DailyTech - New Shuttle SFF Barebone PC Supports Core i7 and X58 Chipset

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Blog: Hardware New Shuttle SFF Barebone PC Supports Core i7 and X58 Chipset
Shane McGlaun (Blog) - February 18, 2009 12:49 PM

13 comment(s) - last by VooDooAddict.. on Feb 25 at 8:20 AM

Shuttle releases SFF barebones rig for gamers using Core i7

Shuttle is famous for providing a slew of small form factor computers that are aimed at gamers and computer users looking for a computer than needs less space.

Shuttle announced a new high-end SFF machine today that is designed to support the new Intel Core i7 CPUs and uses the Intel X58 chipset that supports SLI and Crossfire. The machine has enough space inside the case for dual single slot video cards or a single dual slot video card.

The mainboard has dual PCI-e 2.0 x 16 slots and is designed to accept up to 16GB of triple channel DDR3 RAM. The machine measures 32.5 x 20.8 x 19cm and still offers space for dual SATA drives and features a 500W PSU.

Cooling for the internal components is via Shuttle's I.C.Evo heatpipe technology. Dual Gigabit NICs are featured that support load balancing and fail over. Shuttle says that the XPC Barebone SX58H7 will be available for purchase at the end of Q1 2009. Pricing for Europe is set at EUR 483 plus VAT. U.S. availability and pricing is unknown at this time.

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just curious...

By yacoub on 2/18/2009 2:29:51 PM , Rating: 2

do people have NICs failing to the frequency/extent that "fail-over" is actually a selling point?

i can't remember ever thinking "oh good, a second NIC in case the first one fails". (Yes i see the other reason they have two, I'm not commenting about them having two NICs, I'm just asking about "fail-over" and since when did that become a selling point.)

RE: just curious...

By omnicronx on 2/18/2009 3:15:25 PM , Rating: 2

Not to mention you need to have two cables attached in order to take advantage of the feature.. otherwise it is just a backup NIC.

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RE: just curious...

By Bender 123 on 2/18/2009 5:22:39 PM , Rating: 2

It would make sense if you used it as a storage system...I have an old Asus Fatal1ty board with the two NICs...one for normal network stuff and one direct connected to the Xbox for media streaming...But I could not see that as a use for this rig...Maybe I am too old.

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RE: just curious...

By King of Heroes on 2/19/2009 5:02:12 PM , Rating: 2

Not only that, you have to have a switch that actually supports link aggregation (which is the IEEE 802.3ad standard I think). That kind of equipment is NOT CHEAP by any means. I think that feature is only present on enterprise-class networking hardware.

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RE: just curious...

By amanojaku on 2/20/2009 10:15:14 AM , Rating: 3

Network load balancing can be done in a few ways. You mention the industry standard, 802.3ad, otherwise known as LACP (link aggregation control protocol.) LACP was created in response to Cisco's PAgP (port aggregation protocol,) which is proprietary. LACP creates a logical channel, PAgP creates an EtherChannel; they are identical in function and similar in design. Both require support from the switch, and those switches generally start at $1,200 USD.

Then there's the cheap load balancing method that requires no switch support: apply two IPs to the host, one for each NIC. Then bind your applications to an IP in an alternate fashion. Or use a software NAT in the OS.

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RE: just curious...

By VooDooAddict on 2/18/2009 6:01:22 PM , Rating: 4

Fail-over very useful for remote servers. Not so much due to NIC hardware failure, but due to power/switch/cable failure. Connect them to separate switches on the same network, connect the switches to separate UPS units, and connect the UPS units to separate electrical breakers.

Shuttle markets fully built SFF PCs as security camera systems. Fail-over could be helpful to marketing in that segment.

More then likely though, most of us will use the Dual NICs it for NIC-Teaming to get more bandwidth or for connecting one NIC to a DMZ.

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Around $600 US?

By VooDooAddict on 2/18/2009 6:05:39 PM , Rating: 2

Google: 483 EUR to US $

Gives me just under $606. I love my Shuttle SFF rigs and want badly to build an i7 X58 SFF ... but $600?! I paid @ $375 for my Shuttle X38 SFF.

RE: Around $600 US?

By someguy123 on 2/19/2009 12:43:57 AM , Rating: 2

i'm sure it'll be cheaper in the u.s., but i'm not sure it'll be 375.

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RE: Around $600 US?

By VooDooAddict on 2/23/2009 9:55:22 PM , Rating: 2

I was expecting it to be $450-$500 comparable to the X48's.

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RE: Around $600 US?

By King of Heroes on 2/19/2009 5:12:28 PM , Rating: 2

$600 for a Core i7 box is actually very good price. A Core i7 CPU + X58 board, individually, cost $600 alone. Yet, for the same price with this, you're getting a case and power supply along with it. Also factor in the price premium usually tacked on to SFF hardware as well as parts and labor for pre-built systems.

$600 really isn't a bad price at all.

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RE: Around $600 US?

By jonmcc33 on 2/20/2009 11:50:37 PM , Rating: 2

Um, Shuttle XPC systems only come with the motherboard, case and power supply (typical bare bones)...not the CPU. So $600 for that is a complete rip off. You can get a X58 motherboard for $200-250 so not sure if the case is worth $350-400 out of that.

Considering how hot the Core i7 runs, I don't like the idea of sticking into a SFF system at all.

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RE: Around $600 US?

By King of Heroes on 2/22/2009 2:45:13 PM , Rating: 2

Wow.

Okay, I was under the assumption that 'barebones' included the CPU. If not, then yeah this thing isn't cost effective at all.

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RE: Around $600 US?

By VooDooAddict on 2/25/2009 8:20:21 AM , Rating: 2

It is and it isn't. You always pay a premium for the small size.

Simple X58 Motherboards are $200-$250.
Solid Case is $100-$150
Good Power supply can easily be &75-$100
($375-$500)

So if the X58 Shuttle comes in at $600... you are paying between $100-$225 premium for the size.

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