HAS anyone used an i5-2500T? update apr 19th

[philipma1957]

I put one on order at provantage. I am looking to build a very quiet htpc in a smaller case that can do some gaming.

I would use this case


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811147123

with this gpu


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102980

Since provantage will order it direct from intel for me I have about a week to cancel it. I like the low power use on the cpu it should cool well.

Since the gpu is not killer it use low power under 75 watts max. I have a fanless sapphire hd 6670 that i like . the 7750 should be a bit quicker.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why not wait for IVB? Those chips supposedly have a 77W TDP, rather than a 95W TDP.

 

[philipma1957]

yeah I did think of waiting but the i5-2500t is ultra low watts.


http://ark.intel.com/products/52212/Intel-Core-i5-2500T-Processor-(6M-Cache-up-to-3_30-GHz)


only 45 watts.



the ivb is 77 watts it would be faster, but I am trying to go with a cooler solution that will do all htpc well with okay gaming.

24/7/365 run time is important for the build.


I figure the gpu is a hd7750 with a max of 75 watts it won't be a killer gamer just okay.

If I get the same ivb as the sb 2500t it is the 3570t and it has almost the same specs as the 2500t the minimum is the same 45 watts.

i am thinking that the better integrated graphics don't matter since I will use the hd7750.

my pc should max under 200watts at full load.
it should run under 50 watts most of the time.

I was curious if anyone had used one.
They are hard to find.
I have not been able to google a lot of real users talk on this cpu.

 

[A5]

You don't need ULV CPUs for HTPC use. The rated TDP maximums are different, but the differences in actual use are negligible.

ULV is for Ultrabooks and other configurations where installing even a small air cooler is not an option and all the thermal dissipation has to be done with one small case fan or through the chassis.

 

[Concillian]

clock an IVB to max of 2.3 GHz with all 4 cores and it will consume less than 45 watts too.

Intel is just playing games with the clock speed & voltage to get down the 45 watts. They're all the same chips, and if you get a Z68 / P67 / Z75 / Z77 chipset + unlocked processor, you can play those same games with whatever chip you buy. The main advantage being, if you get an unlocked chip, you can actually change what you set it to if you find your needs change.

IVB will consume significantly less power. It's so close to release that if you're concerned about power consumption, it's not smart to buy an SB right now unless you somehow are completely computer-less. IVB isn't going to be much better in SB in any way... EXCEPT power consumption. It's the major advancement. Cancel your order and wait 2 weeks for an IVB / Z75 solution.

Being hard limited to 2.3 GHz when all four cores are used is a pretty restrictive limit. If you get an unlocked CPU you can use that limit if you want, but you can also experiment with your box to see if it can handle the heat from being clocked at 3 GHz or something if you ever find a need for more CPU power. Any SB limited to 2.3 GHz will give you your 45 watts. Betting an IVB would be more like 32-35 @ that speed.

 

[philipma1957]

consider me convinced i cancelled order.

 

[IntelUser2000]

The way it works is the power usage on a higher TDP processor(assuming same core) only uses more power if its being loaded. If you don't do anything intensive the CPU will not necessarily use more power.

On mobile systems lower TDP is beneficial because it not only affects battery life, but also the form factor.

 

[Maximilian]

These "low power" chips are a load of bollocks. Buying a standard chip and underclocking/undervolting it gets the exact same result, silent PC review have an article about that somewhere. Only reason i got a 2400S was because it was incredibly cheap.

 

[God Mode]

Has anyone even tested a downclockable SB and measure power consumption?

 

[fuzzymath10]

My undervolted i5 2400 has recently required more and more voltage to remain stable (but still well below stock). If the S and T series ones don't suffer from this, they might be worthwhile if there is some degree of cherry picking that allows them to have low load voltage and power consumption.

 

[God Mode]

My undervolted i5 2400 has recently required more and more voltage to remain stable (but still well below stock). If the S and T series ones don't suffer from this, they might be worthwhile if there is some degree of cherry picking that allows them to have low load voltage and power consumption.

