![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Tuesday , January 20, 2004
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
ST61G4 SFF PC
We review Shuttle’s latest Small Form Factor XPC using the new ATI 9100 IGP chipset. We compare and contrast it with the big guns.
BIOS
Shuttle used the ever popular Phoenix AwardBIOS for the ST61G4’s BIOS. The BIOS itself has been customized for enthusiast use.
The Advance Chipset Features menu contains all overclocking related options for the system, including voltage and FSB manipulation, as well as memory timings. Note that in testing, the system would not boot with Corsair ProSeries PC3200 Low Latency RAM installed unless the Memory Timing Parameter option was set to Auto.
The CPU Clock Ratio option controls the multiplier of the CPU, with a maximum supported ratio of 16x. Note that setting the CPU multiplier to any other value besides the default value for your CPU will cause a non-booting system when using a locked Intel CPU. The CPU FSB Clock option controls the based CPU FSB speed, with selections available between 100 and 200 MHz. The CPU Over Clock By option allows for very minimal system overclocking, with a maximum selection of +15 MHz. While every little bit more power is nice, a 15 MHz overclock on an Intel P4 is not even worth the hassle. The CPU speed is determined by adding the selections from the CPU FSB Clock and CPU Over Clock By options, and multiplying the sum by the CPU Clock Ratio option selection. Note that the PCI and AGP FSB speeds are directly tied to the CPU FSB by internal chipset dividers, and are not locked / lockable at 33/66 MHz. The VDIMM Voltage option controls the power supplied to your DIMMs, with a minimal 2.8v maximum. The VAGP Voltage option controls the AGP voltage, with a 1.7v maximum allowed. While not great, this amount of voltage should be enough to stabilize the system while overclocking. The CPU Voltage set option controls the power provided to your CPU. Amazingly enough, this option has a minimum allowable voltage of 0.825v for future CPU support perhaps. The maximum allowed is a mere 1.5875v, but the board does not provide any real overclocking potential to really warrant more voltage.
The Memory Frequency For option allows for both synchronous and asynchronous control of the DRAM FSB, with the SYNC setting forcing the DRAM FSB to the CPU FSB speed. With the Memory Timings Parameter option set to Manual, all memory timing related options become user configurable. Memory timing options available include CAS latency, RAS to CAS Delay, RAS Precharge delay, and Active to Precharge delay. Selecting a lower number for all memory related options forces more aggressive memory operation.
The Integrated Peripherals menu contains various options for controlling all onboard components. The Silicon Image Raid ROM option controls the state of the SATA chip. If disabled, SATA based hardware RAID capabilities and booting from a SATA connected drive are not available.
The PC Health Status menu contains up to the minute system statistics on various voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds.
Through the CPU Fan Speed Control option, you are able to set the CPU fan to a constant speed or allow for system controlling of the fan speed through the Smart Fan option. The CPU fan header can be selected by the user through the User Set CPU Fan option. The Fan Speed Up When CPU Temp option allows for user configuration of a threshold temperature, based on the BIOS measured CPU temperature. Note that this threshold is only obeyed by the system when the CPU Fan Speed Control option is set to the Smart Fan setting. If the CPU temperature rises above the user configured threshold temperature, the system automatically increases the speed of the connected fan. When the temperature falls back below the threshold, the fan speed is automatically reduced.