Issues with my Shuttle build...

blackspray · 21 Sep 2009 at 20:30

Hey guys,

It's been a loooong time since I've built my own computer, been relying on a dell laptop to keep me ticking over. But the time came to get a new small computer for audio and graphic design along with being a part time HTPC in my uni room.

So I went ahead and bought hastily, hoping to get things sorted before uni, and have come into a slight issue with my build.

I have:

Shuttle XPC SP35P2
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4670 Ultimate "Passive" 512MB
Kingston HyperX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 8500C5 1066MHz
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB
Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW

The issue is that the shuttle will either hang on boot, or when I do finally get through to attempting to install an OS, it will hang on booting into the CD to install.

In my haste I didn't check the compatibility list on the shuttle site. I replaced some corsair RAM i bought initially with the Kingston RAM which is listed on the compatibility list. The only thing that I can think of that may not be accepted is the graphics card. I was after a silent (or very quiet card) capable of serving my LCD TV through HDMI, as well as being able to stand up to moderate last generation gaming.

I also had to bend the fins of the heatsink on the GPU to get it to fit in the box... So I can't return it but I'm not too fussed about that. I'm just remembering the last time I got a shuttle and ended up having to ditch the whole thing because it wouldn't work regardless of what I put in it...

So any advice on what to do now would be most appreciated

Thanks in advance,

Blackspray

Nalced · 22 Sep 2009 at 01:02

not sure if this will work but when trying to install vista put 2gb's of memory in

godinman · 22 Sep 2009 at 08:32

If you having a lot of problems i'd suggest posting in General Hardware, not a lot of people to help you in SFF.

misterPK · 22 Sep 2009 at 09:47

Does this shuttle have onboard graphics?

By hang on boot do you mean it when it starts reading the CD or does it not even let you into the BIOS settings?

PK!

Guardsmon · 22 Sep 2009 at 10:45

It could be because its using a P35 chipset and as far as I'm aware they had problems with 45nm quads to start with? (might be wrong) Maybe flash the BIOS to latest version or check that it can definately support 45nm quad rather than a 65nm quad or 45nm dual core.

Otherwise things to think about is power, but doesn't sound like you are putting much that would strain it.

petriodet · 22 Sep 2009 at 13:37

got thi from there website (4 x 240pin DDR2 DIMM slots,2GB per DIMM(Max 8GB)
Support Dual channel DDR2 667/800) have you slowed the ram to 800mhz if not try that.
cpu is supported so i don't see that being a problem
power supply is 400w no problem with compatability.

blackspray · 22 Sep 2009 at 16:34

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies.

No joy from trying just one stick of RAM. Also tried slowing the RAM but no joy on that. Been browsing round la tinternet and found many many incidents of people having issues with this box. So I'm thinking of RMA'ing it and going with a different mobo and case.

So on that topic, does anybody have any suggestions for a mobo and case that will be quiet, and support the hardware I already have?

Thanks again

Blackspray

Bane · 22 Sep 2009 at 21:16

Shuttle supported CPU list mentions BIOS version E for Q8400, and latest BIOS is J (if you don't have a Pro version of SP35P2). Don't know if wise to try updating BIOS if suffering from system hangs.

BIOS downloads

ajstan · 25 Sep 2009 at 11:26

I assume you have got the correct wattage psu...?

JEB · 26 Sep 2009 at 13:52

blackspray said:
Hey guys,

It's been a loooong time since I've built my own computer, been relying on a dell laptop to keep me ticking over. But the time came to get a new small computer for audio and graphic design along with being a part time HTPC in my uni room.

So I went ahead and bought hastily, hoping to get things sorted before uni, and have come into a slight issue with my build.

I have:

Shuttle XPC SP35P2

Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400

Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4670 Ultimate "Passive" 512MB

Kingston HyperX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 8500C5 1066MHz

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 500GB

Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW

The issue is that the shuttle will either hang on boot, or when I do finally get through to attempting to install an OS, it will hang on booting into the CD to install.

In my haste I didn't check the compatibility list on the shuttle site. I replaced some corsair RAM i bought initially with the Kingston RAM which is listed on the compatibility list. The only thing that I can think of that may not be accepted is the graphics card. I was after a silent (or very quiet card) capable of serving my LCD TV through HDMI, as well as being able to stand up to moderate last generation gaming.

I also had to bend the fins of the heatsink on the GPU to get it to fit in the box... So I can't return it but I'm not too fussed about that. I'm just remembering the last time I got a shuttle and ended up having to ditch the whole thing because it wouldn't work regardless of what I put in it...

So any advice on what to do now would be most appreciated

Thanks in advance,

Blackspray

Mate - I've been corresponding with Shuttle support for the last 4 weeks on my SP35P2, as I have exactly the same problem, using a Q9400. I've tried using their dos boot instructions to flash to the latest SP35S20J bios, changed the memory to 3 different brands, including Samsung, Kingstone and Corsair, tried different memory slots, changed voltage to 2.1v - tried everything I can think of, no joy. It's in the box for RMA and is being picked up on Monday. I'm just gona buy a SFF case and M-Atx mobo instead and start again.