SHUTTLE - Shuttle SN95G5 nForce3 Ultra Socket-939 XPC Review

Shuttle recently launched their 5th generation designs with two new models, one for Intel’s Socket-775 Pentium 4 (SB85G5) and one for AMD’s Socket-939 Athlon64 / Athlon64-FX, which is the SN95G5 system we’re looking at today. The launch of the SN95G5 is especially sweet, as it is the first retail product to bring AMD’s high-end Socket-939 processor architecture to a small form factor environment. In a recent poll here at GamePC, a whopping 60% of readers voted that a Socket-939 Athlon64/FX processor would be the most desirable CPU in a small form factor environment.

. . .The Shuttle SN95G5 is not a radical departure from previous generation XPC system designs, yet it still houses many firsts for the small form factor industry. The SN95G5 is the first Socket-939 SFF system, which also means it’s the first dual channel DDR Athlon64 SFF and the first to support the Athlon64 FX processor. The SN95G5 is the first system to use nVidia’s nForce3 250 Ultra chipset, and it’s the first small form factor system to use high-quality PWM fans. Still, with all these firsts, we can’t help but think that the entire package seems to be more than a sum of its parts.

From a hardware perspective, Shuttle has a nearly perfect hardware setup for anyone who wants a small, quiet, Athlon64/FX game rig or workstation. Shuttle’s choice of the nVidia nForce3 250 Ultra chipset appears to be a positive move, as this system boasts higher performance levels compared to VIA’s K8T800 Pro chipset and has arguably better chipset-level features. Combined with a GeForce 6800-series graphics card, the SN95G5 can make for an exceptional small form factor gaming system… …we’re ecstatic about the majority of Shuttle’s SN95G5 features and component choices. The system is quieter compared to most mid/full tower Athlon64 systems, and performs better than any other Socket-939 platform we’ve tested to date. Truly top notch in nearly every regard.

Back In Black : Shuttle’s SN95G5 nForce3 Ultra Socket-939 XPC @ GamePC