This is why I asked the question. My past results with underclocked cpus resulted in eventual instability/BS with tinkering in bios. Many motherboards also have no clocking/voltage options in bios.

This cpu is fast as a i7-950 at 45 watts. Seems very good for many scenarios.

 

[philipma1957]

This is why I asked the question. My past results with underclocked cpus resulted in eventual instability/BS with tinkering in bios. Many motherboards also have no clocking/voltage options in bios.

This cpu is fast as a i7-950 at 45 watts. Seems very good for many scenarios.

well I emailed the cancel notice but they have not returned with an answer. sometimes when they order direct to intel you can't cancel the order.

If the chip comes i will test it. price is okay.

214 is not cheap but not crazy jacked up.

 

[StrangerGuy]

2500K is the exact same thing only much more flexible.

 

[philipma1957]

2500K is the exact same thing only much more flexible.

yes I have a 2500k paid less for it then this chip. what i have been able to find is if you under clock down the 2500k to the 2500t levels that the turbo boost does not work well. the 2500t is supposed to be able to turboboost to 3.3 easy. so the 2.3 to 3.3 swing can be easy to do.

What little I have found on a 2500k downclocked to 2.3 is the turboboost does not go up to 3.3 or more that easily. Some poster here have mentioned that with aging the underclocked chip they own does not work as well.

I have not heard back from provantage. so if they ship and can't cancel it I will test it against the 2500k. if they cancel I will wait for an ivb.

 

[anikhtos]

yes I have a 2500k paid less for it then this chip. what i have been able to find is if you under clock down the 2500k to the 2500t levels that the turbo boost does not work well. the 2500t is supposed to be able to turboboost to 3.3 easy. so the 2.3 to 3.3 swing can be easy to do.

What little I have found on a 2500k downclocked to 2.3 is the turboboost does not go up to 3.3 or more that easily. Some poster here have mentioned that with aging the underclocked chip they own does not work as well.

I have not heard back from provantage. so if they ship and can't cancel it I will test it against the 2500k. if they cancel I will wait for an ivb.

if in the end you get the cpu
post some tdp of the processor

 

[StrangerGuy]

yes I have a 2500k paid less for it then this chip. what i have been able to find is if you under clock down the 2500k to the 2500t levels that the turbo boost does not work well. the 2500t is supposed to be able to turboboost to 3.3 easy. so the 2.3 to 3.3 swing can be easy to do.

What little I have found on a 2500k downclocked to 2.3 is the turboboost does not go up to 3.3 or more that easily. Some poster here have mentioned that with aging the underclocked chip they own does not work as well.

I have not heard back from provantage. so if they ship and can't cancel it I will test it against the 2500k. if they cancel I will wait for an ivb.

Not sure why you want 2.3GHz, 1080p with a 6670 is not going to bring a 2500K out of the idle 1.6GHz clock anyway. If you want 3.3GHz when you game you can just simply set it a 33x for all 4 cores. Still don't see why you need a 2500T.

 

[ElFenix]

even without undervolting you're within margin of error for htpc duties:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1202-page3.html

 

[Maximilian]

My undervolted i5 2400 has recently required more and more voltage to remain stable (but still well below stock). If the S and T series ones don't suffer from this, they might be worthwhile if there is some degree of cherry picking that allows them to have low load voltage and power consumption.

I dont buy that, i doubt it was ever stable to begin with. Sometimes instability can take a very long time to show up and the circumstances dont necessarily require any load to be put on the processor.

I would say its a safe bet that every 2500 or 2500k could be a 2500T or 2500S and would run stable at the same speed and voltage combination that the T and S chips use, any voltages lower than what the T and S chips use is anyone's guess though.

