Shuttle Zen (ST62K) XPC - P4

Moving to the rear of the unit you can see a slightly larger than usual I/O plate.  Included on it are another set of audio jacks; mic, line in and line out.  This is interesting because most cases or machines with front and rear audio jacks function via pass through cables so you can use the front OR the rear depending on if these are plugged in.  With the Shuttle, both the front AND the rear are on.  Meaning you can plug your speakers into the rear and on a whim, unplug them there and plug them in the front and have them be operational.  Very nice.  Double kudos to Shuttle on this detail.

  

Also on the rear plate, are Mouse and Keyboard PS/2 ports, NIC, two USB 2.0 ports, two Firewire ports, SPDIF, S-Video, COM ports x 1, VGA out, 12 volt DC in and a CMOS button.  The 12 volt DC in is where you plug your external PSU into.  I especially like the clear CMOS button.  If you get to tinkering and hose up your settings you won't have to open up the case to clear your CMOS.  On the far right side of the case is a slot cover for an add in PCI card.  It is a shame there is no add in AGP slot on the FT62 board.  All things considered that is the single biggest detractor from the Zen XPC.

  

Opening up the Zen XPC is a matter of three thumbscrews on the unit's rear.  Once these are removed the cover slides off easily.  One of the first things you may notice is the HDD rack.

  

The HDD rack attaches by means as single thumbscrew.  The thumbscrew has a spring and a clasp of sorts that keeps it attached while functional to the drive rack.  The rack slides out of the Zen XPC to help maximize spatial efficiency.  

     

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Pg 1 - Introduction
Pg 2 - What you get
Pg 3 - The unit
Pg 4 - The ICE Cooling System
Pg 5 - Layout
Pg 6 - BIOS / Overclocking
Pg 7 - Productivity and Gaming Benches
Pg 8 - Gaming Benches continued
Pg 9 - Conclusion