Small factor PCs have become very popular, either as media centres or simply as workstations/gaming rings. Shuttle offers many solutions for end users and their proposal for the AM2 platform comes in the form of the "SN27P2". This little box includes all options for gamers and enthusiast users wanting superb performance and features in small dimensions. But how well does it performance when compared with a normal desktop PC?

- Shuttle SN27P2

The Shuttle XPC Barebone SN27P2 is housed in the new P2 chassis. Based on the leading-edge nVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP chipset, it supports AMDs new generation Socket AM2 CPUs with Quad DDR2-800 support. AMD Athlon 64 enthusiasts have been begging for this implementation and they are about to be blown away by the performance and the new style of this SFF incarnation.

P2 Chassis

The Shuttle P2 chassis will be the basis of Shuttle's latest high-performance XPC models. Similar in size to the original P chassis, the P2 features improved cooling and airflow, a redesigned drive cage assembly, and a sleek brushed metal front fascia.

Stealthed port, drive bays: P2's clean fascia is thanks to three well-integrated stealth bay covers. The optical drive, floppy drive and front media ports can all be hidden from view when not in use, providing superior style and visual appeal.

Media Connectivity: The integrated media ports on the XPC P2's front panel have been designed for excellent functionality. The space between the USB ports has been increased to make room for devices such as digital camera and thumb drives to be installed at the same time. Also the line in jack has been moved to the back panel, providing a neat and functional finish.

Integrated Cable Management: All XPCs will ship with integrated cable management to ease installation. IDE and/or SATA cables are pre-installed, and power leads are wrapped and clipped to the chassis.

	AM2 socket Processor Support The XPC SN27P2 supports the new AM2 socket CPU range from AMD. From high-value Sempron CPUs to the premium FX series, the XPC SN27P2 gives you complete freedom to choose the processor that matches your budget and performance needs.
	Athlon 64 high performance 64 and 32-bit features for mainstream users
	Athlon 64 X2 advanced dual core technology for multitasking and digital media
	Athlon 64 FX extreme performance and overclocking for gaming
	NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra media and communications processors (MCPs) are designed for demanding users who want safe and easy access to all their media files and the system performance to easily create, edit, and share their creations.

- Other features

PCI Express interface

The PCI Express architecture enables increased bi-directional bandwidth to the graphics and I/O interfaces. With theoretical bandwidth up to 4 GB/s per direction, the PCI Express x16 graphics port can provide more than three and a half times the graphics bandwidth over previous high-performance discrete graphics solutions.
Designed to support cutting-edge PCI Express graphics, the XPC SN27P2 has been tested compatible with the latest high-performance graphics cards.

NVIDIA Native Gigabit Ethernet

The industry's fastest Gigabit Ethernet performance eliminates network bottlenecks and improves overall system efficiency and performance.

NVIDIA FirstPacket technology

Be the 'King of Ping' with NVIDIA FirstPacket technology. Get the crystal-clear phone conversations and online gaming performance you expect. NVIDIA FirstPacket technology assures your game data, VoIP conversations, and large file transfers are delivered according to preferences set by you in an intuitive wizard.

NVIDIA MediaShield Storage

Suite of features that safeguards your most important digital media assets; always reliable, scalable, and accessible. Includes RAID and SATA drive support.

Multiple Disk Setup

Through a simple wizard-based interface, you can effortlessly set up your drives for better data protection, faster disk access or maximum storage capacity. MediaShield automatically selects RAID 0, 1, 0+1 or 5 configurations according to your needs. Advanced users can access RAID options directly.

DiskAlert System

The event of a disk failure, MediaShield users see an image that highlights which disk has failed to make it easier to identify, replace, and recover.

RAID Morphing

MediaShield allows users to change their current RAID set-up to another configuration in a one-step process called morphing. This eliminates the need to back up data and follow multiple steps in the process.

Bootable Multidisk Array

MediaShield storage fully supports the use of multi-disk array for loading the operating system at power-up.

SATA 3Gb/s RAID

Combine up to 4 SATA drives into one volume for bigger, faster RAID. More drives mean more configuration options such as RAID 0 (striped) for maximum throughput, or RAID 1 or RAID 5 for data security. Take advantage of the latest SATA 3Gb/s hard disk drives with full support for native command queuing and hot plug. Native command queuing provides higher disk performance in a multi-threaded environment by performing out-of-order disk accesses.

8GB DDR2 RAM support

The XPC SN27P2 features 4 DDR2 memory slots and supports an incredible 8GB of RAM. Up to 4 times the capacity of previous generation XPCs, the XPC SN27P2 is optimized for future high-memory-demand applications such as 64-bit software, high definition video, and games.

Realtek ALC882 HD Audio

The ALC882 series 7.1+2 Channel High Definition Audio codecs with UAA (Universal Audio Architecture), featuring five 24-bit stereo DACs and three 20-bit stereo ADCs, are designed for high performance multimedia PC systems. The ALC882 series incorporates proprietary converter technology to achieve over 100dB Signal-to-Noise ratio playback quality; easily meeting PC2001 requirements and also bringing PC sound quality closer to consumer electronic devices.

Advanced I/O

The XPC SN27P2 is ready to connect to all your modern digital devices. Cameras, music players, VoIP phones, printers, USB flash drives, and more can all be attached directly thanks to the easy to reach USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 ports at the front of the system.

The XPC SN27P2's feature-rich front panel is perfectly complemented by an equally rich back panel. With USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and external SATA (eSATA), the XPC SN27P2 provides more connections and ease of use over regular ATX forced to sit on the floor and out of reach.

Silent X Technology:

Integrated Silent X cooling and noise reduction technologies deliver optimized cooling for exceptional stability, comfort and reliability. Optimized cooling features, including programmable smart fans and best-of-class airflow, make the XPC ideal for use in any setting - home, office, dorm - because it's "Super Quiet, Super Cool."

The Silent X concept is embodied in a number of discreet Shuttle technologies, including; Silent X PSU, Integrated Cooling Engine (ICE); intelligently-engineered airflow mechanics and mechanical dampening.

Integrated Cooling Engine (ICE) Module The Integrated Cooling Engine (ICE) uses convection cooling to transfer heat away from the processor and other critical system components. Copper tubing — coated in nickel and filled with distilled water — efficiently channels heat away, providing highly-effective processor and case cooling.
Smart Fan Smart Fan incorporates linear control metrics to provide optimal cooling. Under normal conditions, Smart Fan keeps fan speeds low, minimizing acoustic noise. When the load increases, Smart Fan increases fan speeds to provide optimal cooling. Users can customize Shuttle's Smart Fan settings to precisely match their desired temperature and fan speed metrics.
XPC Tools Shuttle XPC Tools is a straightforward thermal and acoustic management application for your XPC. Including several XPC only features, such as "Smart Fan" management, XPC Tools is the only all-round system management application available for the XPC. With XPC Tools, you can automatically load pre-saved performance configurations for swift switching between maxed-out performance settings for gaming and "Super Quiet, Super Cool" settings for general multimedia entertainment or office productivity. XPC Tools is available for download at http://global.shuttle.com/XPCTools/download.asp