X-bit labs

Small Form-Factor PC Roundup Posted

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 08/15/2005 | 11:41 PM ]

AnandTech has issued a roundup of barebone computers. All five participants boast with different features and specifications but have one major thing in common – they are designed for Socket 939 infrastructure. The author compares Shuttle SN25P, Biostar IDEQ 330P, Shuttle XPC SN95G5, Shuttle XPC ST20G5 and Soltek QBIC 3901A-300P in terms of features, performance, overclockability, noise and temperature levels, as well as price criteria.

“We’ve already awarded the SN25P our Silver Editor’s Choice award back when we first looked at it. That award was actually given with the knowledge of how several of these other systems performed, and it still stands (more or less). If you’re looking for an all-around good performer, the SN25P packs features, performance, and overclocking support into an attractive design. The 24-bit VIA Envy sound also comes out of this roundup as the clear winner; it may not be “HD Azalia,” but it’s close enough, since it sounds better than a couple of the HD solutions that we’ve encountered. (Using digital out would of course eliminate the static on all of these systems.) Despite the complaints and concerns that we’ve listed earlier, the SN25P remains a very good SFF platform. Assuming Shuttle can get the X2 support fixed soon, the SN25P remains our pick of the 939 units. If you want to purchase an X2 processor right now, we’d downgrade the SN25P to an “Honorable Mention” until that is addressed, but the overclocking support, design, and features keep the SN25P at the head of the pack,” concludes AnandTech.

• AnandTech: SFF Roundup, Socket 939 Systems.