SHUTTLE - Shuttle SN41G2 & SK41G Review @ AnandTech

Another great review from AnandTech, this one by Anand Lal Shimpi himself takes a look at two of Shuttle’s new barebones systems - the Shuttle SN41G2 (nForce2 IGP/MCP-T) and SK41G (KM266).

Examined individually then tested side-by-side, with the superior performance coming from the nForce2-based Shuttle (built-in GeForce4 MX graphics) over the SK41G (ProSavage8). Also includes comparative benchmarks of all the current nForce2 SPP motherboards, a KT400 and a KT333.

“As you can see, the nForce2 IGP completely dominates the SK41’s ProSavage8 in all of the gaming tests. It’s also worth noting that the nForce2 IGP doesn’t reduce 2D performance in business and content creation applications whereas the ProSavage8 reduces 2D application performance by at least 10%…While most power users won’t find the SK41G too attractive, the SN41G2 can very capably replace a desktop nForce2 system and hold its own with ease. Although the FN41 is clearly the slowest nForce2 motherboard we’ve ever tested, the SN41G2 is still quite competitive with just about any Athlon XP system you could build yourself.

The benefit of the SN41G2 is that you get everything you could possibly want in a desktop but in a package that’s probably not even 25% the size of what you’re used to having underneath your desk. The system is also relatively quiet; much quieter than most desktops, although not nearly as silent as we’d like it to be. Pair it up with a Radeon 9700 Pro and you’ve got just as fast of a gaming machine as you can build with an Athlon XP processor. Be warned through, you won’t be able to upgrade to the fastest GeForce FX unless one of NVIDIA’s partners finds away around the extreme cooling requirements.

Even if you’re not going to use these machines for heavy gaming platforms, they are just as flexible as any desktop you could put together – just smaller, lighter and quieter. Their excellent design is also quite attractive, definitely more so than many of today’s desktop cases.“


Full review: Shuttle’s SN41G2 & SK41G: Two Athlon Small Form Factor PCs @ anandtech.com
More details: Shuttle.com

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