VOGONS


First post, by DCG Retrowave

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I just found 2 Shuttle XPC computers locally, both for $25 CDN. They're both the same model, the SS51G (not sure if they're the 2002 version or the 2003 Hyper-Threading ones). The seller doesn't know the specs, but they are both complete PC's, not just the case and motherboard. I'm seriously considering purchasing both and installing Windows 98SE on one and Windows XP Professional on the other, but I have a few questions before I bring my computer collection up to a total of 22 🤣

Would a Socket 478 Pentium 4 be a suitable CPU for a Windows 98SE machine? I ran 98SE on one briefly a few years ago, but I didn't use it for more than a few days because I couldn't find drivers for that IBM's on-board graphics and sound (I eventually did find them a year later, but I downloaded the XP versions instead and reinstalled XP on that machine).

Can I use full-size AGP and PCI cards in this model? I plan on adding a Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 for the 98SE one and some version of the Audigy for the XP one (not sure which Audigy I should go for yet) and get myself a GeForce 3/4 series card for 98 and either a 4 or 6 series card for XP (no FX series for me 😁).

Would these mini computers run too hot or could I keep them relatively cool? My 2007 Mac Mini running Windows XP always runs a little hot, but not unusually hot. These Shuttles are larger so I guess it's safe to assume they'd be easier to cool?

How are the PSUs in the Shuttles? Are they pretty reliable? According to Shuttle's website, they're 200W PSUs which is what I have in a few of my older PCs from the early 2000's. However, those computers are using integrated graphics or low-end cards. For these Shuttles, I want to throw in the graphics and sound cards I listed above and the GeForce models would be high-end AGP cards from their respective series. Would I be pushing the limits or would the PSU have more than enough watts to power everything?

I've haven't done any major upgrades to a small PC like this before. I've done several upgrades for my HP Pavilion a1610n (extra HDD, more RAM, added a 9500 GT, and got myself a SB Live!), but that PC has a 300w PSU and has a much larger case. Any advice would be greatly appreciated 😀

Some pics of the units I'm looking to buy.
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/z/nAQ … leD4Ko/$_59.JPG
https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/OTAwWDE2MDA=/z/RKA … teD4Kq/$_59.JPG

Website for the Shuttle XPC with more detailed specs.
http://www.shuttle.eu/_archive/old/es/www.shu … /index-420.html

DCG Retrowave
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xHzJ94Fji7psz45rF_Bhw

Reply 1 of 7, by Falco

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Shuttle really never standardized the internals in their "box" PCs, so it can be hard to know what will fit without either having a picture of the internals or having the machine in hand to inspect it.

I've had several Shuttle box PCs over the years and they were all over the place with the internal designs. They usually gave you enough vertical room to have a full height PCI/AGP card, but the length is constrained based on where the slot was. Slots closer to the sides of the case have more clearance, while slots closer to the center of the case are more restricted due to drive bays.

The power supplies Shuttle used are VERY poor, they almost always suffer from capacitor failure for the same reason every other manufacturer did at the time these machines were built. One of my Shuttle XPCs had a similar power supply to the ones in your pictures, it's essentially a server power supply designed for use in 1U rack cases. If you do buy those machines, you'll likely have to recap the power supplies.

Reply 3 of 7, by xjas

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I have the contemporary AMD version (SK41G) as my "fast" Win98 rig. Geode NX1750 (~1.4GHz Athlon XP mobile), Geforce 3, and an Audigy 2 ZS. It's a sweet little powerhouse, runs 98SE beautifully. The cooling system is pretty efficient, although I did replace the original Thoroughbred with the Geode to keep internal temps down. Not sure how hot the P4 versions run.

Incidentally, the mobo in mine has a universal AGP slot that can run 3DFX cards. I believe Wiretap has a Voodoo5 5500 in his. Make sure you verify this before you put one in though.

For $25 each I would jump all over those.

Error 0x7CF wrote on 2020-01-08, 00:32:

I'm not 100% confident (mine hasn't failed yet) but the PSUs might be Flex-ATX compatible. The ones I have certainly bear a passing resemblance.

PSU is bog-standard FlexATX, although the cable lenghts of the original Shuttle ones have been pretty tightly trimmed to fit, so you'll end up with a bit of excess cabling if you use a generic one. FlexATX parts aren't super-easy to find, but pretty good replacements are available. I got mine without a PSU and had zero luck tracking one down locally, but I ended scoring 3 for ~$40 CDN (shipped) on Ebay.

Falco wrote on 2020-01-08, 00:25:

it's essentially a server power supply designed for use in 1U rack cases. ...

It's not the same as a 1U rackmount power supply, those won't fit. (I've tried.) See above.

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Reply 4 of 7, by Falco

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xjas wrote on 2020-01-08, 00:49:

It's not the same as a 1U rackmount power supply, those won't fit. (I've tried.) See above.

Interesting. The one I had last had the PSU in the front of the case mounted to the bottom sideways, and was connected to the rear of the case via an extension cable. Here's a picture of one since I don't have mine anymore.

https://www.packetmischief.ca/wordpress/wp-co … le_SV25_011.jpg

I guess they are FlexATX PSUs. I stole a spare out of a scrapped 1U rack server that was like this one: https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16817338120 to get mine working again, so I just assumed it was a short 1U power supply.

Reply 5 of 7, by DCG Retrowave

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Thanks everyone for the info! Unfortunately, both Shuttles were sold before I had the money. I'm now looking at getting an HP Pavilion 6370Z with a PII 350 MHz. It's a normal tower so I should have an easier time replacing the PSU.

DCG Retrowave
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xHzJ94Fji7psz45rF_Bhw

Reply 6 of 7, by dr.zeissler

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xjas wrote on 2020-01-08, 00:49:

I have the contemporary AMD version (SK41G) as my "fast" Win98 rig. Geode NX1750 (~1.4GHz Athlon XP mobile), Geforce 3, and an Audigy 2 ZS.

That's quite interesting. Can you tell me, how the geode is setup fsb/multi and why you are using a gf3 instead of an ati? (or something else)

Thx
Doc

Retro-Gamer 😀 ...on different machines