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Anyone have a Shuttle SZ68R5 yet?

S

Synomenon

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
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I see a few places that already have the Shuttle SZ68R5 in stock. Anyone have one yet? I'd really like to know if it has standard socket 1155 mounting hole spacing. I stopped using Shuttle's a long time ago because of the proprietary-ness, but it looks like they're now using ITX sized boards in their systems.

I've been trying to find a really compact gaming system since then, but have come up short.

If I get the Shuttle SZ68R5, I'd like to use an Asetek 545LC in it. It's like a Corsair H60, but with a 92mm radiator.

Also, I'm not sure if the 500W PSU in the SZ68R5 can handle my components:
i7-2600
16GB DDR3-1600
600GB VelociRaptor
300GB Intel 320 Series SSD
LG Blu-Ray Burner
XFX 2GB HD6950
 
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I'll be picking one up as soon as they become available here in Oz, but no specific date here yet. I see NCIX has them in Canada now, so hopefully soon. The new heatpipe in the SZ68R5 does seem to use regular pushpins to mount the heatsink/fan, just like the stock Intel heatsinks, so hopefully it's just using the standard Intel mounting now.

The shuttle 500W should easily handle that config. I've got an SN25P2 Pro with the 400W supply running a Q9550, 8800GTX, 2x 1TB HDDs, and an SSD, and that setup has very similar TDPs compared to yours. This trusty box has been chugging along without fail for almost 4.5 years now. Bought pretty much the first one available in the US when they were released.

I'll probably have a similar build to yours, though I plan on going with a 7950 when they are available, which should give a pretty significant power reduction compared to the 6950.
 
Synomenon said:
I've been trying to find a really compact gaming system since then, but have come up short.

If I get the Shuttle SZ68R5, I'd like to use an Asetek 545LC in it. It's like a Corsair H60, but with a 92mm radiator.
Click to expand...

Have you considered building an ITX rig in a Silverstone SG05/06/07? Those are really compact. This thread has pics of a Shuttle system sitting next to (and being bigger than) an SG06. SG05 and SG06 are the same case with different front. SG05 has slightly better airflow while SG06 makes for a slightly quieter system (if sitting on desk near you). SG07 is a bit bigger.

Sandy Bridge CPUs at stock or near stock speeds don't need any more cooling than the dinky stock cooler that comes with them. Yes, they run that cool! Just leave power management enabled so they can run cool, and enable a fan profile in BIOS so it is quiet.
 
I had a white SG05 a few years ago. It was ok, but I don't like having to use a slim optical drive.
 
So you dont like using a slim optical drive,I agree that they are not as convinient to use as the full size ones, but they do take up a lot less space, Slot loading is perhaps the best answer, but most models do not have eject button.

But lets be honest as time has gone by the use of my optical drive has dropped dramaticaly
 
Also, I haven't found a mITX board that's gotten good reviews. I like the Zotac Z68 board, but reviews haven't been great.
 
Synomenon said:
Also, I haven't found a mITX board that's gotten good reviews. I like the Zotac Z68 board, but reviews haven't been great.
Click to expand...

Zotac is hit/miss.

If you rule out overclocking/tweaking, then probably any board will be fine - no worse than mATX/ATX counterparts.
 
One of the Shuttle sites finally has an SZ68R5 page live:
http://www.shuttle.eu/products/mini-pc/sz68r5/

In regards to the PSU fan from the PDF:
"In addition, the power supply uses a 50mm cooling fan providing the same airflow, but spins slower than previous 40mm models to make the system run even more quietly."

I actually had my ancient (ancient!) SN45G powered up today, and couldn't even hear the 40mm PSU fan unless I put my head next to it. That's in a PC over 8 years old, so I imagine the 50mm fan in the current ones will be just as quiet.

Though anyone who had the very first Shuttles back in the PIII days will remember how insanely loud the PSU fans were. I think they must have used rackmount server PSUs in those initial cases, sounded like jet engines. :) Probably didn't help that PSU fan was the only fan on the case back then.
 
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Here's the first review I've seen:
http://www.motormice.com/reviews/SZ68R5/

Couple things people will like:
- It uses the standard Intel heatsink mounting, so watercooling should be a breeze
- It also supports regular ITX mobos, just need to add a couple of the usual standoffs. Nice upgrade path for the future.

