Introduction

We would like to thank Shuttle for supplying the review sample.

Shuttle is a well-known barebone and mini-PC manufacturer with offerings that are among the top for their market, both in quality and performance. One of their newly released models is the DS47 Shuttle describes as an ultra-slim, energy-efficient, full HD signage media player with many I/O ports. Its Intel Celeron dual-core processor provides HDMI and DVI-I output interfaces and supports dual-display functionality. The CPU's low TDP allows it to be passively cooled, and the DS47 generally lacks any fans, which keeps its noise output to a minimum. The use of a clever internal design transfers all the heat to the top of the case, providing high cooling efficiency without the use of fans. Not only does the design produce no noise, but it also boosts reliability by minimizing the use of components with moving parts.

You only need an SSD or HDD and one or two RAM module(s) to operate the DS47. Given its affordable price, its total cost won't break the bank. You might need to add the cost of an OS (Operating System) to the tally, but pick a free Linux distribution instead of Windows and you won't even have to do that.

Specifications

The Intel Celeron 847, a dual-core CPU, is the brains of this small barebone. Clocked at 1.1 GHz and with only 2 MB of L3 cache, it is not a speed demon, but uses 32 nm technology and has a low maximum TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 17 W, which allows it to be cooled passively. This processor is based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, though many features are disabled, and integrates an Intel HD Graphics 2000 GPU. The latter offers support for up to DirectX 10.1, not DirectX 11, which is nothing to worry about since it is too weak for 3D gaming. Intel's NM70 Express chipset is used to enable Intel Rapid Storage, SATA III, and dual display outputs.

A Realtek ALC662 IC handles all audio capabilities, and networking is also handled by Realtek solutions. The DS47 is bundled with two Gigabit Ethernet ports that can be teamed and a WLAN controller that offers wireless connectivity out of the box. Ideally, there would be a Bluetooth transceiver as well.

The DS47's NM70 chipset makes it compatible with the newer SATA III interface, which allows you to fully utilize the speed of a new SSD. It has two DDR3 SODIMM slots with support for up to 1333 MHz, and each slot can take a SODIMM of up to 8 GB in density. There is also a fully sized Mini-PCIe socket with m-SATA support. Another half-sized Mini-PCIe socket is occupied by a WLAN module.


The front panel has many I/O ports, including four USB 2.0 and two serial ports, and an SD card reader. Shuttle has also included a wide range of different I/O ports to cover many different peripheral devices.

The DS47 is really small since it doesn't include an internal power supply but uses a power brick instead. The latter can deliver up to 65 W, which is more than enough for this small barebone. The DS47 supports Windows XP, Windows7, Windows8, and Linux.