![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Monday , February 28, 2005
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Shuttle SB95P V2
Shuttle’s latest member of their XPC lineup, the SB95P V2, packs a lot of power into its small form factor frame. Read on to find out how well this i925XE-based solution performs.
Introduction
Shuttle has become a very well known name among LAN gamers and enthusiasts alike for their small form factor XPC line. Shuttle took this market by storm, and remains one of the most innovative and popular small form factor solution manufacturers. Their latest XPC creation is no exception to this rule, introducing many new design enhancements and features in to their much-vaunted design.
The SB95P V2 is Shuttle’s newest XPC model, designed for use with the LGA775 CPU. The system uses the Intel i925XE chipset, boasting support for all LGA775-based processors including the latest 1066MHz FSB models, DDR2 RAM modules operating in Dual Channel modes up to speeds of 533MHz officially, and PCI Express x16 type video cards. The SB95P V2 is a small form factor solution, which means that you need an LGA775 CPU, DDR2 memory, and a PCI Express x16 video card for a complete system. Shuttle chose to integrate the following components in to the SB95P V2’s design: 1 IDE ATA-100 port; 1 floppy port; 4 SATA-150 ports (RAID 0 and 1 capable); 4 USB 2.0 capable ports (2 in rear panel, and 2 in front panel); 2 IEEE 1394 capable ports (1 in rear panel, 1 in front panel); 1 Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet port in rear panel; Realtek 8-channel audio codec featuring S/PDIF optical input / output and RCA output ports; and serial and PS/2 port support.
Main Specifications Overview:
CPU | Intel LGA775 based processors |
Chipset | Intel i925XE / ICH6R |
FSB | 1066MHz / 800MHz / 533MHz |
BIOS | Phoenix AwardBIOS |
Memory | 2 240-pin DDR2 DIMMS, up to 4GB |
Expansion slots | 1 x PCI-Express x16 slot, 1 x PCI-Express x1 slot |
Onboard IDE | 1 x ATA-100 ports; 4 x SATA-150 ports |
USB 2.0 | 2 rear panel / 2 front panel (4 ports total) |
IEEE 1394 | 1 rear panel / 1 front panel (2 ports total) |
Audio | 8-Channel Realtek codec with S/PDIF RCA output and optical input / output ports |
NIC | Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet controller |
Detailed Mainboard Specification List:
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Packaging/Case
Shuttle used the standard XPC box art for the SB95P V2. The CPU and chipset used in the system are listed, but not very prominently on the box. If desired, the box doubles as a carrying case, with its built-in handle and not too bulky dimensions. The following articles are bundled in with the system: 1 ATA-100 IDE cable; 1 floppy cable; 3 SATA cables; a MOLEX extension cable with integrated floppy connector; feet for the front bottom of the case; heatsink compound for use with the Integrated Cooling Engine (ICE) cooling unit; removable drive rails for optical, floppy, and hard drives; a power cord; and the standard complement of manuals, driver CDs and floppy disks.
The SB95P V2 is modular, a common trait among the entire XPC line, with the ability to remove all components including the drive cage, PSU, CPU cooling unit, and motherboard. With this model, Shuttle introduced a few new innovations including a tool free drive cage complete with mounting rails for all drives, a redesign of the ICE unit for better overall CPU cooling, and a 350 watt power supply. The drive cage itself boasts a tool free design, with easy system removal capabilities via the pull-tabs on both sides at the back of the cage. The cage can hold one 5.25-inch device, as well as one 3.5-inch device, and comes standard with an integrated 8-in-1 card reader. Additional 3.5-inch hard drives can be added along the top of the drive cage and PSU using the provided hard drive mounting rails. As you can see from the pictures, Shuttle went back to the drawing board with the design of the ICE unit. Instead of sitting at the rear of the system, the ICE unit sits horizontally at the front of the system, with air intake and outlet ports on both sides of the case. The ICE unit has 3 components: the air intake duct, the CPU cooler, and the rear exhaust fan. Notice that the heat pipe has been integrated in to the block that sits directly on the CPU, with a dual intake and outlet fan configuration. One thing that Shuttle kept the same with the ICE unit was the hybrid aluminum/copper CPU block design, which allows for very good heat capture and transfer from the CPU.
