Shuttle XPC G4 8520
Compact and stylish Shuttle packs a punch.
Artwork by Rick Rizner, John Goddard
Shuttle Computer targets its space-saving, shoebox-size XPC line as a high-performance alternative to laptops for gamers who want a light system they can take with them. But the reality is, with its mirrored front panel and stylish black case, this Shuttle will look at home almost anywhere--living room, den, or office desk.
And unlike a notebook, the G4's small size does not mean you have to sacrifice performance. The unit we tested, equipped with a 2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ processor, 1GB RAM, and two Serial ATA hard drives striped together in a RAID 0 configuration, posted a PC WorldBench 4 score of 145--within just five points of our current performance champ, the Alienware Aurora Extreme system. The G4 also came with an ATI Radeon 9800 XT video card, which contributed to the system's high frame rates on both of our demanding gaming tests. On the other hand, small size and quick speed does exact a premium price: The XPC G4 8520 comes in at $3000, which is expensive given its components and lack of expansion room.
Limited upgradability is, in fact, our biggest knock on the Shuttle. You can replace parts (a bigger hard drive, a faster graphics board, for example), but the single open slot and the lack of open drive bays limit your options.
Though you have to take what you get on the inside, you do have some choice in what you add to the outside, with four USB 2.0 ports (two on the front and two on the back) and two FireWire ports. The Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard that came with our test system worked well; the keyboard included lots of shortcut and multimedia keys.
The Shuttle XP17 17-inch LCD monitor bundled with the G4 8520 showed vivid color and natural flesh tones on our test photo. Text didn't look as good, however, with somewhat fuzzy black text in 10-point type. Fast action scenes played off our test DVD video were smooth and realistic, with no artifacts or stuttering.
To open the case for upgrading, simply unscrew three thumbscrews at back and remove the three-sided cover, which then gives you access to the interior from three sides. The interior, however, is cramped and densely packed.
The Shuttle XPC G4 8520 is quick and stylish, but trades expandability for a small footprint and portability.
Lisa Cekan
Artwork by Rick Rizner, John Goddard
Photograph by Rick Rizner
Photograph by Rick Rizner