FlexATX Motherboard Upgrade for Shuttle?

[DamnDirtyApe]

I have an older Shuttle, the SN45G with a Socket A motherboard. I still like the case, so it seems a bit silly to buy a new case just because I want to upgrade insides.

Unfortunately I've had no luck finding a flexATX motherboard made for socket 775 or AM2+. Does anyone know if they even exist?

 

[IlllI]

how about just buy a new shuttle ?

 

[DamnDirtyApe]

Because that would be way more expensive, and I already have a perfectly good case.

 

[Brianoes]

I don't think flexATX really hit home with many mobo manufacturers - there haven't been too many that I have seen. I think that your chances for finding a powerful yet small board may rest in a (slightly more exotic) micro-ITX board, possibly the Commel LV-678 - C2D with x16 PCI-E. I think they run somewhere like $350, which may be putting you in the price range of a new Shuttle.

Try the AT FS Forums? Some great deals in there, may be able to trade your current SN45G (FTW, great machine!) for something more modern.

Brianoes

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: DamnDirtyApe
Because that would be way more expensive, and I already have a perfectly good case.

well all i can say is good luck with that b/c that would probably be near impossible to find considering shuttle made a proprietary case and psu specifically for their motherboards.

 

[Zap]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong... but I don't think Shuttle boards are Flex ATX. IIRC Flex ATX is capable of three expansion slots (PCI, etc), while most Shuttle boards are two. Then there are boards with single expansion slots which are Mini ITX. There are some Shuttle systems which are Mini ITX (original SV24, SV25, the new KPC45, some of those with external power bricks).

 

[IlllI]

or even if the chance that they were the same size i'm almost positive the mounting holes would be in different places. shuttle designed those motherboards themselves specifically for their own needs and to their own specification.. cant really just shoehorn something else in there that wasnt designed for it in the first place

 

[imported_seferio]

Micro ATX has three expansion slots, Flex ATX has two, and Mini ITX has only one. Before during the P4, K7 stage I remember seeing a couple non-Shuttle Flex ATX boards, but I'm pretty sure no one else really makes them now.

When I was looking into Shuttles a while back I think I emailed Shuttle asking them about upgrading the motherboard and they said I could just buy a new one from them. However the problem would be whether or not the existing ICE heatsink would fit and the existing power supply would be sufficient for newer components.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: seferio
Micro ATX has three expansion slots, Flex ATX has two, and Mini ITX has only one.

Actually, Micro has four while Flex has three. That's what is allowed in the specification.

 

[imported_seferio]

Lol yeah you're right. Of course mATX is four, I just couldn't picture four in my head for some reason. However I don't think I've ever seen a Flex with 3 have you?

 

[Zap]

It isn't necessarily how many actual slots the board has, because a board doesn't have to use up all the potential slots. For instance, ATX as a form factor allows for 7 slots, but there are plenty of ATX motherboard designs out there that don't physically have 7 expansion slots.

Anyways, I've noticed that the Shuttle boards are often called Flex ATX. However, the documentation for the Flex ATX form factor doesn't match with the typical Shuttle boards. (go to wiki link to find the link for standard)