Amazingly enough, because of Shuttle’s innovative redesign, the unit is not very tight on space. With the PSU along the mid rear of the system and the CPU ICE unit along the lower front of the system, Shuttle achieved a very clean looking and spacious design. As far as integrated ports, the SB95P V2 contains numerous ports in its hidden front panel as well as in the rear of the system. Along the bottom of the front panel are 2 analogue audio ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and 1 IEEE 1394 port. Power and reset buttons are arranged along the left side of the unit, backlit with blue LEDs, as well as a single LED that doubles as a power and hard drive activity LED, changing from blue to amber when drive activity occurs. Both the floppy and optical drive use stealth covers allowing for a very neat and clean appearance. At the rear of the system, you have access to the rear panel ports and the PSU power switch. Notice that that case rear has 3 output fans, a large fan for the PSU, and 2 smaller fans for drawing air across any top-mounted hard drives. Also, note that the PCI Express ports are oriented on the left side of the case rather than the standard right side position. The PCI Express cards are held in place using two hold down mechanisms – the standard screw as well as a locking mechanism that swings up and down for better card support. The following ports are integrated into the rear panel: PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports; 1 serial port; 1 IEEE 1394 port; CMOS clear button; 2 USB 2.0 ports; a Gigabit Ethernet port; 5 analogue audio ports; S/PDIF RCA output and optical input/output ports. The CMOS clear button is located between the serial and IEEE 1394 ports and allows for BIOS reset without having to remove the case cover. This button can be toggled using a paperclip or similar instrument.
Board Layout
In designing the SB95P V2’s motherboard, Shuttle reconfigured the layout to maximize both space utilization and overall system functioning. While a few areas on the board are a bit close to one another, overall, Shuttle did a masterful job with component layout and accessibility. As far as shortcomings, the only obvious issue was the lack of active cooling of the Northbridge chipset. While the passive cooler did get rather warm, it did not seem to inhibit the overclocking capabilities of the system. The board tested was a version 2.1 board, with the serial number displayed on a sticker along the outside edge of the PCI Express x16 slot. Shuttle used capacitors from the following manufacturers: Luxon Electronics Corporation (Taiwan), and Taiwan Ostor Corporation (Taiwan).
Unlike other Shuttle XPC boards, the CPU socket is located at the bottom of the board. The ICE unit is held to the CPU using the standard 4 hole LGA775-based design. To the lower left of the CPU socket are the 4-pin FAN2 header, and the EXT GPI header for connecting specialized devices. The front panel connectors are located below the CPU socket, along the board’s lower edge. The 8-pin ATX2 power connector is located in the lower right corner of the board. The 4-pin FAN1 and FAN4 headers are located to the upper right of the CPU socket, with the 4-pin ATX3 power connector just above the FAN4 header.
The SB95P V2 has 2 DDR2 DIMM slots arranged vertically along the front left side of the board, just below the rear panel components. Both the Northbridge and Southbridge are located to the right of the inner DIMM slot, and both are passively cooled. The Northbridge heatsink is held to the chipset via 2 wire clips on opposite sides of the chipset, while the Southbridge cooler is attached via thermal tape. The CMOS battery is located to the left of the Southbridge, with the single onboard ATA-100 port just above it.
The SB95P V2’s PCI Express slots are located along the right edge of the board, with the PCI Express x16 video card slot along the outer edge, and the x1 slot to the left of it. Just above the PCI Express x16 slot is a USB 2.0 header. The AUX_IN, CD_IN, and mini CD_IN ports are located to the left of the PCI Express x1 slot, with the 4 SATA-150 ports and floppy port just below. The FAN3 header is of the left of the mini CD_IN port, with the 6-pin ATX1 power connector and parallel port header just above it.