Shuttle mini X200M review

The smallest mini PCs tend to use slim 2.5in notebook hard disks, but their relatively small capacity leaves little room for lots of files.

Shuttle's mini X200M is around the size of the old Nintendo Entertainment System games console, so it isn't as small as other compact computers such as Apple's Mac mini. However, its larger size means it has room for a 300GB 3.5in hard disk.

With 300GB, the X200M should have plenty of room for storing episodes of your favourite TV shows, which you can record using the built-in TV tuner. It can receive either analogue or digital signals, but you can't watch one channel while recording another. To do that you'll have to add another tuner via USB.

You can browse your recorded shows, as well as photos and music, using Windows XP Media Center and the included remote. Unlike most other PCs, the infrared receiver for the remote is integrated into the X200Mfs case rather than using up a USB port. The remote's buttons are small and hard to press, however.

The X200M has a 1.6GHz Intel Core Duo processor and 1GB of RAM. It's not as fast as similarly priced but larger Core 2 Duo-equipped PCs, but it still attained respectable scores in our video-editing and multiple-applications test. It's suitable for use as a general-purpose computer or a media centre PC. Unfortunately, it isn't suitable for playing recent 3D games. The integrated Intel graphics chip couldn't run our Doom 3 or Call of Duty 2 tests, making it suitable only for games that are a few years old.

If the hard disk isn't spacious enough, replacing it is much easier than with other compact PCs. If you want to add more memory you'll have to discard one or both of the two fitted 512MB RAM chips though, as there are only two slots. Unsurprisingly for such a small PC, there aren't any PCI slots or spare drive bays.

This PC doesn't come with a monitor, mouse or keyboard, but there are other useful extras such as built-in wireless networking for connecting to your wireless router. Although there's only one DVI monitor port, you can hook up another D-sub display using the included splitter cable.

The Shuttle mini X200M is compact and quiet, comparatively easily to upgrade, and comes with some useful extras. That said, PC Nextday's Zoostorm 6-5202 Livestyle PC (see What's New: PCs, Shopper April 2007) is quicker in Windows and games. It costs only a few pounds more and comes with a monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers. It's not as small as the X200M, but unless you need only a base unit that's as small as possible, the Zoostorm is the better buy.