CPU for HTPC

[NttDocomo]

Hi guys, I want to build a HTPC and wonder what CPU I should get? I will watch video and run other programs at the same time, sometimes even rip dvds! Do I need a Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 will be fine without noticable difference? Or even a AMD Athlon 64 939 or 754 will do just fine if I need enough memory (like 2 GB)?

I am also crippled with a 350W power supply. But all I have is just one DVD burner, one hard drive, one printer, and one external USB hard disk, so can I still run any of the above CPU?

Thank you for your expert help!

 

[Mr Bob]

Budget?

 

[Markfw]

I have a Shuttle SFF with a 240 watt power supply running a X2 3800@stock, and a radeon 9600pro video card. No problems. Core2 is probably great, but it will be a while before you can find one.

 

[NttDocomo]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Budget?

I don't really have a budget, but I would like to get one that best fits my need. If the new Intel Core 2 Duo will give much better performance based on my usage and will work fine with my power supply then I don't mind to wait and pay a little more. Because when I watch Divx now I find my computer freeze for a second when I start IE or user other applications. I want to smoothen out the viewing while I use other programs! Especially when I am running alot different programs in the background. What do you guys think?

 

[NttDocomo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
I have a Shuttle SFF with a 240 watt power supply running a X2 3800@stock, and a radeon 9600pro video card. No problems. Core2 is probably great, but it will be a while before you can find one.

If that's the case, should I get the Shuttle SFF if I want to get a board with onboard video and allow some overclocking? Thanks.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: NttDocomo

Originally posted by: Markfw900
I have a Shuttle SFF with a 240 watt power supply running a X2 3800@stock, and a radeon 9600pro video card. No problems. Core2 is probably great, but it will be a while before you can find one.

If that's the case, should I get the Shuttle SFF if I want to get a board with onboard video and allow some overclocking? Thanks.

I haven;t had much luck overclocking that system ,probably due to the 240 watt PSU. You don;t game, so you don't need much of a video card, so its really about WHEN you need the system, how much you want to spend.

 

[NttDocomo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900

Originally posted by: NttDocomo

Originally posted by: Markfw900
I have a Shuttle SFF with a 240 watt power supply running a X2 3800@stock, and a radeon 9600pro video card. No problems. Core2 is probably great, but it will be a while before you can find one.

If that's the case, should I get the Shuttle SFF if I want to get a board with onboard video and allow some overclocking? Thanks.

I haven;t had much luck overclocking that system ,probably due to the 240 watt PSU. You don;t game, so you don't need much of a video card, so its really about WHEN you need the system, how much you want to spend.

I don't need the system immediately, so I can't wait for few more weeks! And yes I agree with you that I don't need a video card, so any motherboard with onboard video will do fine! But it's nice to have a board that can overclock so I can try some overclocking!

But the first problem I have to solve is should I get a Dual Core Intel or AMD or a Single Core Athlon 64 939 or 754 will do fine?

 

[Praxis1452]

EE 35W X2 3800+ =)

 

[Mr Bob]

Originally posted by: NttDocomo

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Budget?

I don't really have a budget, but I would like to get one that best fits my need. If the new Intel Core 2 Duo will give much better performance based on my usage and will work fine with my power supply then I don't mind to wait and pay a little more. Because when I watch Divx now I find my computer freeze for a second when I start IE or user other applications. I want to smoothen out the viewing while I use other programs! Especially when I am running alot different programs in the background. What do you guys think?

- Well, a $600 build will work, a $1000 build will work, and a $2000 build will work. If you don't have a price range, you won't be able to get the best price/performance.

Any CPU you listed will work, and will look perfectly fine. If you want to know what will be the best price/performance for your needs, you'll need to post a price range.

 

[NttDocomo]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob

Originally posted by: NttDocomo

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
Budget?

I don't really have a budget, but I would like to get one that best fits my need. If the new Intel Core 2 Duo will give much better performance based on my usage and will work fine with my power supply then I don't mind to wait and pay a little more. Because when I watch Divx now I find my computer freeze for a second when I start IE or user other applications. I want to smoothen out the viewing while I use other programs! Especially when I am running alot different programs in the background. What do you guys think?

- Well, a $600 build will work, a $1000 build will work, and a $2000 build will work. If you don't have a price range, you won't be able to get the best price/performance.

Any CPU you listed will work, and will look perfectly fine. If you want to know what will be the best price/performance for your needs, you'll need to post a price range.

Sorry for not giving a range, I guess around $400 to $500 is my estimate. That's include CPU, Mother Board and Memory given that I already have an old case and power supply I can use. I don't need any more hard disk or CD drive.

I really doubt anything lower, like around $300 will let me build a good system that gives performance with the programs I run. Do you think so?

 

[Mr Bob]

So, for a CPU/MB/Ram, you have $400-$500 to spend?

What are you going to be using for speakers?

If you're leaning more towards $400, get this
MB > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128268
CPU > http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80721-1
RAM > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220060
Total: $330

Sound Card > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829156001

What video card are you using?

 

[NttDocomo]

Originally posted by: Mr Bob
So, for a CPU/MB/Ram, you have $400-$500 to spend?

What are you going to be using for speakers?

If you're leaning more towards $400, get this
MB > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128268
CPU > http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80721-1
RAM > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220060
Total: $330

Sound Card > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829156001

What video card are you using?

Thanks but I am thinking about getting a board with on board video so I don't need to buy another graphic card as I don't play game at all. This will solely be a HTPC and the sound directly from the motherboard will do just fine.

I wonder also if I should get the AM2 instead since it's about the same price and spend another $100 for another 1GB of memory.

Thanks

 

[Mr Bob]

"I wonder also if I should get the AM2 instead since it's about the same price and spend another $100 for another 1GB of memory. "
- I don't know much about good MBs with decent onboard video, try asking that specific question in the MB forum. You won't need another 1GB of memory for an HTPC machine. Onboard video is about the worse thing you can do to an HTPC machine. Grab a pci-e 6600gt card for the rig above, add the sound card, and you will have an awesome rig for HT.

 

[VivienM]

a) What OS do you want to run?

b) Think about your budget. HTPCs are money pits. My budget one wound up requiring... let's see.. an extra 512 megs of RAM, a DVD-RW, a second HD, a second sound card, a second TV tuner, and an upgraded CPU cooler. It wouldn't mind a new PS or video card, either...

c) Quietness is probably more important than performance.