Get the Aluminum Advantage

Shuttle was one of the first PC hardware manufacturers to popularize the use of brushed aluminum cases, and once you get to know the advantages of aluminum you'll know why the rest of the world is following suit.

Aluminum alloys are harder and stronger than steel, and aluminum the best strength-to-weight ratio of any metal. One of the advantages of this is that unlike many sheet metal cases, XPCs won't warp or twist out of shape through repeated openings or when you place weight on them, such as an LCD monitor. Despite this durability, XPCs remain light and small enough for easy portability. You can even tote one around in a special Shuttle XPC backpack!

Aluminum carries some other key advantages, too:

• Because it forms a minute protective oxide coating upon exposure to the atmosphere, aluminum needs no further treatment in ordinary environments. Thus the chassis inside and out will resist corrosion, rust, and discoloration. This makes for an extremely durable computer that will last many years and remain in pristine condition if cared for.
  
  
• Aluminum is four times better at conducting heat than steel. This means that when your machine begins to run hot during extended always-on periods, the chassis itself can act like a giant heat sink and helps to drive heat away from the computer. Excessive heat within the chassis can prematurely age and damage PC components as well as slow down your system's performance.
  
  
• Aluminum is the preferred metal in applications where magnetism may be a problem. In the confined space of a dorm room, small apartment, or even a home theater center, for example, powered speakers and CRT monitors can pick up magnetic interference from an unshielded computer. While Shuttle already takes great care to use top-quality components that block magnetic distortion, the XPC's aluminum exterior helps add another layer of protection.

Small Box, Big Ideas

In the early days of the XPC's research and development, Shuttle engineers spent months experimenting with virtually every small form factor size, shape, and peripheral arrangement possible, trying to achieve that perfect balance between performance, functionality, and upgradeability . The XPC emerged from this process as the pinnacle of small PC design, and the proof is in the many not-so-subtle ways the competition has tried to copy our work. The “cube” form factor used in today's XPCs is without question the best format for accomplishing our design objectives. But there are lots of ways to build a cube. Shuttle's ingenuity, unmatched expertise, and attention to quality are what make our designs the industry's best.

Of course, nothing is ever perfect, which is why we keep pushing for improvement, whether that means even quieter running, lower power consumption, smaller size, or superior aesthetics. For instance:

• The G4 and L chassis uses our high-grade RefleXion material for the sleekness of a mirrored face without the obnoxious flat glare of 1980s bedroom decor. We sometimes even put in a subtle dash of holographic color accenting in our logo.
• Newer model XPCs (starting with the SN85G4 and ST61G4) feature improved cable management. IDE cables come pre-installed, and power leads are wrapped and tied close to the chassis. This not only means less work for the system builder or upgrader but also a cleaner look and better airflow through the chassis.
• Our noise-reducing inventions, such as the I.C.E. heat pipe and SilentX power supply, are the envy of the industry.
• We put the AGP slot near the motherboard's edge. Yes, this eliminates the ability to install a handful of today's video cards, but there are standard-size AGP cards that run just as fast—or faster—as the oversized units. We maintain that keeping the hot graphics processor and its heat sink-fan next to the chassis air vent (which is also tooled for an optimal mix of airflow and noise reduction) can be critical for effective thermal management.

Many XPC design elements never make it to spec sheets. For instance, take our drive cage. With just two screws to secure it, the cage easily lifts in and out for quick drive mounting and access to all of the motherboard-level components. Obvious, right? Not really. Many of our competitors use more complex designs with interlocking metal shims and such. Independent reviewers generally find these to be more time-intensive and difficult to handle with no functional benefit. Part of being the small form factor leader is knowing when to leave a good and simple design alone.