 

[gevorg]

even without undervolting you're within margin of error for htpc duties:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1202-page3.html

SPCR undervolted the i3-2100 and i5-2400, but kept them at stock clocks so obviously an i3-2100 @ 3.1GHz would still use more power than i3-2100T @ 2.5GHz. The differences are very small, but if you want to match the low power variants of Intel CPUs using standard CPUs, you have to adjust their voltage *and* multiplier. This way, even i5-2500K can perform like i5-2400S (i.e. there is no special Intel binning).

 

[Magic Carpet]

clock an IVB to max of 2.3 GHz with all 4 cores and it will consume less than 45 watts too.

Intel is just playing games with the clock speed & voltage to get down the 45 watts. They're all the same chips, and if you get a Z68 / P67 / Z75 / Z77 chipset + unlocked processor, you can play those same games with whatever chip you buy.

In my experience, the "e" chips, usually, are still more "economical". In other words, the 45W TDP version will still undervolt "better". The difference isn't huge, but is clearly there. Biggest advantage of these chips, however, is their purpose. Out-of-the-box, they run cool and quiet.

 

[anikhtos]

In my experience, the "e" chips, usually, are still more "economical". In other words, the 45W TDP version will still undervolt "better". The difference isn't huge, but is clearly there. Biggest advantage of these chips, however, is their purpose. Out-of-the-box, they run cool and quiet.

well i agree the reason to buy a t or s from intel or an e from amd
is that if you do not want to mess up with undervolt and things.

well i imagine if you underclock and undervolt a 2500k you may get it very close to i5-2400t
maybe the only reason you wont to do that is the rediculous high price for the ulv from the intel side.
also a 45watt cpu can be passively cooled

 

[Magic Carpet]

yeah, the higher price make them look kind of "unattractive" to an educated buyer. However, in super low power systems... they are a "must". You want to avoid "peak power".

But in a regular, desktop PC environment, it makes absolute sense to avoid these "e" behemoths as modern motherboards can easily tamper their quest for power, at the expense of 10-40% performance. Flexible power is what you want.

 

[anikhtos]

yeah, the higher price make them look kind of "unattractive" to an educated buyer. However, in super low power systems... they are a "must". You want to avoid "peak power".

But in a regular, desktop PC environment, it makes absolute sense to avoid these "e" behemoths as modern motherboards can easily tamper their hunger for power, at the expense of 10-30% performance cost.

well going a bit out of the subject
but supermicro know compnay for server mobos
has a lien with atoms based mobos
yesssssssss atom for server
obviously there is a market for them in the server segment
after all not all aim for the super high speed

 

[Magic Carpet]

http://www.supermicro.nl/products/nfo/atom.cfm

This? 8 Atoms in a 13W power envelope. What can I say? Sexy.

Speaking of low power and good price, I just picked up a Celly G540. Runs cool and quiet on stock HSF. Only two threads @ 2.5 Ghz. Only problem, you can't OC it.

 

[anikhtos]

http://www.supermicro.nl/products/nfo/atom.cfm

This? 8 Atoms in a 13W power envelope. What can I say? Sexy.

Speaking of low power and good price, I just picked up a Celly G540. Runs cool and quiet on stock HSF. Only two threads @ 2.5 Ghz. Only problem, you can't OC it.

yeap atom makes a good pasive very low power consumer server board
but with the e3-1220l 20 watt with no gpu well the atom for server is not that attractive anymore because of the better mobos you can get for the e3 and the diferense is not that bad considerign how better the e3 scores overal as a cpu.
well i bought 2 atom 330 mobo the first for curiosity to see how strong is really that tiny baby from intel
it was good for browsing casual work and even some playing.
the second 330 i bought it because i found a mobo with a full pci-e x16 and a pci-e x1 and a pci slot so i had the atom with a 5570 gpu and even played rome total war maybe not all maxed but i played it never the less.

then went amd for 250e thinking of going later to a 615e but thats out know athlon II is killed lets hope bulldozer wotn live that much lol

having a pc runnign cool and low powered is good
enjoy your g540
by the way i3 with a server chipset they support ecc so you can have a very cheap system supporting ecc