Customer Reviews

Shuttle Computer SG45H7 Intel G45+ICH10 Chipset Up to Intel Core 2 Quad DDR2 Max 16GB 300W Power Supply Barebone (Black)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is my third Shuttle and fifth barebones. I've also built a couple of completely custom rigs with water cooling etc.

I was looking for a decent desktop for work and my first choice was Shuttle. Their kits are very well put together and they have a lot of different options from Intel to AMD.

I run a dual monitor setup with a 24" Dell monitor on the HDMI/DVI port and a 22" HDVision monitor on the VGA port. I don't know what the other reviewer was talking about WRT the VGA output. As far as I'm concerned it's perfect... very sharp... good colors... and no issues running a dual monitor setup.

By profession I'm a software architect and spend a LOT of time looking at monitors... and I'm very happy with what I'm looking at.

One of the main reasons for choosing this model was that it was less expensive to build a powerhouse with this than going down the route of i7/DDR3. I'm using a Core 2 Quad (Q2995) processor with 8 GB of RAM and an Intel X25-M 160GB SSD (that's where I spent the money). I use VMWare for most of my work and so far performance has been extremely good. I could splurge on the SSD while still getting a very solid performing system with the Core 2 Quad processor and decent RAM (not high end)

Windows 7 ratings for this rig are:
Processor: 7.3
Memory: 7.3
Graphics: 4.7
Gaming Graphics: 3.6
Primary hard disk: 7.7

The higest possible score with Windows 7 is 7.9. This is not a gaming system so the graphic ratings mean nothing to me. What does matter are CPU, memory, and HDD ... which rate extremely high with Windows 7... exactly what I wanted!

Since I couldn't find a way to write a review on this product on [...], I decided to share my thoughts here.

Let me be short and precise:

Pros:

1. A more matured product from Shuttle. It seems to be better built than the ST61G4 I bought several years ago.
2. Has enough cables for additional drives. I got 3 SATA and 1 IDE.
3. A good HTPC solution. It is quiet, except 1 little fan inside the chassis.
4. Has 1 HDMI port. I can choose not to buy an additional graphics card for having this port.
5. Energy efficient. 300W PS with 80+ cert.

Cons:

1. Tight space. I tried to put in a Diamond HD All in Wonder TV tuner card into the XPC, couldn't find a way to fit it in.
2. Blurry VGA output. I was trying to use both video ports, but the VGA port output was blurry. I called Shuttle, they said it was my TV (KD Sony KDL-46XBR6) not compatible with the graphics card. (I was amazed they said that. What a lame excuse, and it was their fault for not admitting to a real problem).
3. A card in the PCI-E slot deactivates onboard graphics. This means now I cannot have multiple displays attached to the XPC since its VGA output is unacceptable.

I can't say I am totally happy with the product, especially with the blurry VGA output. Such a simple feature and they couldn't make it right. It was fairly disappointing, but I am going to keep it since I got it with good discount and it is quiet. For now, I will have to accept the fact that there is only 1 video port (HDMI) available for my home theatre.

Pros: I've found this to be a great machine for desktop computing, because I was looking for something compact and efficient, as opposed to a flashy gaming computer. We just purchased our third, today. See configuration at the end.

The Intel G45 chipset with integrated GMA X4500 high def graphics supports up to 2560x1600 and displays BlueRay and DVD movies perfectly. Word processing, spreadsheets, Internet, graphics programs are all fine, of course.

The box is quiet and runs cool. Six USB ports and well located for access. Easy to build, no sharp edges, designed and constructed well.

Our Conguration:
Intel Quad Core 65w Q9400s, 2x 2GB memory (4 GB total, PC2 6400), LG CH08LS10 BlueRay-DVD-CD drive, WD Velociraptor 300GB 10k rpm drive

Cons: The PCI-E x16 slot must be used for video, because the Intel G45 chipset inactivates the integrated video when the PCI-E slot is used. But as another reviewer commented, for desktop computing, why would you need to use the PCI-E slot for anything other than video. For 95% of desktop users, the integrated graphics will be just fine anyway.

Other Thoughts: Shuttle isn't always perfect (I have a 2 year old SD02X10, that performed like a slow laptop), but the SG45H7 is quite good.

Pros: Plenty of connections both inside and outside for HDDs and USBs. Though the one firewire port put a frown on my face before my order I have since realized that I would easily trade a USB for firewire because most of the devices I use have the option of firewire or don't have it at all.

Cons: None yet. Oh! The CD drive flap hangs open if you haven't put oil on the joints! bam... found a con!

Great computer at great price for quad core and expandable 16gb ram!!!

Other Thoughts: I don't mean to sell this computer too hard... like I said I have found barebones that you could put more money into and make faster. But none this small.

i called tech support, i have raid card in the 16 pcie and use an external monitor attached to the VGA port. They call the VGA as a another name. the HD port cannot be used but the VGA port can.