UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G


                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               (Amendment No. 2)*


                           Southwall Technologies Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                          COMMON STOCK, $.001 par value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    844909101
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                December 31, 2004
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule
is filed:

                                [x] Rule 13d-1(b)
                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
                                [ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

    *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would
alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

    The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).








CUSIP NO. 844909101                    13G                    Page 2 of 7 pages

1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

   Needham Investment Management L.L.C.
   22-3408336

2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                (a) [ ]

                                                (b) [x]
3  SEC USE ONLY

4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

   Delaware

                    5  SOLE VOTING POWER
   NUMBER OF
     SHARES            None
  BENEFICIALLY
    OWNED BY        6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH
    REPORTING          728,000 shares
     PERSON
      WITH
                    7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       None

                    8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       728,000 shares

9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         728,000  shares of common  stock of the Issuer  ("Shares")  which  
         consists of 728,000  Shares held by a series of The Needham
         Funds,  Inc.  which  Needham  Investment  Management  L.L.C.  may be
         deemed to  beneficially  own by virtue of its position as
         investment adviser to this series.

10       CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

                                                 [ ]

11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

    2.33%

12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

    IA






CUSIP NO. 844909101                13G                        Page 3 of 7 pages

1  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

   The Needham Funds, Inc.

2  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

                                                (a) [ ] (b) [x]
3  SEC USE ONLY

4  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

   Delaware

                    5  SOLE VOTING POWER
   NUMBER OF
     SHARES            None
  BENEFICIALLY
    OWNED BY        6  SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH
    REPORTING          728,000 shares
     PERSON
      WITH
                    7  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       None

                    8  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                       728,000 shares

9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         728,000 shares (includes 728,000 shares beneficially owned by Needham
Growth Fund, a series of The Needham Funds, Inc.)

10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
    SHARES
                                                 [ ]

11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
    2.33%

12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
    IV





                                                              Page 4 of 7 pages

Item 1(a)         NAME OF ISSUER:

         Southwall Technologies Inc.

Item 1(b)         ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

         3975 East Bayshore Road
         Palo Alto, CA  94303

Item 2(a)         NAME OF PERSON FILING:

         (i) Needham Investment Management L.L.C.

         (ii) The Needham Funds, Inc.

Item 2(b)         Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

         (i)      445 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022

         (ii)     445 Park Avenue
                  New York, New York  10022

Item 2(c)         CITIZENSHIP:

         See Item 4 of the cover pages attached hereto

Item 2(d)         TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES:

         Common Stock, $.001 par value

Item 2(e)         CUSIP NUMBER:

         844909101

Item 3   (i)      Needham Investment Management L.L.C. is a   registered 
                  investment adviser under Section 203 of the
                  Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended 
                 (ss. 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)).

         (ii)     The Needham Funds, Inc. is an investment company
                  registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of
                  1940, as amended (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).






                                                              Page 5 of 7 pages

Item 4            OWNERSHIP:

         (a) Amount beneficially owned and (b) Percent of Class:
             See Items 5 through 11 of the cover pages attached hereto.  
             The aggregate amount held by all Reporting Persons is
             2.33% (728,000 shares).

             This Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that
             the Reporting Person, either for purposes of Section 13(d) or
             13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
             "Act") or for other purposes, is the beneficial owner of any
              securities covered by this statement.

         (c) See Items 5 through 8  of the cover pages attached  hereto

Item 5            OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS:

                  If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of
                  the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the
                  beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of
                  securities, check the following [x].

Item 6            OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER 
                  PERSON:

                  Not applicable

Item 7            IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH 
                  ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
                  HOLDING COMPANY OR CONTROL PERSON:

                  Not Applicable

Item 8            IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP:

                  Not Applicable

Item 9            NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP:

                  Not Applicable

Item 10           CERTIFICATION:

                  By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
                  and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
                  are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
                  acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the
                  effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
                  the securities and were not acquired and are not held in
                  connection with or as a participant in any transaction having
                  that purpose or effect.







                                                               Page 6 of 7 pages

                                   SIGNATURES

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.

February 10, 2005

                      NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C.


                           By: /s/ John C. Michaelson
                           Name: John C. Michaelson
                           Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                      THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC.


                            By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese
                            Name: Glen W. Albanese
                            Title: Chief Financial Officer









                                                              Page 7 of 7 pages

                                                                      Exhibit A

                                    AGREEMENT

         The undersigned,  Needham  Investment  Management  L.L.C. and The 
Needham Funds, Inc., agree that the statement to which this exhibit is appended
is filed on behalf of each of them.


February 10, 2005


                      NEEDHAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT L.L.C.


                           By: /s/ John C. Michaelson
                           Name: John C. Michaelson
                           Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


                      THE NEEDHAM FUNDS, INC.


                            By: /s/ Glen W. Albanese
                            Name: Glen W. Albanese
                            Title: Chief Financial Officer