Shuttle SX38P2 Pro (Prima Series) review

Shuttle's SX38P2 Pro is one of the first barebones systems we've seen to support ATI's CrossFire technology, which allows you to run two graphics cards together for improved 3D performance.

Unlike the other Shuttle barebones kits here, the SX38P2 has a separate heatsink and fan. These are still easy to remove, but you'll need a long crosshead screwdriver to unscrew them. The close confines make it more difficult to fit components compared to the other Shuttle systems. The power supply partially overhangs the RAM slots while the PATA and SATA ports and the ATX power connector are all squeezed in closely together.

The hardest task is fitting two graphics cards in CrossFire mode. Very little space separates the two PCI-E x16 slots, so you can't fit double-slot cards or cards with large fans. Even worse is the close proximity of the power supply and the PATA port to one of the slots. We had to unplug the PATA cable to gain access to the slot and even then it took an alarming degree of force to insert the card as the power supply cables still partially obstructed the slot. The power supply has only one PCI-E power connector. A splitter is included in the box, although the otherwise comprehensive manual neglects to mention the need to connect your graphics cards to the power supply.

If you can persevere through all that, the results are impressive. When fitted with a single Radeon HD3850 card, we saw a score of 39fps in our Call of Duty 2 test. When fitted with two HD3850 cards, this jumped up to 73.2fps - an impressive improvement. Unfortunately, the SX38P2 was very noisy with both cards fitted.

Shuttle's SX38P2 Pro is your only choice if you want a compact CrossFire gaming PC, but it's loud, expensive and tricky to build.

Author: Alan Lu