X-bit labs

Shuttle SB81P Small Form-Factor System Review (page 4)

Category: Mobile

by Platon Scheblykin

[ 07/12/2005 | 10:20 AM ]

Assembly Tips

As I opened the system case up, I was at first taken aback at the total lack of any screws. But the SB81P uses a Type P chassis, so it’s all right. One of the good things about this chassis is that no screws and tools are necessary to install the drives. You can put a new hard drive in without searching for a screwdriver. To avoid problems with the assembly, just browse through the Installation Guide beforehand, which gives clear instructions and colorful illustrations, making the assembly an easy process.

It is better to begin to assemble the computer by removing the drives basket. To detach it from the case, pull at the two plastic brackets on it and also disconnect the card-reader’s cable (the card-reader is fastened right on the basket and has to be extracted with it). The ICE cooling module can be dismantled into three parts and is uninstalled without problems, too. After that you can begin to put the CPU, memory and drives in.

There should be no problems with the processor, just follow the basic rules for installing LGA755 CPUs. It’s easy with the memory, too. Just put the sticks into the slots and fix them with the latches. More intricate is the process of installing the drives. Several configurations are possible, each of which needs a separate approach. These configurations are listed in the following table:

So, the design of the SB81P allows installing up to 4 hard disk drives. Two 3.5” bays are in the basket and two more drives can be placed right on the system’s chassis with the special fasteners. The mainboard offers four SATA channels and 1 PATA channel (for two devices). So, the table above just lists all possible combinations (a comma means “or”, and zero means that devices of such type are missing). The only thing left to discuss is whether the power supply can handle all these devices, but I’ll check it later on. After you’ve made up your mind as to the configuration of the drives, you can get down to the assembly.

It’s easy: the drives are placed on special rails which are fixed with the locks and pegs in the system’s chassis. The only thing you must do before putting the drives in and connecting the cables is put the ICE module back on the installed processor.

I want to say that it is a real pleasure to assemble the SB81P – all the details fit together perfectly, there’s free access to all the parts and fasteners, so you don’t have to apply much physical force during the assembly.