XPC ST61G4

Shuttle XPC ST61G4 pulls the Tweak'O meter to 90 points. This is for the smart and cool design, and the incredible noiseless operation you get. (...)

The ZEN XPC SFF barebone from Shuttle goes well with a cool designer living room.

Translation: "XPC Office is the second system bult by a non-Intel chipset, the award "Record of the month" being more important for that reason. Serving the slogan "risk and win", the Shuttle specialists has used an Ati 9100 IGP chipset."

Shuttle the pioneer of SFF (Small Form Factor) PC, constantly upgrades its series of small PCs either by adding more features or by using different chipsets to keep one step ahead of the ever growing competition. (...)
Housed in the usual aluminium Shuttle case, but with a totally new front bezel, the ST61G4 offers the integrated package you come to expect from the SFF design. (...) The new style of bezel really sets the ST61G4 apart from all the cube PCs out there; it´s dominated by a full-width chrome panel, which makes the whole thing look very stylish. (...)
The processor is cooled by Shuttle´s own heatpipe design and, despite an 8cm case fan and a northbridge fan, the ST61G4 is still whisper quiet. (...)
Despite its size, Shuttle´s ST61G4 could and should form the basis of a fast PC, which will easily equal most full-size desktops.

Verdict: Often limitated, rarely bettered, Shuttle´s new SFF barebones system is a good as ever!

PROS: 
+ Build quality
+ integrated features

With the new G4 chassis, Shuttle claims that they have reached new levels of quiet. Since Shuttle is famous for their quiet SFF systems, we were particularly interested in how the ST61G4 stacks up in quietness to recent SFF systems that we have reviewed. (...)

The ST61G4 certainly matches Shuttle's claims. It is the new champion of quiet. The redesign of the ICE cooling system and the new Silent X power supply clearly work very well in keeping normal operation to very quiet levels. Compared to the earlier Shuttle design, the G4 chassis is 4 to 10db quieter. This means that the new features for quieter operation are working very well indeed. (...)

Conclusion:
In the end, we can definitely recommend the ST61G4 if you are looking for an integrated graphics solution - it's currently the best integrated graphics performance that you can buy for a Pentium 4.
(...) As a new chassis, we consider the G4 a tremendous success with Shuttle, once again, the quietest SFF that we have tested.

Fazit ST61G4:

Hier erwartet Sie die beste Onboard-Grafik - ideal für sparsame Gelegenheitszocker ohne High-end-Anspruch

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 (...).

Deutsch:
www.tomshardware.com/...
2. Januar 2004

English:
www.tomshardware.com/...
January, 7th 2004

(...) Gute Verarbeitung im Frontbereich. (...)

Das dritte Barebone von Shuttle [ST61G4] im Rahmen dieses Vergleichstests basiert auf dem brandneuen ATI RS300 Chipsatz und bietet somit eine leistungsfähige onboard-Grafik. (...) Definitiv befindet sich unter der Gehäusehaube das gleiche mechanische Grundgerüst wie bei allen XPC-Barebones - enge Passungstoleranzen und eine gute Verarbeitungsqualität. (...) Es gibt Features en masse: 6-Kanal-Audio, digitale (optisch) und analoge Audioein- und Ausgänge, Netzwerk, Fire Wire und USB 2.0. Hervorzuheben ist der TV-Ausgang mit guter Signalqualität, so dass der Mini-PC als DVD-Spieler oder Divx-Player herhalten kann. (...)

English Version

(...) In sales figures, the founder and originator of the mini-bare-bones concept - Shuttle - is well in the lead. No manufacturer offers a larger portfolio of mini-models for almost every taste. (...)

(...) Good workmanship in the front. (...)

(...)The third bare-bones from Shuttle in this comparative test is based on the brand-new ATI RS300 chipset and thus offers powerful onboard graphics. (...) Finally, under the cover is the same basic mechanical structure as with all XPC-bare-bones - narrow tolerances and good workmanship. (...), there are features en masse: 6-channel audio, digital (optical) and analog audio in- and outputs, network, FireWire and USB 2.0. The TV output with good signal quality, allowing the mini-PC to function as a DVD or Divx player, is worthy of notice. (...)

"Ohne jede Einschränkung in Funktion und Leistung: Mini-PCs erobern Büros und Wohnzimmer. (...) Das Shuttle-Barebone überzeugt auf ganzer Linie: Die Ausstattung ist die beste im Test, das ausgereifte Gehäusekonzept mit Heatpipe-System sorgt zudem für leisen Betrieb. Die integrierte ATI-Grafik des ST61G4 macht sogar schnelle Grafikkarten überflüssig."

ST61G4 erhielt Platz 1 in folgenden Kategorien:
+ Gesamtwertung
+ Ausstattung
+ Ergonomie
+ 3D-Performance integrierte Grafik
+ Service
+ Lautstärke bei Vollast
+ höchste Netzteil-Leistung im Test (250W)

Fazit: Beste Ausstattung und sehr gute Leistung

Translation:

Best rating (91.4%) in comparison with 9 Mini Barebones

"The Shuttle barebone convinces in every respect: it is the best- equipped system in this round-up. In addition, the well-engineered case design with heatpipe cooling system leads to low operating noise. Due to the integrated ATI graphics of the ST61G4 a fast graphics card is even unnecessary."

ST61G4 obtains rank 1 in the following categories:
+ Overall rating
+ Equipment
+ Ergonomy
+ 3D performance of the integrated graphics
+ Service
+ Low noise under full load
+ Highest performance of power supply (250W)

Conclusion: Best equipped and very good performance

Übersetzung:
Es besteht kein Zweifel, dass die neue XPC Produktlinie äußerst innovativ und interessant (und cool) ist; durch die fortgeschrittenen, technichen Lösungen wünscht man sich keinen alten, grauen Tower mehr. Auf der technischen Seite, ist ein guter RS3000 Chipsatz (welcher einen sehr gut integrierten Grafikkern hat) enthalten, dieser sorgt für ein ausgezeichnetes Netzteil und ein hervorragendes Kühlsystem: sehr leise und effizient.

