Shuttle KPC K45 Barebones System

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Max Slowik
Beth
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Jun. 25, 2008

Specifications

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In Use

I used an Xbox 360 HD DVD drive, and installed a bunch of different stuff. Windows was no hassle, and, for the most part, Linux wasn't either. I spent the majority of my time using Linux Mint, because it's the least-hassling Linux distribution I've ever come across. It's Ubuntu with enough tweaks and uniquely Mint applications that it's its own animal.

The strength of Mint is this: you install it, and you don't have to configure anything. With GMA950, Compiz Fusion worked out of the box, and it was pre-installed and configured. Flash is installed, BitTorrent, everything. Inside an hour I was playing StarCraft via Wine, Folding @ Home, and doing everything that I could have wanted to do with a workstation. It's worth pointing out that I was up and working with Mint faster than when I had just installed Windows, Vista, or XP. It's a completely satisfying operating system that really contrasts itself with Windows--XP in particular, which shows its age poorly.

Once I got Mint and StarCraft installed, I removed the 360 drive and took it back to the office. I haven't missed it. MintInstall took care of all my other needs.

Part of why Mint runs so well is that the KPC's hardware was selected with Linux in mind, and every component has kernel support and drivers, and needs little (and in this case, no) configuration. Given Shuttle's ability to select good Linux hardware, I wish they included an internal wireless adapter. For some, that would be icing on the cake, but not likely the kind of people who want to use a KPC. For the record, I had no problems using an hField Wi-Fire.

After a few days of always-on operation, running F@H, and keeping both cores fully loaded, the power supply started making an irritating noise. It was a constant, grinding noise. I assume it was the fan and, by the end of the week, it ground away whatever was irritating it. Now it just sounds like a little, high-RPM fan. It's been fully-loaded for about a month straight, with no crashes or system failures.

A funny thing: this was a smelly computer for the first couple of days. It made the whole room smell like a bag of do-not-eat. I'm familiar with the pungent, industrial smell of new hardware, and that's all it was. But there was a lot of it.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Looks
Page 2: Inside the Case & Settings Things Up
Page 3: In Use
Page 4: Conclusion

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6 User Comments

1 - Posted by afs on June 26, 2008 - 12:02 am

Imo the reason the KPC is missing features is so it doesn't cannibalize the sales of Shuttle's costlier barebones. They do sell models that have the "missing" options.

2 - Posted by Anthony on June 26, 2008 - 10:20 am

I have two XPCs - one is a W2k3 Server and the other is a WHS box. Both work really well and only consume about 50W of power.

3 - Posted by loz on June 26, 2008 - 2:05 pm

I agree the PSU a loud.
But I disagree on two things :
- there's room for a slim optical drive (take care to choose a short power adapter for it). You just need to remove or cut the front panel.
- Mine came with the 92 exhaust fan.

And by the way I didn't had any heat problem (with the exhaust fan, and all components chosen for being low-power consumption, though). But I had memory recognition problems with 800Mhz Kingstone sticks. I downgraded to 667Mhz and now it runs flawlessly.

4 - Posted by Kurtis on June 26, 2008 - 2:50 pm

afs: good point about the other models which come with the other stuff :-P

loz: I think he meant you can't just plop a drive in there, since most people wouldn't want or know how to modify the case.

5 - Posted by loz on June 27, 2008 - 3:19 am

You don't have to "modify the case".
- Remove the front panel (4 screws, tool included)
- Remove the metalic grid from the front of the case (no tool needed, just your fingers).
- "plop" the drive

If you want the (optional, it's just for the look) plastic panel back, and if you want a permanent access to the drive, you'll have to drill a hole in the plastic panel, indeed.

6 - Posted by cubiclegangsta on June 27, 2008 - 3:27 am

very nice article. in fact, it was one of the most relevant I have read on the kPC.

Regarding "kP2" there are some new variations coming out "soon":

global.shuttle.com/awards_de tail.jsp?award_id=848

No idea on price or actual release though. I don't know if I can/want to wait.... damn it.

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