Shuttle SK83G: Overclocking and Memory Testing
| Overclocking Testbed | |
| Processor: | Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz |
| CPU Voltage: | 1.50V (default) |
| Cooling: | AMD stock Athlon 64 Heatsink/Fan |
| Power Supply: | Shuttle 240W SilentX |
| Maximum OC: (Default Ratio) |
222FSB x 10 2222MHz (+11.1%) |
| Maximum "FSB" (HT): (Lower Ratio) |
232FSB @ 8X multiplier |
During our routine overclocking testing, we were able to reach a core clock speed of 2.22GHz on our 3200+'s default 10X multiplier. Compared to Athlon XP and Pentium 4 processors, this overclock isn't anything to get excited about. However, as you may or may not be aware, Athlon 64 overclockability differs from processor to processor. Just look at AnandTech's very own nForce3 250Gb overclocking results from last month's Socket 754 roundup. As you can clearly see from that article, one of our other editors just happened to get an Athlon 64 processor (of the same 3200+ speed grade) that could overclock regularly to between 2442MHz and 2480MHz on stock cooling, default voltage, and default multiplier. I just happened to get an Athlon 64 3200+ that tops out around 2200MHz, give or take a few MHz.
Anyway, after seeing how low our Athlon 64's core clock speed ceiling was on default multiplier, we decided to see how well the Shuttle SK83G could handle a high FSB at an artificially low multiplier (8X in this case). The SK83G was able to reach only 232MHz FSB, which unfortunately, is the highest available FSB option in the BIOS. We aren't exactly sure if we'd get past 232MHz FSB if we were given room to operate above 232MHz in the BIOS, due to the mystery surrounding the AGP/PCI lock. That being said, we had to lower our HT setting from 4X (800MB/s) to 3X (600MB/s) to reach 232MHz. Certain nForce3 desktop motherboards reached as high as 266MHz FSB with 4X HT enabled. We understand, however, that these SFFs are running significantly less powerful PSUs than the ones that normal desktop enthusiasts use, so you can see why we aren't being too harsh here. That being said, the SK83G is simply not an overclocker's SFF, and there's no two ways about it at the moment.
Memory Stress Test Results:
This memory stress test is very basic, as it simply tests the ability of the Shuttle SK83G to operate at its officially supported memory frequency (400MHz DDR), at the best performing memory timings that our OCZ PC3500 Platinum Ltd Modules will support. Memory stress testing was conducted by running RAM at 400MHz with 2 DIMM slots filled.| Stable DDR400 Timings - 2 DIMMs (2/2 DIMMs populated) |
|
| Clock Speed: | 200MHz |
| Timing Mode: | N/A |
| CAS Latency: | 2.0 |
| Bank Interleave: | N/A |
| RAS to CAS Delay: | 3T |
| RAS Precharge: | 6T |
| Precharge Delay: | 2T |
| Command Rate: | N/A |
Pretty much the only reason why you wouldn't be impressed with these timings running at 400MHz DDR is simply due to the fact that these same modules have run at CAS 2-2-2-6 at DDR400 on countless other motherboards, including nForce3 250Gb motherboards. Generally, these are perfectly fine timings, even if they are commonplace nowadays, especially among single channel DDR motherboards.
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cosmotic - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
Am I the only one that wants to know how they got NVIDIA IDE controllers on VIA chipset motherboards? Ether that, or your specs are wrong.Wesley Fink - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
#3 - You might be surprised at how some use their SFF machines. For example, the Shuttle SFF based on the 875 chipset has become a darling of the Extreme Overclocking crowd. In fact, I know 2 users who run their 875 SFF with mobile processors for low heat, the FSB at 300FSB, and top-end video. They take the machines to LAN parties.We always publish stock performance metrics as our baseline. If you don't personally care about overclocking an SFF, then just skip that information. We understand overclocking info is not important to some, but it does matter to others.
ggnl - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
Good review. Very informative, but I have a problem.The pictures are just fugly! I don't understand why you couple great analysis of the hardware with blurry, out of focus, poorly lit photographs.
And it's not just this review, most of the reveiws on this site have the same crappy pictures. Please...pretty please with sugar on top...send one or two of your tech gurus to a basic studio photography class at the local community college and get a camara with decent macro ability. What did you do with that Canon 10D you reviewed a few weeks ago?
This from the site that's going to be bringing you camera reviews...
overclockingoodness - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
nserra #3 - I can't disagree with you more.1. These systems are mainly designed as portable LAN machines for enthusiasts. And since AT is an enthusiasts, it makes sense to overclock the systems. Almost every site posts overclocking reslts, which makes complete sense.
2. Why not? Many enthusiasts want best performance from these little PCs. If you want the best gaming performance, it makes complete sense to include a 6800 Ultra and/or 9800. I think you are the one with a messed up mind. So you are saying that having an Athlon64 chip is right, but having a high-end video card is wrong? Why the heck would someone want a high-end CPU if they are not going to do gaming? Your arguments are useless.
3. Yeah, I agree with that BUT these systems are not for small businesses and schools who are not going to do anything with it. Don't forget that these systems are tragetted towards enthusiasts and nicely enough SFF proves be to a good form factor for space conscious users.
4. Yep, agreed.
5. You are wrong again. AnandTech has a selected benchmark suites which they use everytime to compare performance against competitor's products. If they were to start using new gaming and new testing methods for each product review, we, as readers, won't be able to understand the difference between each product and/or AnandTech will have to review 10 systems over and over again, which is a huge time wastage.
I give you some credit for your post but all the important points are bogus and utterly useless. Please check your facts and by the way if these reviews are getting boring...then why in the world are you even reading them. Stop complaining and do not ask AnandTech to change the testing methods upside down just because you. You are not special, in fact, you are one of the ignorant readers who doesn't know a thing about computers.
nserra - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
Guys, these reviews are starting to get boring.1st - I don’t see the point of testing over clocking capabilities on "cube" PC's, it's ridiculous. The people at the market these products are aimed, this is not important, especially on such small systems, who want to do that.
2nd - I don’t see the point of buying a such small system and put a Geforce 6800 or even an ati 9800, the person that does that is not in it right mind.
3rd - the review of a system like these is more important sound quality and video quality playback as 2D display quality, and specially functionality or "extras" that systems like these have.
4th - The noise the system make while is working is also very important.
5th – And really these charts that always look the same are getting boring, or you start choosing applications/games that show “significant” differences between the various chipsets or these review get boring to read.
Jeff7181 - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
I don't understand why this is "AMD's shot at SFF."Shuttle has had AMD based SFF computers for a while now... is the processor a special SFF processor or something?
Sonic587 - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - link
On the Quake 3 Arena w/Unichrome benches, could you move the FPS results further to the right? You've got some text overlapping there and it's quite hard for me to read what FPS was obtained.Other than that, nice review.
Gbugmenot - Thursday, October 17, 2013 - link
The difference between you and the others like the ones who make posts at http://www.stackfront.com is not much. You must be a 12yr old child who think know everything about computers, have you ever come out from your house and see the true world, the true reality? Have talked with other people non computer fanatics like your self? Regular PC users? Do you know about their needs? What they really want?From all the video cards in the world how many you do think are overclocked? 1/10000 1/1000 1/100? 1/10?