Shuttle D'VO SG33G5M - Can anyone reccommend this?

[jksmurf]

Shuttle D'VO SG33G5M

Saw one of these advertised in the paper ..looks small, quiet and has HDMI out. I was wondering - Can anyone recommend this, from 1st hand experience? Enough "future proofing" for a little while?

http://us.shuttle.com/barebone/Models/sg...eluxe.html

Ta,
k.

[mvallevand]

K, although I don't have first hand experience with this system (don't you hate posts that start that way?) I do have a machine with the onboard Intel GMA X3000 and it is OK with PVRX2, but I'm not in love with it. When I compare the two here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA this Shuttle has less going for it (no VC-1, no DX10) so I'm not sure it is as future proof as you might think.

Martin.

[jksmurf]

K, although I don't have first hand experience with this system (don't you hate posts that start that way?) I do have a machine with the onboard Intel GMA X3000 and it is OK with PVRX2, but I'm not in love with it. When I compare the two here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA this Shuttle has less going for it (no VC-1, no DX10) so I'm not sure it is as future proof as you might think.

Martin.

Cheers Martin, I guess the HDMI out can only be used with the integrated graphics, i.e. no joy with an updated Graphics card? If you take the integrated graphics out of the equation, is the rest of it OK....

k.

[kayleigh]

It has a PCIe slot, so you would be able to beef up the video. I'd recommend the Deluxe model with the 300W PSU. Dual- or quad-core Intel support with up to 4GB memory? That system should scream! And S/PDIF audio-out on-board should do very well.

I've been running a (now old) Shuttle model for three years and it's been stable as gold. They make good systems - good heat dissipation. My older models are a little loud, but they weren't made to be "home theater" gear, so I'd think they built in the newer "quiet-cool" technology.