![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Thursday , October 16, 2003
- Author:
- Keith Dugger
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Shuttle AN50R
Embracing the new Athlon64/nForce3-150 coupling, Shuttle brings to market a 64-bit package in the AN50R.
Introduction
Shuttle has become a mainstay of modders and LANparty gamers around the world with their Small Form Factor XPC line; however, Shuttle’s ATX mainboards get little attention here in the USA. Has their SFF line on innards got them thinking more about the mainboard market or is it just the same old thing?
The new 64-bit AN50R is Shuttle’s first ATX board to support the Athlon64. With really only two chipsets to choose from to move onto the 64-bit playing field, Shuttle chose the successor to the highly acclaimed nForce2 from NVIDIA, the nForce3-150.
The AN50R includes support for such things as PC3200 DDR400 (Single Channel), Intel Gigabit LAN, NVIDIA MCP 10/100 LAN, Serial ATA RAID 0 and 1, AGP 8X, and 6-channel audio via the Realtek ALC650.
Main Specifications Overview:
CPU | AMD Athlon 64 |
Chipset | NVIDIA nForce3-150 |
FSB | CPU up to 1600MHz FSB |
BIOS | Award PnP BIOS stored in 4MB Flash Memory |
Memory | 3 DDR DIMMS, max 3GB |
Expansion Slots | 1 x AGP, 5 x PCI |
Storage | 2 x ATA 100/133, 2 x SATA supporting RAID (0,1) |
USB | 4 onboard, 2 optional. USB 2.0 |
Audio | 6-channel audio CODEC (Realtek) |
NIC | Intel Gigabit LAN, NVIDIA MCP 10/100 LAN |
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
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Board Layout
The AN50R box is the usual albeit brightly colored; I’ve included 2 pictures above.
The AN50R motherboard is nested in the box with the usual suspects, including: the Mainboard Manual, the SATARAID SOFTWARE User’s Manual, 2 SATA drive cables, 2 SATA power adapters, 1 80-wire ATA 133 cable, 1 standard floppy cable, 1 (2 port) USB Bracket, 1 (2 port) IEEE 1394 Bracket, and a Back Panel I/O Shield. Shuttle also provided a driver and application CD.
There are absolutely no major issues with Shuttle’s design and layout of the AN50R. When faced with a board that is the result of good implementation, we sometimes get picky and try to find the little issues. With this board, there are none. From DIMM placement to port and power locations, this board should satisfy every need. Even the corners are well-rounded to prevent installation scars. Shuttle distributed capacitors from Illinois Capacitor, Inc (USA; marked RLS) and others marked RLP and RLX from unknown manufacturers as needed across the AN50R.
The new socket area specification from AMD for the Athlon 64 calls for a HSF cage similar in thought to the Intel offering; however, AMD’s implementation of this design is far better and easier to use than Intel’s. As one can see, the bracket is held in place by 2 Phillips-head screws that attach to a beefy metal bracket on the underside of the board. This cage isn’t going anywhere. The OEM HSF combination relies on a single lever mechanism to enforce the required pressure on the CPU. This method is another win for the AMD design team as it is simple and foolproof. As a note, the OEM HSF is comprised of a copper base with aluminum skived fins and a quiet fan to keep the 64-bit chip cool enough for operation. This fan is dramatically quieter than the previous OEM HSFs and does a decent job of cooling the 64.
The clearances around the socket are optimal for this new cage. As aftermarket HS manufacturers surface with options, we’ll be able to tell if that top row of capacitors poses an issue. As there is quite a bit of room around the socket, I would think this will not be a concern.
At the lower-right corner of the CPU socket is one of the system monitored fan headers (labeled FAN1). Just above and to the left of the CPU socket area is the ATX12V power connector. Besides these 2 features, a few capacitors, and some mosfets, this is really a clutter-free area. This is partly due to the fact that NVIDIA chose a single-chip solution for their new nForce3-150 chipset, but more on that later.
Three DIMM slots for a total of 3GB of (up to) PC3200 DDR RAM are available just below the CPU and, just so you don’t forget, these slots are Single Channel. The IDE, floppy, and ATX power ports fall just below the DIMM slots, well out of the way and in a perfect position for cable management. Just under our [H] logo is the ITE 8712F chip for Super I/O and H/W monitoring. And simply because I have complained incessantly in the past about DIMM/AGP clearance problems on other boards, I’ll note: This board doesn’t have this clearance issue.
Here’s where the fun really starts. As noted earlier, NVIDIA combined the North Bridge/South Bridge chips into a single solution in the nForce3-150. According to NVIDIA, this is to capitalize on faster inner-chip communications channels and not be impacted by the an external communications channel between traditional 2-chip implementations. While this all sounds good, only performance benchmarks will determine if this solution has merit.
Below the chipset is another system monitored fan header labeled FAN2 and to its left is the CMOS chip. Mated in form and function, the Clear CMOS jumper (JP18) finds its home just above the CMOS. At the bottom of the board and to the left of the CMOS chip are 2 micro-switches. One is the system reset and the other is the system power on. These are incredibly useful during installation or troubleshooting without a case. Above these switches is the Wake on LAN connector (WOL1) and the CMOS battery. Framing out the edge of the AN50R is the Front Panel Header (JP19), the IR Header (JP8), and the Extended USB Header (JP7 -- USB 5&6). Finally, we find the 2 SATA ports next to the Silicon Image 3112A chipset. These support both RAIDs 0 and 1.
The AN50R comes with 5 32-bit PCI and 1 AGP slot. The area around PCI slot 5 is busy and houses the SPDIF Ext. Header (the orange block at the bottom of PCI slot 5) labeled JP10. The CD_IN connectors are next followed by the Front Panel Audio Header (JP11) and the 2 additional 1394a headers. At the top of this area, are the REAR-Out Header and the Center/Bass Header.
Just above and between PCI slots 4 and 5 is the AUX_IN connector falling close to the Realtek ALC650 CODEC. Next to the right across the top is the VIA VT6306 and above the AGP slot is the Intel 82540EM Chipset. The final system monitored fan connector (FAN3) is between PCI slot 1 and the AGP slot.
The following components are available on the Back Panel I/O: 1 each PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, 1 parallel and 1 serial port, the SPDIF-Out Port, a single IEEE 1394a connector, 4 USB 2.0 connectors, 1 Intel Gigabit LAN and 1 10/100 LAN connector, and the Mic-In/Line-Out/Line-In port connectors. It is great to see a built-in IEEE 1394a connector on the Back Panel I/O.
I have included a picture of the serial number and revision number for your edification.