"What is that noise?” is the question many computer users ask after they have spent hours agonizing over websites, carefully planning every purchase, and finally bringing all the parts together to build a barebones computer. Size and performance are no longer the main issues. Computer manufacturers are now tackling the issue of noise. This brings us to the Pentium 3 derived Pentium-M ("P-M"). The lower clock speeds and voltages bring the promise of quiet computing in the age of jet-engine sounding Prescott heat-sink/fans.

We recently published our first review of a desktop Pentium-M motherboard. Now Shuttle enters this relatively new territory. Today we present a review of Shuttle’s first Pentium-M barebones the SD11G5. Carrying on the G5 chassis, this unit sports a brushed silver finish with the obligatory stealth drive bays on the face of the unit. This look is unchanged from previous G5s. We continue to find this a pleasing look; eye-catching in a refined way.

This motherboard integrates the P-M socket 479 spec. These chips are significantly more expensive than other Pentium offerings. In fact, while a new buyer can find 775/Prescott chips for as low as near $100, it will take double that to put a P-M in this computer. But, before we go too far, let us take a look at the basics:

Processor	Intel Pentium M 533/400 MHz FSB, Intel Pentium M LV 400MHz FSB and Intel Celeron M
Chipset	Intel 915GM + ICH6M
Memory	2 x 240 pin DDR2 SDRAM at 400/533 MHz Dual channel DDR support up to 2GB
Audio	Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit with 7.1 channel support and Digital SPDIF I/O
LAN	Broadcom 5789 Gigabit LAN Network Controller 10/100/1000Gbps
PSU	External 220W adapter 100/240V AC
Dimensions:	310mm(L) x 200mm(W) x 185mm(H)
Parallel ATA	One
Serial ATA	Two
On-Board Video	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900
PCI Express	1 x X16, 1 x X1
AGP	None

Front Panel Connections

2 x USB 2.0 1 x Firewire 1394a (6-Pin) 1 x Mic In 1 x Headphone Out 1 x Power Button 1 x Reset Button 1 x IDE Activity LED 1 x Power LED

Rear Panel Connections

2 x USB 1 x PS/2 Mouse 1 x PS/2 Keyboard 1 x Firewire 1394a (6-Pin) 1 x Audio Front Out 1 x Audio Rear Out 1 x Audio Center/Bass Out 1 x Audio Line In 1 x SPDIF In 1 x SPDIF Out 1 x RJ45 Gigabit LAN 1 x Clear CMOS Button 1 x PCI-E x1 1 x PCI-E x16 1 x VGA connector 1 x DVI connector 1 x Composite video out

This unit comes with Shuttle?s standard compliment of accessories. Opening the box, you will find the following contents: The typical manuals, CDs containing drivers for 32 bit and 64 bit chips, drive rails for floppy and hard drives, thermal paste, a floppy disk drive cable, an extra SATA cable, a spare IDE cable and a molex y-adapter power splitter and an external power supply (in two parts). Yes, you read correctly: There is no internal power supply - a move that appropriately takes advantage of the P-M’s lower thirst for power and at the same time eliminates the power supply fan, which, in theory, should greatly decrease the noise output.

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• External design... (1 of 5)
• Interior design... (2 of 5)
• Test bench setup, overclocking... (3 of 5)
• Benchmarks & cooling... (4 of 5)
• Conclusion (5 of 5)