Positiv: 
+ Small Form Factor
+ Cooles Design
+ Intelligentes und effizientes Kühlsystem
+ Starke PSU 
+ Gute Memory-Card-Reader
+ Scharf ins kleinste Detail augearbeitet
+ Sehr gute integrierte Grafik-Performance

Conclusion:

Shuttle's new XPC ST6IG4 is a great barebones small form factor PC. It's quiet, stylish, solidly built, and has a good feature set including SATA RAID. The ATI chipset used is really a curious beast. It's definitely got the best integrated graphics on the market -- so if that's your main focus, it's definitely the SFF system for you. If you plan to use an add-in graphics card, there are still a few things to really like about the XPC. Digital optical input and output is a nice touch, as is SATA RAID. In these smaller units, noise is of particular concern -- and this one really keeps its voice down, even under the worst load. (...)

Pro´s:

+ gute Ausstattung
+ guter Onboard-Sound
+ stabiler Bertrieb möglich
+ geringe Geräuschentwicklung
+ 6-in1 Cardreader
+ starkes, leises Netzteil
+ gute Performance mit integrierter Grafik  

(...) However, if you're looking for quiet, cool operation, (...), the ST61G4 is a fantastic choice. Whether you’re looking for a quiet desktop system, or are planning on building a home theater SFF, the ST61G4 certainly won’t disappoint you. This machine seems like an obvious contender for a fantastic HTPC, given its superior on-board video, extreme quiet operation, and low temperature levels. Couple that with an integrated 6-in-1 media card reader, and you’ve got what would amount to one heck of a home theater SFF. (...),  you are getting the hands-down most superior on-board video solution available today. Couple that with the ST61G4’s new SilentX power supply and G4 series case design, and you’ve got one unique small form factor system. At the end of the day, the ST61G4 performs reasonably well compared to competing SFF’s and with the 9100IGP, dominates in on-board video performance. All this plus the new G4 series case design and SilentX PSU which have propelled the ST61G4 to being the quietest and coolest SFF we’ve ever tested. Once again, hats off to Shuttle for releasing an SFF based on the new ATI RS300 chipset so quickly. For those who are looking to take the ATI plunge, or are just looking for a quiet, cool SFF, you won’t be disappointed by the ST61G4.

Das ist nun einmal eine Tatsache, Barebones sind der Renner. Sie sind klein, sie sind praktisch und fast genau so gut ausgestattet wie normale PCs. Wenn man sich die kommenden Modelle, oder das heutige von den technischen Daten ansieht, wird man bemerken, das es ihnen an nichts fehlt. (...) 

Ladies und Gentleman, wir präsentieren euch die derzeit schnellste on Board [Grafik-]Lösung, die es derzeit auf dem Markt gibt. Anhand der 3D Mark 2003 Messungen konnten wir den schnellsten AGP Wert ermitteln, unabhängig von der CPU. (...)

Fazit:
(...)  Mainboard: Das Board ist sehr gut gelungen, alle Komponenten sind vorhanden, die Bestückung und on Board Wahl sehr gut. Mit dem ATI Chipsatz hat man sich auf jeden Fall einen Gefallen getan. Mit Sound, Lan und guter Grafik on Board hat es alles was man braucht. Neu ist SATA, Raid fähig. ) (...)
Performance: (...) die gute Grafik war eigentlich ein Pflichtprogramm für ATI. Mit einer kleinen zusätzlichen ATI 9600 pro haben wir es mit einem High End Barebone zu tun. Aber auch ohne Grafikkarte reicht die on Board Lösung zum Spielen aus. (...)

Unsere Meinung: Ein sehr guter Streich von ATI, perfekt abgerundet von Shuttle!

Layout: 100%
Ausstattung/Zubehör: 90%
Bios: 90%
on Board Chip: 95%
Performance: 100%
Preis: 100%
Urteil: 95,83%

Editors Choice
Our opinion: A very good job from ATI, perfect realized from Shuttle!
Ladies and Genleman - we present the fastest onboard graphics, which is currently available on the market. (...) no surprise that the integrated graphics performed well. With an additional ATI 9600 we will get a highend barebone solution. But even without graphics card, the onboard solution will be sufficient for gaming. (...)

Layout: 100%
Equipment/Accessory: 90%
BIOS: 90%
onboard Chip: 95%
Performance: 100%
Value: 100%
Final conclusion: 95.83%

(...) Shuttle ST61G4 counts among Mini-PCs to the most powerful and most modern ones of the moment. Shuttle moreover allowed some small modifications which we had already been able to try out on the model for Athlon 64 like the integrated card reader memory or the change of design. The equipment was also improved (double ventilation) and as a whole this model breathes works well done (...). (...)

Good!

+ Gute Performance mit integrierter Grafik im Vergleich zum i865G 
+ Gute Ausstattung 
+ qualitativ guter Onboard-Sound 
+ Gute Stabilität 
+ geringe Geräuschentwicklung 
+ 6in1-Cardreader im Lieferumfang

Pros: (Translation)
+ good graphics performance compared to i865G
+ good equipped
+ high quality onboard sound
+ good stability
+ low noise
+ 6in1 cardreader build in

(...) The installation of the components occurs well, the performances are good, it is beautiful, marvellously silent , the pure happiness!!! Moreover, it's no doubt the best integrated system for the most powerful and modern Intel processor at this time. It is a pleasure for us to award the Shuttle ST61G4 our VTR-Hardware award!

Editor's choice!