Shuttle Introduces DIY Home Theatre PC

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=1485' target='_blank'>http://www.biosmagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=1485</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Shuttle's XPC SB83G5C is a barebone small form-factor (SFF) computer designed for those who want to build their own media centre. The system, once you've added key components (such as a processor, memory and display), allows you to organise and play digital audio, video and images in a more user-friendly way compared to a regular PC. The principal facilitator for this functionality is Shuttle's own home theatre software, along with an integrated TV tuner and remote control. The XPC SB83G5C also allows you to watch live television or time-shift TV and Internet radio programs. It's based on an Intel 915G chipset with integrated graphics, supports Socket LGA 775 processors, has a PCI Express x16 slot for external graphics, SATA RAID, Gigabit LAN, FireWire 400, and supports WLANs using the optional PN15g add-in card. However, there's no Bluetooth included as standard."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/XPC-SB83G5C.jpg" /><br /><br />Shuttle continues their relentless pace of releasing new units - this time, they've created an XPC designed for use in a home theatre environment. The LED screen is a nice touch, as is the remote. Cool!

[Filip Norrgard]

"The principal facilitator for this functionality is Shuttle's own home theatre software, along with an integrated TV tuner and remote control. The XPC SB83G5C also allows you to watch live television or time-shift TV and Internet radio programs. It's based on an Intel 915G chipset with integrated graphics, supports Socket LGA 775 processors, has a PCI Express x16 slot for external graphics, SATA RAID, Gigabit LAN, FireWire 400, and supports WLANs using the optional PN15g add-in card. However, there's no Bluetooth included as standard."
Wow! Quite nice. However, I would like to see a few changes in the above mentioned specs:
AMD64 processor socket
integrated Digital TV DVB tuner (ok, that maybe isn't exactly the choice for the North American market)
integrated hardware MPEG-2 decoder (handy for the DVB decoding)
maybe Bluetooth 1.2... just maybe...

If Shuttle would make an HTPC with those specs, then that is what I would build my home theatre PC and/or PVR PC on. ;)

[rlobrecht]

The specs are decent, but they've got to get a different shape. If the media PC can't sit on top of my stereo, DVD player, etc. and fit it, it will never pass the wife factor.

[Filip Norrgard]

The specs are decent, but they've got to get a different shape. If the media PC can't sit on top of my stereo, DVD player, etc. and fit it, it will never pass the wife factor.
Why not try convincing her that this is the new trend in stereo equipment design? :lol:

[wrightca]

I'm a big shuttle fan and this looks to be typical of their stuff. I already have an older shuttle as my HTPC right now and it works great. It runs very cool in a confined space and sits in my entertainment center above and to the left of the television. I really don't have a need for a it to be a stereo component.

The reason I built the HTPC myself was to get away from buying the super top of the line expensive HTPCs that are for sale today. I wanted something inexpensive that would do the job and not tons more. I don't need a killer video card. I don't need 4 GB of memory. I don't need a DVD+/-RW. I don't need a 256 in 1 card reader. I have all of that stuff in my desktop. I just want a computer to record and play TV on, play downloaded TV shows (talk down to me for being bad, but I'm an American in Germany and only have the crappy 7 channels of the Armed Forces Network and all the 3 year old TV shows to go along with it), and listen to MP3s and streaming music.

[sojourner753]

I am definitely coming up on that time when I'm going to be ready to put together a PVR.

I have dealt with barebones systems before but they always came with the MOBO and processor. Plus power supply.

I"m wondering if this is the starting point for as far as components to purchase, or if I should look for another.

[Jason Dunn]

I have dealt with barebones systems before but they always came with the MOBO and processor. Plus power supply. I"m wondering if this is the starting point for as far as components to purchase, or if I should look for another.

That's what Shuttle XPC units come with - you add the CPU, RAM, optical drive, hard drive, and video card (if needed).

[jeffd]

Its nice to see a mobo maker getting in on the small form factor users, but this is just executed all wrong. No system components are box shaped. They are all tablet like, a thin rectangle. Thats how the pc should be.

Also using an intel chipset means you need to buy an intel cpu, so if your looking to cut cost.. this ISN'T what you want. Filip, I disagree on the 64bit amd. This wont replace your main pc. It isnt ment to be a power house.. a fast xp is more then enough for a tv multimedia player. And I would prefer wifi G rather then bluetooth 2.1, that way all my computers could access it at high speed.

[jizmo]

I recently changed my laptop to Shuttle's SN95G5V2 barebone with 939 socket, mainly because I needed bigger and faster hard drives for video editing.

It has performed great, much better than I anticipated.

I have some hard time telling convincing friends visiting my home that the little package isn't slow "net browsing" computer, but instead nearly two times faster than the ancient full-scale pc's they have back home.

/jizmo

[Jason Dunn]

Its nice to see a mobo maker getting in on the small form factor users, but this is just executed all wrong. No system components are box shaped. They are all tablet like, a thin rectangle. Thats how the pc should be. Also using an intel chipset means you need to buy an intel cpu, so if your looking to cut cost.. this ISN'T what you want. Filip, I disagree on the 64bit amd. This wont replace your main pc. It isnt ment to be a power house.. a fast xp is more then enough for a tv multimedia player. And I would prefer wifi G rather then bluetooth 2.1, that way all my computers could access it at high speed.

A few thoughts from me on this:

1) Shuttle previewed a slim-line compononent style PC a few months ago, so they're thinking in that vein, but this is a solution in their current XPC design. Personally, I have the space and would actually prefer a box like this on my TV stand rather than stacking a slim-line component on top of another already hot one...

2) Having recently gone shopping for both Intel and AMD CPUs, I can tell you that when you get into the high-end CPUs, both companies are equally expensive. Mhz per Mhz, AMD CPUs pound Intel CPUs, but the "value factor" has really gone down on AMD CPUs.

3) CPU power is more important than you might think. I went from a 2.4 Ghz Celeron to a 2.8 Ghz P4 and I was shocked at how much more responsive the unit was. Now I'm running an Athlon 64 3500+ and am happy that it's fast. If your PVR is strictly for playback, and won't be doing ANY transcoding, then a fast CPU isn't quite as vital.

4) G is certainly better than B, but I don't think Filip was suggesting that Bluetooth was meant for moving data to/from the machine. ;-)

[jeffd]

jason, well obviously youll find such a huge jump from a celeron. celeron is grade A crap. ;) I'm just saying... a 2ghz amd is about all you need for a media box.

And if he wasnt looking at the new bluetooth as a file transfer method, what was he looking for it for? BT mice and keyboards are an ok investment, but if your looking for a remote, you can do better with radio or infra red and go much cheaper.

[Filip Norrgard]

And if he wasnt looking at the new bluetooth as a file transfer method, what was he looking for it for? BT mice and keyboards are an ok investment, but if your looking for a remote, you can do better with radio or infra red and go much cheaper.
I'm mostly using Bluetooth for synching (mostly my phone but also Pocket PC)
keyboard &amp; mouse
and, a Bluetooth headset with Skype :cool:Sure, an infraread remote is cheap and quite good, but the mediapad that comes with the Logitech DiNovo system doesn't exactly make you want to go back. At least not for listening to music on your PC with a pair of wireless headphones in another room than your PC is in. ;)