Shuttle announced a mini PC that includes multiple expansion slots and is designed so that an SSD (solid state drive) can augment its hard disk speed. The SZ68R5 supports Intel "Sandy Bridge" Core processors, accepts up to 32GB of RAM in four DIMM slots, has three drive bays (one 5.25-inch, two 3.5-inch), and includes 12 USB ports, according to the company.
Like other Shuttle mini PCs we've covered -- 2010's XS35, to cite one example -- the new SZ68R5 comes in "barebone" form, making it ideal for those who want to choose their own operating system, RAM, drives, and other components. This particular system, however, is aimed at customers with demanding applications, not power-sipping embedded use, as its 500-Watt power supply makes clear.
According to Shuttle, the SZ68R5 supports LGA1155-socketed "Sandy Bridge" processors ranging from the 1.6GHz, single-core Celeron G440 (35-Watt TDP) to the 3.5GHz, quad-core Core i7-2700K (95-Watt TDP). All in all, there are 37 different choices, as listed via a table on the device's data sheet.
The processor of choice may be accompanied by up to 32GB of 1066/1333MHz DDR3 RAM, installed in the device's four DIMM slots, Shuttle says. Meanwhile, the SZ68R5 employs Intel's Z68 Express chipset (block diagram farther below), which not only supports RAID (0, 5, and 10) disk arrays but also provides one of the system's more unusual attributes.
Specifically, Shuttle says, the Z68's "Smart Response Technology" (SRT) allows a relatively small SSD (solid state disk) to be placed in the SZ68R5's mSATA (Mini Serial ATA) expansion slot, from where it will act as a cache for the system's hard disk drive (HDD). Built into the PC's firmware, SRT can deliver a 60 percent performance improvement over a HDD-only system, according to the company. (To the best of our knowledge, however, SRT requires a Windows device driver, and provides no benefit with Linux.)
According to Shuttle, the SZ68R5 has two 6Gbit/sec. SATA ports and two 4Gbit/sec. SATA ports on its motherboard, plus an external 5.25-inch drive bay and two 3.5-inch bays that can be accessed either internally or externally. It also features an eSATA port on its rear panel, the company adds.
Like other Shuttle mini PCs we've covered -- 2010's XS35, to cite one example -- the new SZ68R5 comes in "barebone" form, making it ideal for those who want to choose their own operating system, RAM, drives, and other components. This particular system, however, is aimed at customers with demanding applications, not power-sipping embedded use, as its 500-Watt power supply makes clear.
According to Shuttle, the SZ68R5 supports LGA1155-socketed "Sandy Bridge" processors ranging from the 1.6GHz, single-core Celeron G440 (35-Watt TDP) to the 3.5GHz, quad-core Core i7-2700K (95-Watt TDP). All in all, there are 37 different choices, as listed via a table on the device's data sheet.
The processor of choice may be accompanied by up to 32GB of 1066/1333MHz DDR3 RAM, installed in the device's four DIMM slots, Shuttle says. Meanwhile, the SZ68R5 employs Intel's Z68 Express chipset (block diagram farther below), which not only supports RAID (0, 5, and 10) disk arrays but also provides one of the system's more unusual attributes.
Specifically, Shuttle says, the Z68's "Smart Response Technology" (SRT) allows a relatively small SSD (solid state disk) to be placed in the SZ68R5's mSATA (Mini Serial ATA) expansion slot, from where it will act as a cache for the system's hard disk drive (HDD). Built into the PC's firmware, SRT can deliver a 60 percent performance improvement over a HDD-only system, according to the company. (To the best of our knowledge, however, SRT requires a Windows device driver, and provides no benefit with Linux.)
According to Shuttle, the SZ68R5 has two 6Gbit/sec. SATA ports and two 4Gbit/sec. SATA ports on its motherboard, plus an external 5.25-inch drive bay and two 3.5-inch bays that can be accessed either internally or externally. It also features an eSATA port on its rear panel, the company adds.
