TODAY WE LOOK AT the third in a series of Shuttle barebones systems that are best known as "cube computers." We first looked at the SV24, a Socket 370 solution like no other. Its small form factor cut down on expansion possibilities, but expansion doesn't matter as much when you have virtually every port under the sun built in to begin with.

Granted, the SV24 did have its problems, such as a pretty loud fan, only a single PCI slot, and (perhaps worst of all) the fact that it was based on a dying processor format. Shuttle knew that the philosophy behind the SV24 was sound, however, so they went back to the drawing board and produced the SS50, an even better design that offered quieter operation, two PCI slots instead of just one, and most importantly, a socket for a Pentium 4. And there was much rejoicing.

Of course, while all this had the Intel lovers beaming, AMD fans were clamoring for a cube computer of their own. Shuttle has answered those requests with the system we're looking at today, the SS40G. Though the concept between the SS50 and the SS40G is the same, the SS40G sports an updated, sleeker look, and cracking open the top reveals further differences, among them a fascinating new heatsink design. Has Shuttle hit another home run? Read on to find out.