Yes the new 45nm cores work, but you have to flash the BIOS to version "O". I have an E8200 running in mine.

I wonder what version of XPC Tools you received. I have the same BIOS version (Q), but the only version of XPC Tools that is running on my SP35P2 is 1.7.1 and this is not showing any overclocking facilities. Al other versions I have do fail when started.

I wonder if the new 45nm process Core 2s will work in this rig...

105W idle?!

20W for two drives, right? 14W max for CPU+MB, a few for one stick of RAM.

I think my VIA C7-box will live to see another year. The consumption at idle just seems grotesque.

Is this a typo? Page 1...

In this case, we would have preferred to see Shuttle opt for the ALC888's more voluptuous cousin, the ALC888DD, which can output multi-channel audio over a single digital cable through either DTS or Dolby Digital Live.

Then on page 4, under the spec sheet...

Audio 8-channel HD audio via ICH9R and Realtek ALC888DD codec

?

Shuttle makes a pretty nice box. The SP35P2 looks like a roomy case for it's size ..if that makes sense.
I prefer the G chassis but would like a higher end chipset used. Currently using a SG31G2 with a Q6700 and a 8800GT. With the fan on auto it's inaudiable at idle but runs warm at 49C [core0] with a slight OC to 3G [333 X 9]. The P2 has better cooling so would have a little better temp with the same parts. But it also has 5 fans vs 2 fans for the G.
Small is good but smaller is better.

Is it just me, or is the conclusions under "Power consumption" completely off?

"Since the XPC uses a much smaller motherboard and a different power supply than the other systems, its power consumption results aren't directly comparable."

The motherboard may be physically smaller, but it does contain the same VRMs, the same chipsets, the same on board controllers, integrated audio etc. as any normal ATX board with the same features. The power supply is also a normal power supply, just smaller - not physically following ATX-standard.

"Load power draw is a little higher than one might expect, but that's likely due to the XPC's 400W power supply having to work much harder than the 700W unit that's powering the other test systems"

That is just plain wrong. Don't you guys at TR do your own power supply testing? Power supplies have efficiency that varies with load, usually lower in the beginning. The maximum spec. of the PSU has nothing to do with "working harder", they still perform the same work at the same load! Actually, PSUs with a lower wattage are usually more efficient during low loads than higher wattage PSUs. One thing is true though, efficiency is usually dropping the warmer a PSU runs, and a (physically!) small PSU is harder to cool than a big ATX PSU.

Is is a myth that a 400W PSU has to work "harder" than a 700W during the same load, and it is especially embarrasing that a big and well-renowned site as TR is keeping it alive.

Maybe i just missed it in the article, but how are the thermals in this thing?

I built a new system with an SP35P2 back in October when they first hit shelves.

Specs:
Q6600 OC to 2.9GHz
2GB OCZ DDR-2 800
8800GTS 640MB
2x 500GB Caviar SE16
Vista Home Premium

It has been completely solid running f@h clients on all 4 cores nonstop. Only problem is that the system is loud under full load with the cpu and gpu both overclocked. Although I blame a lot of the fan noise on the Q6600 being a B3 stepping. I might swap it out for a Q9450 if it proves worthwhile (and if there's a bios update to support the 45nm chips).

Yawn.... The only really interesting thing Shuttle has is the X series. The X100H is the best thing they have going.

I miss the G5 chassis. :(

My favorite computer ever has been the SD11G5, with its external PSU and monster exhaust fan. I can build one to LITERALLY be whisper-quiet. If they were going to take a SFF and just update the motherboard, it should have been an SD11G5! :P

A p35 based shuttle? I thought TR already did this one.

can we get decibel readings on the noise level.
"quiet" by my definition may be different than yours.. or vice versa.

i suspect quiet by your definition means quiet... especially considering the mention of the sonata II system. however, it would still be nice to see some numbers.

i'm actually starting to consider one of these systems as a backup pc... tired of all my huge cases all over the place.