Over the years I've built a number of PCs from scratch and I have to say it can be one of the most rewarding do it yourself activities. Though it's typically thought of as the realm of the computer geek, building your own system is not an impossible task and can be completed by any hobbyist with a little time and self confidence. The real problem is choosing which "bare bones" system to start with. The following is an article I wrote a while back comparing two similar systems that I've built a number of times. Though some of the hardware is now obsolete, both companies continue sell very similar products. They are by no means the only two systems out there, so I encourage you to do a little research and find the box that best fits your needs.

SS 56G

R350

Compact barebones computers can vary wildly. It's important to first figure out your needs before you make the purchase. Over the past several months I've built several such machines at work and I've learned a few things. The first system we've built is the Asus Pundit which comes enclosed in a vertically standing dark grey case. The second is the more rectangular silver box of the Shuttle PC. Both of these are fine and affordable systems, though they are both better suited for different applications.

Round 1 - Opening it up. The first major difference is the ease in which you can remove the case. Since these systems are "barebones" you'll need to hook up the processor, RAM, hard drives, and anything else you want to include in the machine. The Shuttle is incredibly easy to take apart. Simply remove the three thumb screws on the rear and pull the cover free. The Pundit is a little more complicated and you'd need to use a screwdriver to first remove the screws and then slide the cover off the chassis. Though both were easy to remove it was quite difficult to replace the Pundit's cover, so the Shuttle PC wins round 1.

Round 2 - Installing the processor and RAM. For both machines you need to remove significant internal parts to gain access. Luckily if you do the job right you'll never need to mess with these components again. Both systems include their own heat sinks and fans as well as associated duct work. The Shuttle PC also uses an extra radiator style heat sink to whisk excess thermal energy out the back of the machine. The Asus relies upon the tried and true method of channeling the heat into the power supply. Both systems work well, though the Shuttle radiator seems to do a better job of quickly dissipating heat. Round 2 is a draw.

Round 3 - Attaching hard drives and optical drives. The Shuttle has two dedicated IDE controllers, one for the hard drive and one for the optical. The Asus however features both a legacy IDE controller and a newer, faster Serial ATA. Though the drives are more expensive the performance is notably better. Installing the cabling can be quite tight for both machines, but well give this round to the Asus on the grounds of future drive flexibility.

Round 4 - Media options. Both systems come with adequate on board audio chips and an ample amount of analog audio plugs. The Asus however features a higher end video card as well as several kinds of outputs. The Shuttle has the bare minimum for video and would need an upgraded card in most instances. Since both systems only have two additional expansion slots we'll chalk this round up to the Asus.

Round 5 - Overall performance and usability. With a fresh copy of Windows XP both of these systems are incredible fast. Under load from source code compilers, MS Office apps and graphics editing software both systems still perform great. A major drawback usability issue of the Asus is the side loading CDROM. Not only will you need an optical drive with retaining clips, but you encounter a bumping sound when you load a CD. Though this is not the case's fault per-se, we still have to ding the Asus. Given this case's method of cooling I'd hesitate to lay this chassis down flat as use the CD drive normaly. Further complicating airflow on an already hot system can be a recipe for disaster. The final round goes to the Shuttle.

All in all it's a very close fight between both of these machines. Having used each on a daily basis I'd also like to add a few miscellaneous notes to our informal competition. For an all out media PC you can't beat the Asus. Outfitted with a TV capture card and a DVD burner this thing is the ultimate DVR/DVD maker. The fan noise isn't that bad, and if you crank up your home surround sound you shouldn't even notice. However, I'd think twice before shoving my brand new DVDs into the side loading drive. For some reason I don't trust such a system to not damage my media. I would also make sure that this system can breathe when it's inside your entertainment center. As I noted before, this computer runs noticeably hot even when it's idle.

The Shuttle PC, on the other hand, is the perfect system for portable PC power. As a development machine this baby packs a punch. Likewise, you could conciveably cram 3 hard drives inside for extra storage. Portablility is also a major plus. It's incredibly easy to transport, or to stack thanks to its cube design. And of course it's also possible to remove the clear Plexiglas bezel and create your own custom front panel design by changing the insert underneath. In spite of the fact that you'd need to add video cards to this machine it'd still make an excellent media PC. The system runs VERY quiet and barely gets warm during heavy number crunching.

In my overall opinion the Shuttle PC is what I would use for miscellaneous applications around the house. This system could both function as an adequate DVR/DVD writer in addition to a capable network file server. Given the expandable storage ability, you could record tons of shows and watch at your leisure. Ultimately it would fit my needs perfectly. However, everyone has different applications and the Asus may have more of what you are looking for. Either way I don't think you could go wrong with either of these systems.

PROs:

Asus
• Vertical Case
• Serial ATA
• 4 in 1 Card Reader
• IEEE 1394 / FireWire (2 - Front)
• USB (2 - Front)
• Analog Audio (Front)
• Front Panel Cover
• Bays (5.25" front accessible)
• Parallel Port
• S-Video, Component Video

Shuttle
• Rectangular case (good for stacking)
• USB (3 - Front)
• IEEE 1394 / FireWire (1 - Front)
• Bays (5.25" & 3.5" front accessible)
• 2 IDE Headers
• Very Quiet
• Cools well
• Two Serial Ports
• Case is easy to remove

CONS:

Asus
• Runs hot
• Fan is very noisy
• Plastic bezel very fragile
• Plastic drive bay bezel doesn't work that great
• Case is difficult to remove

Shuttle
• Needs add-on Video card for Video-Out