SHUTTLE XPC SN41G2

One of the really annoying things about PCs is the sheer amount of desk space they occupy. This concern led to motherboard manufacturer, Shuttle, creating the product line called XPC.

One of the really annoying things about PCs is the sheer amount of desk space they occupy. This concern led to motherboard manufacturer, Shuttle, creating the product line called XPC.

XPC as a concept is straightforward. Combine an insanely small motherboard with a power supply and case, but let the consumer choose the other internals. These barebones setups have been made by Shuttle for some time, but the SN41G2 can be seen as a major milestone in the product line's development. Using NVIDIA's much loved nForce2 chipset, Shuttle has managed to cram a lot of functionality into such a small package. It features GeForce4 MX-level integrated 3D graphics with dual monitor and TV out support, Dolby certified 5.1 surround sound outputs, FireWire, USB 2.0, optical SP/DIF output and many other functions, with ports easily accessible on the rear and front of the shoebox sized Aluminium case. It also has AGP 8x and a PCI slot so that you can expand this little wonder.

Thanks to an amazing passive heatsink and radiator assembly, the SN41G2 manages the respectable achievement of providing support for the fastest new Athlon XP CPUs while keeping the noise level of the system to a minimum.

We tested the SN41G2 by following the simple assembly instructions that come in the box. While at times the experience was a bit too much like playing Tetris, the instructions are clear and slotting things in to the cramped case is a breeze. We encountered no issues with heat, even with a hot little RADEON 9700 PRO card mounted inside. Performance was up to the same stellar level that is seen on full-sized nForce2 motherboards, with some of the best quality PC audio available and integrated graphics that are light years ahead of anything else currently on the market.

With the SN41G2 Shuttle has not only reached an important development milestone, it has finally given consumers a serious reason to consider junking their unwieldy ATX cases. With a stylish chassis, hardly any ambient noise and a feature set to die for, the SN41G2 will change the way you look at the humble PC.