![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Monday , March 06, 2006
- Author:
- Morry Teitelman
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Shuttle SD31P SFF
Looking for a cost effective Intel based small form factor barebones computer? The SD31P is based on the i945G chipset sporting integrated Sound Blaster Live! technology.
BIOS
For the SD31P, Shuttle chose Phoenix AwardBIOS template for the BIOS layout. The BIOS used for testing was version SDS019.
The Advanced BIOS Features menu contains various system startup options, including configuration settings for boot device access order. When a USB 2.0 hard drive type device is connected and properly detected at system start up, the device will show as a viable boot device in the Hard Disk Boot Priority submenu. Access order of the listed items can be changed using the Page Up and Page Down keys.
The Advanced Chipset Features menu contains configuration options for the PCI Express x16 slot and the onboard Intel 950 integrated graphics chipset.
The Integrated Peripherals menu houses a number of submenus containing configuration options for the various system devices. The OnChip IDE Device submenu contains all configuration options related to the onboard DE and SATA ports. The SATA Mode option controls the state of the SATA ports, with selectable options of IDE, RAID, and AHCI. The Intel RAID boot BIOS only shows on startup with this setting set to RAID, and hard disks connected to the SATA ports. With the SATA Mode option set to IDE, the On-Chip Serial ATA option becomes accessible. This determines how the SATA ports interact with the IDE port. With this option set to SATA Only, the IDE port is disabled, and the 4 SATA ports act as the primary and secondary master and slave devices. With Enhanced Mode selected, the system supports a maximum of 6 connected devices across both the IDE and SATA ports. The SATA PORT Speed Settings option controls the maximum access speed allowed for the connected SATA devices, with the GEN I setting used for SATA-150 type devices and GEN II used for SATA II type devices. The Onboard Device submenu contains options for controlling the onboard USB 2.0 and LAN ports.
The PnP/PCI Configurations menu contains all system IRQ and PnP related configuration options. Through the INT Pin X Assignment options, you customize the IRQ selection setting for the selected system interrupt. You can further configure the individual IRQ pool assignments through the IRQ Resources submenu. The submenu becomes accessible after setting the Resources Controlled By option to Manual.
The PC Health Status menu shows real time status for all monitored system voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds. You can also configure the operating speed of the CPU and system fans through the Advanced CPU Fan Setting and System Fan Setting options. With the CPU FAN Sped Control option set to Smart Fan, the fan speed is controlled by the CPU temperature. The higher the CPU temperature gets, the faster the system will cause the fan connected to the FAN1 header to spin. Note that Shuttle chose not to allow configuration of the CPU temperature threshold for the CPU fan option. The LED Bright Setting option controls the luminosity of the integrated front panel LEDs.
The Frequency/Voltage Control menu is a centralized location for all system memory timings, bus speed, and voltage related options.
The memory options become user configurable with the DRAM Timing Selectable option set to Manual. The BIOS allows for configuration of the following memory timing options: CAS latency; RAS to CAS delay; RAS precharge delay; and active to precharge delay (shown as Precharge delay (tRAS). For all listed memory timing settings, the lower value is the more aggressive setting. The System Memory Frequency option sets the system memory speed using predefined ratios based on the currently set CPU FSB speed setting. The settings available show the memory speed based on the default 200MHz CPU bus speed. The setting available map to the following ratios, with ratios listed in the format CPU bus:DDR2 speed: 400MHz – 1:1; 533MHz – 3:4; 667 – 3:5.
The CPU Clock option determines the current CPU FSB setting, with a maximum selectable speed of 355MHz. The BIOS does not allow changing of the CPU multiplier setting, so the actual CPU running speed is determined by multiplying the CPU FSB setting with the default multiplier of the currently seated CPU. Note that it appears that the board locks the PCI and PCI Express bus speeds, since there were no bus related issues encountered while overclocking the system. The CPU Voltage set option configures the power supplied to the CPU, with a 1.5875V maximum setting allowed. This amount of voltage should prove adequate for most of your overclocking needs. The DDR2 Voltage set option determines the voltage supplied to your DDR2 modules, with a maximum settable voltage of 2.1V. The Chipset Voltage set option controls the Northbridge chipset voltage, with an upper ceiling of 2.1V allowed.