I'll be getting one as soon as it shows up here in Oz, which according to Shuttle should be in the next couple weeks.
 
Where did you find it in stock? The only places I see it at are some random places I've never heard of, unless I'm missing somewhere?
 
That is one sexy looking box! ...and very nice PSU and cooler for a Shuttle.

I built an SB81P that I used as my primary gaming rig for about 3 years...and replaced that with an SP35P2 Pro, which I just (this weekend) retired after four years of heavy use. I also just retired another SB81P that I built for my mother, which she had been using for 7 years.

I always worried about a PSU or MB failure since they were proprietary and often difficult to find, but those boxes just kept running like champs. In fact, I don't have the heart to ditch them, so I have all three boxed back up. :)

My latest build is standard mATX, which is far more flexible, but also required far more research. "What? I have to choose a cooler?!" :)

Nice vid here...by a guy who is not exactly a Shuttle expert :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VX28ay0By6k
 
Looks like Shuttle is showing the SZ77R5 at CeBIT, first week of March. Didn't realise they were actually going to have a Z77 model available right away, so I'm just going to wait until March and see when the expected release date is (I'm assuming Aprilish)

Fancy that, Shuttle actually releasing something on time? Hell must have frozen over.

Edit:
Also very odd to see the SZ68R5 is actually cheaper over here in Oz, I'm used to them being much more expensive, no matter what the exchange rate is. Hold that holds true for the SZ77R5 as well.
 
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Got an SZ68R5 on the way from the egg. Should be putting it together this weekend. Holding off on the video card until I actually work with it, doing some OC and checking the onboard video. I'll be using an i7-2600k, and either 8gb or 16gb of the kingston hyperX grey series. (just because they are listed in the compatibility chart)
Going to do OS load and test with 8gb first, then will redo with 16gb.
I also have some 1.5v ripjaws that I might swap in to see if they run cooler.

They I will see if I can actually toast bread on the top!

I know the Z77 will be sexy, and top dollar, but I figured the 2600k+Z68 is such a well tweaked and tested combo it was the way to go.
 
uunut said:
Got an SZ68R5 on the way from the egg. Should be putting it together this weekend. Holding off on the video card until I actually work with it, doing some OC and checking the onboard video. I'll be using an i7-2600k, and either 8gb or 16gb of the kingston hyperX grey series. (just because they are listed in the compatibility chart)
Going to do OS load and test with 8gb first, then will redo with 16gb.
I also have some 1.5v ripjaws that I might swap in to see if they run cooler.

They I will see if I can actually toast bread on the top!

I know the Z77 will be sexy, and top dollar, but I figured the 2600k+Z68 is such a well tweaked and tested combo it was the way to go.
Click to expand...

Awesome- looking forward to your results- would love to go back to a shuttle. I had 2 different ones back in the nforce 2 400 days and I had a S754 one as well. Bullet proof and I had much fun with them.
 
I know the Z77 will be sexy, and top dollar, but I figured the 2600k+Z68 is such a well tweaked and tested combo it was the way to go.
Click to expand...

The next gen from intel Ivy bridge with 22nm cpus is supposed do work fine with most 1155 chipsetts so who cares if there is a Z77 shuttle comming?? unless it has a 600W platinium PSU :D


What intrests me is the bios voltage options. Im hoping for some undervolting options. -0,2V would be great. now i have a 2500K and its 1,16V but it only needs 0,98V. its a huge difference in heat and powerconsumtion. and itgives more 12v for the gpu


what plans for HW do you have?
 
I'm waiting for Shuttle to start using an UEFI instead of the old BIOS they still use.
 
leifeinar said:
The next gen from intel Ivy bridge with 22nm cpus is supposed do work fine with most 1155 chipsetts so who cares if there is a Z77 shuttle comming?? unless it has a 600W platinium PSU :D


What intrests me is the bios voltage options. Im hoping for some undervolting options. -0,2V would be great. now i have a 2500K and its 1,16V but it only needs 0,98V. its a huge difference in heat and powerconsumtion. and itgives more 12v for the gpu


what plans for HW do you have?
Click to expand...

