X-bit labs

X-bit labs CeBIT 2006 Coverage: Day 3

Category: Editorial

by Anton Shilov

[ 03/12/2006 | 05:06 PM ]

Here we go with the third day of our CeBIT 2006 coverage. Today we share secrets of ATI and its RV570 code-named product, we take a look at the ultra-overclockable mainboard from Albatron, we find out that Evga will sell boards for quad SLI setups, reveal the new Blizzard graphics card from Sapphire and check out Shuttle’s new system that delivers blazing speeds in small form-factor.

Table of contents:

• Max Speed Per Square Inch: Shuttle XPC X100
  
• Hot Like the Sun and Wet Like a Rain: First Ever Water-Cooled Radeon X1900 XTX
  
• RV570 Revealed: 256-Bit Memory for The Mainstream
  
• EVGA to Sell Quad SLI Components
  
• Albatron Does Über-Overclocking and Lifetime Warranty
  

Max Speed Per Square Inch: Shuttle XPC X100

As expected, Shuttle Computer officially unveiled its new small form-factor system called X100 at the CeBIT show in

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Hannover, Germany. The main idea the developers had for the system was to pack desktop-class performance and feature-set in the smallest possible form-factor.

The goal was achieved quite successfully: the XPC X100 has dual-core processor, advanced Shader Model 3.0-supporting graphics core, large hard disk drive, DVD burner and even powerful audio solution. While the system ended up a bit larger compared to Apple’s Mac mini or AOpen’s Cube mini, it provides much more features and higher performance compared to these two.

Shuttle XPC X100 will ship as a system, not as a barebone, because it is based on mobile components which are not easy to obtain in all countries. The basic configuration will have Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz), Intel 945PM core-logic, 512MB of DDR2 memory, 250GB HDD, DVD burner, ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 with 128MB of memory MXM module, Intel high definition audio, Gigabit Ethernet, wireless network controller and card-reader. Of course, buyers will be able to configure the parts online before purchasing.

End users will obtain the XPC X100 with pre-installed Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2006, which emphasizes the current positioning of the product.

The basic configuration will cost about $1000, which is quite a lot. For this amount of money users do not get maximum performance and also do not obtain the smallest computer on the market. Instead of that customers get what Shuttle calls the most perfect balance between size and performance.