Among the DS81's most crucial features are its many I/O ports and the compatibility with Ultra HD 4K monitors. Since it is mostly destined for digital signage applications, its 4K compatibility is a significant advantage, as most monitors will support the resolution soon. Its rugged casing also makes it an ideal candidate for harsh environments, and Shuttle says it to operate without any problems at ambient temperatures of up to 50°C. Since it mostly uses polymer caps and the provided power brick is made by a very good OEM, we strongly believe Shuttle's claim to stand, although its cooling system had some problems with the G3258's heat output. However, the G3258 produces a lot of heat and isn't very energy efficient, which our power-consumption measurements showed us first hand. Yet the G3258 is the only budget CPU with an unlocked multiplier, which reminds us of those times where all CPUs were unlocked, easily allowing them to match more expensive CPUs in terms of performance. But that is another story. Continuing on with the DS81, I also liked the inclusion of an SD-card reader and the four USB 2.0 ports in its front, although I would have liked some of those to be compatible with the faster USB 3.0 protocol. I am pretty sure that both serial ports will prove useful to those who use older devices that use the interface. The serial interface might be outdated, but is still much more easily controlled with the appropriate software than the USB interface as USB 3.0 is a pain to code control drivers for. I found the lack of a DVI port odd and think Shuttle should at least include an HDMI to DVI adapter to compensate.

The DS81 is another fine and small system by Shuttle, and I must admit that it left a very good impression on me. With an affordable CPU like the G3258, an SSD that meets your needs, and one or two DDR3 DIMMS, it is ready to operate under all circumstances and with great reliability. The provided VESA mount allows you to attach it to the backside of your monitor or TV, completely hiding it from view, which dramatically increases its usability. The cherry on top is its good price below the $200 mark. Based on all the above, I believe the DS81 to deserve our Budget award.