Looking at the bios manual, it looks like it starts at 1.05v and only has options for adding voltage. though the manual does state that options will change depending on the cpu installed. Also the support site states the first bios update was to tweak/add oc elements to the bios.

I'm going to see how oc'ing on the stock ice cooler goes. I'll shoot for 5ghz but be happy around 4.5. I may look into replacing it with an H60 or such if it looks doable. Once I find whatever the sweetspot is, I will then add a full size video card to see how that goes. I have an 8800 Ultra still lying around, that should be a good test. I'm hoping I can actually make a 7970, probably one of the double fan units work.

I agree it would have been nice to see an updated Z68 board, like the Asus Gen3, but I don't plan on putting any 3tb drives in there anyway, and even the current pcie3.0 gpus would have a hard time using all the bandwidth on a x16 2.0.

I'm having a hard time not pulling the trigger on the xfx bedd 7970, as it is available at the egg right now, but I do think it would be worth taking the time to see how such a system might perform before dropping another 6 bills.

Currently I have the 2600k I picked up from MC, and the following on the way:
SZ68R5 barebones
2x Kingston HyperX grey series DDR3-1600 CL9 8GB (2x4) kits
Corsair Performance Pro 256gb Sata III SSD
Intel mini pcie wireless b/g/n (half card)
Win7ult
LG bd-rom(3d) super-multi

Once I decide what video card I am going with, I will mod the side of the case to allow whatever fans are on the video card access to air directly outside the case. I have some 90mm-120mm adapters and 120mm filters on the way also. Cutting the case will be the trick. The 6970 listed on the compatibility chart (asus ref 6970) has a listed length of 11". The listed length on the 7970 BEDD is 10.8" so it may be ok, whereas the MSI lightning 6970 is listed at 12.2, could be a problem. Still hard to find what I would call a good deal on a 6970, and with a 7970 I can always move that over to whatever my eventual ib-e full system build will be.
 
The shuttle can take 30cm gpu if i remember correct. and the 7970 uses 190w @ gaming. som its a perfect card. but its so EXPENSIVE.

The problem with the cards with the custom fans is that they dump all the heat inside the small case while the original pushes it out the back. the stock cpu cooler chipset og VRMs might not like the that.
 
leifeinar said:
The shuttle can take 30cm gpu if i remember correct. and the 7970 uses 190w @ gaming. som its a perfect card. but its so EXPENSIVE.

The problem with the cards with the custom fans is that they dump all the heat inside the small case while the original pushes it out the back. the stock cpu cooler chipset og VRMs might not like the that.
Click to expand...

This is why I am waiting to test with my 8800 ultra with the accelero. If the card pushing air inside the case just overheats the whole unit, then the reference cooler might be the way to go, especially if I can arrange for it to pull air from directly outside the case. I like quiet, but I like things to be cool and performing better. Really no need to oc the gpu for my needs, at least on a 7970. Stuff should be arriving today.
 
@uunut

Looking forward to your experiences with this new case. I have been on an E6750 @ 3.2GHz and a P35 mobo for over 4 years now, and looking at this case as a time to upgrade. I have always wanted SFF instead of a big case.

I read the Shuttle's memory support list, but I plan to use low voltage memory (1.35 instead of 1.65). Here's what I plan on getting:

Shuttle SZ68R5
Intel Core i5-2500K
G.SKILL Ripjaws X 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1600 Low Voltage F3-12800CL9D-8GBXM

For an optical I will use my existing LG Bluray Burner (one reason I like this case versus the SG05-07) and my Crucial SSD. For a GPU in the mean time, I will use my EVGA GTX 260 Core 216.

If I can get 4.0GHz out of the 2500K without too much heat and stress on the motherboard, I will pull the trigger sooner than later. I did not want to spend 100 bucks more for the 2600K when I heard the 2500K will give the same FPS in games. I do some video encoding on what I have now, and the 2600K will be great for that, but it should be night-and-day going from an E6750 to a 2500K.
 
Price difference is only $60 now if you know where to look, and I like having the ability to use the onboard graphics when this eventually gets relegated to my htpc. Like me you look to have held onto your old sys for quite a while, and though you may not need some of the small advantages now, you certainly might during the life of the system.

Good idea on the memory, I also have some 1.5v ripjaws I will try.
 
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