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LOSTCIRCUITS		SHORTCUTS: A Spring-loaded XPC At One Glance Features Mainboard Details BIOS, Test Configuration Memory I: Sandra Memory II: Cachemem I/O performance Winstones 3D Performance Overclocking, Conclusion Flame Us Shuttle Mainboards and SFF Online
Shuttle SB61G2 "Spring(dale)-Loaded"
(Review by MS, May 27, 2003)

It is clear that the Intel Extreme Graphics, even in their second inception, are mostly useful for desktop applications, with a very limited capability for gaming. The dual channel memory interface helps to overcome some of the bottlenecks but there are still too many internal limitations for the integrated graphic engine. Nonetheless, the SB61G2 does have an AGP slot and it can be used with any of the current high-end graphics cards which turns the SB61G2 into a screaming powerhouse also with respect to 3D gaming.

3DMark2001SE

It certainly helps the performance to disable the integrated graphics. Even though the SB61G2 does not reach the Caterwood, it zooms right past the Intel board with a substantial victory.

Comanche4

The same happens in Comanche4, the SB61G2 beats everybody else except for the Canterwood..

UnrealTournament 2003

All you need to do is disable the integrated graphics, set the latencies to 2:2:2 and off she takes..

It turns out that, at least in gaming applications, the SB61G2 is the fastest Springdale system around, at least within the limited sample of board we have looked at so far. This may change in the future, but at least, there are no bad surprises lurking somewhere. One thing we noticed, though was that the SB61 was very sensitive to the quality of the memory used. With the Mushkin PC3500, there were no issues at all, some older DIMMs, including some Corsair XMS caused the gaming performance to take an instant nose dive if the latencies were set too aggressive. For example, Comanche 4 scores were anywhere between 32 and 55 fps in that case as opposed to the 61 fps with the memory working properly.

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