Dying Shuttle... advice needed for transplant

ALienBC · 23 Feb 2006 at 09:14

Ok, it's an SN41G2, and the PSU is dying: it's doing the classic "takes half an hour to turn on and won't shut down" thing. Have just tested an ancient 300w PSU and it works fine with that.

So here I am with a 3 year old PC that's failing, while being surrounded by ancient Athlons and Celerons that are still working just fine, and doing a quieter job of it too.

While I could replace the PSU (a 250w Achime) with one of the newer 300w SilentX models I'm not paying 60 quid for one that'll likely die in the next couple of years and which'll be, from what I've read, noisier than this one.

Enough Shuttle for me (I'll put this one next to the dead SV24 I still can't get working). So the question is: what next? I'd love a full system upgrade but can't justify the money I'd want to spend on something desirable.

So I'm wondering if it'd be worthwhile buying a case with a chunky PSU that'll fit whatever strange mobo form factor is used in the SN41G2. A transplant, basically... to something bigger, cooler and quieter, with a better PSU. Small is good but I'm no longer worried about saving space if bigger is better (because it's quieter, cooler.. .all that. )

Any ideas from the OC range?

ALienBC

chaparral · 23 Feb 2006 at 09:33

My sn41g2 standard 200watt psu went the same way about 6months ago..

Now the 250watt silentx i replaced it with is doing the same thing. :mad:

semi-pro waster · 23 Feb 2006 at 10:29

From what little I know of SFF PCs(I built an Aopen and kept it for less than a month) the motherboard won't easily transfer to a 'normal' PC case because the mounting points appear to be oddly positioned. However you could buy something like an Antec Aria for ~£70 and try that, it fits mATX motherboards and you may be able to bodge some method of holding the motherboard in place.

ALienBC · 23 Feb 2006 at 10:56

That's exactly the kind of thing I'm worried about

As I understand it the SN41G2 uses the Shuttle FN41 motherboard, which is micro ATX form factor. So it ought to fit in something like the OCUK Aspire X-Qpack... probably not the quietest or best-built option but at least the PSU would be up to the job (I assume). A few of the other OCUK value cases seem to support mATX too. I'm just wondering if ATX cases generally do, or if I need to be careful here...

I suppose another option is to ditch the motherboard, but as I'm running a Barton, AGP card and PATA drives I find there aren't all that many options these days. Harrumph

semi-pro waster · 23 Feb 2006 at 11:03

All ATX cases can accomodate a mATX motherboard, there will be mounting holes for it available. I just wasn't sure that Shuttle made their motherboards to the mATX standard but if they do then you could use any case.

ALienBC · 23 Feb 2006 at 11:08

Oh ok, thanks for that. So now all I need to do is, er.. count the holes and compare their positions, or something. Well I'm getting closer anyway

Hamish · 23 Feb 2006 at 11:38

I've got a spare standard PSU that came with the SN41G2 since I replaced it for the SilenX one. I'll sell you it if you like, email me

ALienBC · 23 Feb 2006 at 11:52

Ta - I've mailed you. In the meantime, praps you could tell me if you think the SilentX is worth it?

Looks like Shuttle has its own form factor.... typical.