its black look and mirror front. Besides this, it comes equipped with a 6-in-1 card reader. Its design is similar to the ones found in previous barebones from Shuttle. There hasn’t been changed much but I see this as a good thing since it works very well. Since the barebone is based on nVidia’s new nForce3 chipset, it has a lot to offer: USB2.0, FireWire, S/PDIF and SATA RAID. (...) The small fan in the power supply has gone inside the machine and helps to keep the system cool. (...)

Pros:

+Performance 
+The design 
+Overclocking capability 
+SATA RAID 
+FireWire 
+USB2.0 
+S/PDIF ports 
+Black aluminum chassis 
+The new nForce3 chipset 
+6-in-1 card reader 
+Reasonable software package 
+Good user-manual 
+It comes with everything you need to get started

Excellent Product Award!

PC Gameplay Netherlands
issue of Feb. 2004

"For gamers, Shuttle PC's are a much better alternative than a Latop Pc: they are easier to upgrade, cost less and perform just as strong as a fullsize PC. "

Fazit:

(...) Wir müssen ehrlich zugeben, dass wir von Shuttles neuem Athlon 64 Barebone vom ersten Moment an sehr begeistert waren und das bis jetzt auch noch sind. Trotz des geringen Platzvorrates integriert Shuttle eine Reihe von Features auf das Board bzw. in den Barebone, die so manches Standard-ATX-Board gerne hätte. Überzeugend sind auch die sehr ausgereiften Techniken, wie zum Beispiel die Befestigung der Festplatte oder auch der Einbau von PCI- und AGP-Karte. Natürlich ist auf einem solch geringen Raum auch das Kühlen der einzelnen Komponenten alles andere als einfach, doch Shuttle hat mit der I.C.E.-Technologie genau die richtige Lösung gefunden, welche Leistung und niedrige Lärmbelästigung vereint. Wie man gesehen hat, war auch ein Overclocking problemlos möglich, wozu auch das umfangreiche Bios seinen Teil dazu beiträgt. (...)

Punkte: 84

Conclusion:

(...) In terms of power, the SN85G4 is the most powerful SFF box which we’ve seen as of yet, and if you throw in an Athlon64 3200+ processor, some high-quality DDR-400 memory, and a Radeon 9800XT, you’ve got just an incredible little PC which can match the power of any desktop gaming machine. This little thing can scream in applications, simulations, anything really which requires intensive computing power. (...) On the plus side, we’re very happy that Shuttle has an integrated memory card in their bezel now, and that they’ve moved away from their shrill power supplies. Like always, Shuttle’s XPC systems are easy to setup, user-friendly in almost every way, and they flat out just work like they are supposed to. (...) Still, it’s a great little box, and we would not hesitate to recommend them. 

Positive Punkte des Shuttle SN85G4 :

prächtige Ausstattung (LAN, SATA, USB2.0, Sound, FireWire, 6in1 Card-Reader etc.)
schickes Design, gute Verarbeitung, gutes Layout 
gute RAM Kompatibilität und Stabilität 
gute Performance
gute OC-Eigenschaften und Ergebnisse
Support von Cool´n´Quiet - sehr leises Barebone-System

Athlon 64 power in a small form factor is the best feature of the SFF. With a fancy new exterior and built in removable memory slots Shuttle has made definitely improvements in style and functionality. With the optional 802.11b module that does not take up one of the PCI slots, and built in SATA ports the expandability and airflow in the case is event better. Overclocking features for the Shuttle are excellent and the line of accessories available far exceed those of other small form factors.

Conclusion:

Shuttle has combined the power of the Athlon 64 in an attractive small form factor package, and they have continued to outpace the competition. (...) We give the Shuttle SN85G4 our full approval, (...). (...) If you want the most powerful, expandable, and good looking small form factor on the market then the SN85G4 is for you.

SOCK IT TO 'EM AWARD!

There is a lot to like about the Shuttle SN85G4 XPC. Shuttle's new G4 chassis is more aesthetically pleasing that all of their previous XPCs, and the omission of the external 3.5" floppy drive bay in favor of a 6-in-1 card reader was a wise choice in our opinion. The nForce3 150 chipset powering this system offers excellent performance and compatibility, and is loaded with useful features, (...). The overall performance of the SN85G4 was great, and proves that you no longer need a full tower and an ATX motherboard to have a high-end PC. Couple this system with a Radeon 9800 Pro, an Athlon 64 3200+ and a some fast memory and you've got yourself one powerful mini-machine. (...) the SN85G4 is also priced competitively with other flagship SFF systems. (...) We feel Shuttle has done well with the SN85G4. (...) Based on its excellent feature set, top-notch performance and stylish looks, we're giving the Shuttle SN85G4 a 9 on the HotHardware Heat Meter.