Shuttle XPC ST61G4: The Test

Neither the ATI 9100IGP, which is Direct X 8.1, nor the Intel 865G are capable of running every benchmark in our standard system tests. However, since ATI and Shuttle fully expect the ST61G4 to be purchased for the integrated graphics capabilities, it is important to compare performance of ATI 9100 IGP to Intel 865G. We ran all the benchmarks that did not require DX 9 on both an Intel 865G SFF and the ST61G4. This should give you a good idea of how the performance of the ATI 9100IGP compares to Intel's integrated video solution.

In addition, we ran the full suite of benchmarks with our standard ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card, to provide better data for comparison of the ATI chipset to the performance of Intel 865/875chipset-based systems.

In all benchmarks, we had to run the Mushkin PC3500 Level II and the OCZ 3500 Platinum Ltd at 2-3-3-6 timings. The system would not boot at all with 2-2-2-5 timings, or 2-2-3-6. The ATI 9100IGP apparently requires slower memory timings because, even when left on Auto, the Mushkin memory, which has SPD timings of 2-2-2-6 at DDR400, was reset by the board to 2-3-3-6 timings.

 Performance Test Configuration
Processor(s): Intel 3.0 800FSB Pentium 4
RAM: 2 x 512MB Mushkin PC3500 Level II
2 x 512MB OCZ 3500 Platinum Ltd
Hard Drive(s): Seagate 120GB 7200 RPM (8MB Buffer)
Bus Master Drivers: Intel INF Update v5.00.1012
Intel IAA for 875P RAID not installed for consistency of Test Results
Video Card(s): ATI 9100IGP Integrated Graphics
Intel 865G Integrated Graphics
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
Video Drivers: ATI Catalyst 3.10
Operating System(s): Windows XP Professional SP1
Motherboards: Shuttle ST61G4 (9100IGP)
Soltek Qubic EQ3401M (865PE)
Biostar iDEQ 200T (865G)
Shuttle XPC SB65G2 (865PE)
Asus P4C800-E (875P)
ABIT IS7-G (865PE)

All performance tests with the ATI 9800 PRO 128MB video card were run with the AGP Aperture set to 128MB with Fast Write enabled. Resolution in all benchmarks is 1024x768x32 unless otherwise stated.

Additions to Performance Tests

We have recently updated to Veritest Winstones 2004. However, to allow comparison to earlier benchmarks, we have used ZD Labs Internet Content Creation Winstone 2003 and ZD Labs Business Winstone 2002 for system benchmarking the ST61G4.

Game Benchmarks

We have added Halo, a Microsoft Direct X 9.0b game, to our gaming benchmarks. We have also added X2, which includes Transform and Lighting effects as part of the standard benchmarks, and Aquamark 3, which is also designed for Direct X 9.0. Gun Metal 2 from Yeti Labs has been dropped as a standard benchmark for system tests because it revealed very little information about system performance.

Shuttle XPC ST61G4: BIOS and Overclocking Shuttle XPC ST61G4: On-Board Graphics Performance
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  • Cygni - Sunday, January 25, 2004 - link

    The IGP performance was stellar... if your going to be using the onboard graphics, this box looks like a good choice... but if your going to be using the AGP slot, the i865G looks better.
  • sipc660 - Saturday, January 24, 2004 - link

    i think my laptop is running the same ati igp chipset and apart from the crappy celery i noticed performance could be somewhat better..but i don't think that the memory timings are forced that slow..
    could it be that the shuttle wanted to keep off any possible temperature issues?
    i noticed anything video and or memory intensive turns my rather quite laptop into a godzilla.

    i reckon anyone purchasing SFF should still get the shuttle and wait for a bios update....that should close the resulting performance gap

    why?

    ban the freakin 3andHalf floppy drives...
  • sipc660 - Saturday, January 24, 2004 - link

  • gamara - Saturday, January 24, 2004 - link

    The onboard nForce2 was tested in a previous review, and had better onboard video performance with a processor that cost $80(Athlon XP 2600+) instead of $260(P4 3.0). Not sure if the settings were the same, as the previous article did not list what settings it was tested with.
    ATI 98 FPS Q3, 50 UT 2003 Flyby, and 38 UT Bot
    NForce2 129 Q3, 66 UT Flyby, and 38 UT Bot. Not bad for giving up 1 Ghz on the processor.
  • artifex - Friday, January 23, 2004 - link

    this may sound stupid, but how do you install Windows to the onboard RAID without a floppy for the RAID driver? Not to mention... where does the other drive in the RAID go? :)
  • Lonyo - Friday, January 23, 2004 - link

    ATi - Pentium 4, Intel - Pentium 4. nVidia - AMD.
  • Rako00 - Friday, January 23, 2004 - link

    Why compare the ATI to intels intergreated graphics card only. At least include the Nforce 2 graphic card too.

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