HTPC Build: Intel 2100 or AMD A6-3500?

[GamingDaemon]

Hi Folks,

I know, I know, this is an old thread that has been beat to death, but here we go again...

I am an avid DIY PC builder and love building new PC’s. But in the last few year, I have been an Intel-only builder. Now, I am considering building an HTPC to go along with a Home Server I just built that has all of my personal videos, plus all of the Blu Rays I have ripped to it as well.

My current home theatre is a dark room with five electronic reclining chairs, a JVC DLA projector, a rack of equipment in a closet and a 110 inch screen. I have CAT6 cable throughout my house. I have a Blu Ray disc player and a Vudu device that lets me play Vudu movies I have purchased.

Here’s what I want in a HTPC/device:

• Play all of the 1080p Blu Ray movies I have ripped to my Home Server PC
• Play any other personal videos I have taken that are stored on my Home Server PC
• Access the internet to round out my ability to see movies and TV online (I have DirecTV and Vudu, but I know there are other options open to me like Hulu and YouTube)
• Future-proof to some degree, as much as is possible

I've read that the Sandy Bridge procs have an issue (still!) with 23.976Hz movie playback. I'm under the impression AMD does not. So, which processor should I buy?

Thank you in advance!

 

[antisocialmunky]

I would go with AMD, the part is just better for HTPC stuff.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1069545/i3-2100-or-a6-x4-3650-capable-of-problem-free-1080p-playback

 

[Arachnotronic]

In this case, the AMD is probably the way to go. AMD's graphics are superior to Intel's.

 

[GamingDaemon]

One thing someone mentioned to me was to use an Intel i3-530 with a AMD 6570 low profile video card. Of course, this ends up being more than the AMD processor. I really like Intel processors over AMD, but I have also heard that when it comes to buildign an HTPC, AMD is the cheaper and better solution.

So basically, my brain says AMD, but my heart says Intel I need someone to give me a hard piece of evidence to tip the scales in favor of one or the other.

 

[Arkaign]

For HTPC I kinda like using an Intel CPU with an AMD GPU.

G620 + 6450 low profile. I just don't like the Llano all that much, though I'm sure it's fine. I prefer discrete cards to any kind of onboard. That's just me though.

 

[piesquared]

Llano hands down. Not only will you have the ultimate HTPC, but you'll have the benefit of being able to take advantage of upcomming software coded for Fusion processors.

 

[exar333]

For HTPC I kinda like using an Intel CPU with an AMD GPU.

G620 + 6450 low profile. I just don't like the Llano all that much, though I'm sure it's fine. I prefer discrete cards to any kind of onboard. That's just me though.

Power usage on that G620 is pretty damn amazing...

 

[gmaster456]

Go with llano

 

[exar333]

Llano hands down. Not only will you have the ultimate HTPC, but you'll have the benefit of being able to take advantage of upcomming software coded for Fusion processors.

Like...

 

[386DX]

For HTPC I kinda like using an Intel CPU with an AMD GPU.

G620 + 6450 low profile. I just don't like the Llano all that much, though I'm sure it's fine. I prefer discrete cards to any kind of onboard. That's just me though.

To knock off another $25-30, you can replace the Pentium G620 with a Celeron G530 with really no noticeable perceived difference in HTPC use.

 

[GamingDaemon]

To knock off another $25-30, you can replace the Pentium G620 with a Celeron G530 with really no noticeable perceived difference in HTPC use.

So, I am looking at the i3-G530 (1155 socket) and a Radeon 6450 video card. Together, they are less than $100. More than an A6-3500, but in the end more powerful.

Any recommendations for a micro or ITX mobo to use?

 

[Arkaign]

So, I am looking at the i3-G530 (1155 socket) and a Radeon 6450 video card. Together, they are less than $100. More than an A6-3500, but in the end more powerful.

Any recommendations for a micro or ITX mobo to use?

To clarify, for non-HTPC duties such as gaming that can utilize QC, the A6 will be a little better.

For non-gaming though, yeah I like it better. I wouldn't recommend going ITX fwiw, it's worth using a little more space and sticking with micro ATX, you'll have more flexibility with it in the future.

With the 1155, you have the possibility of putting in significantly better CPUs should you ever repurpose it, or just want more power in the future.

With FM1, who knows.

 

[Arkaign]

To knock off another $25-30, you can replace the Pentium G620 with a Celeron G530 with really no noticeable perceived difference in HTPC use.

And good point!

 

[exar333]

To clarify, for non-HTPC duties such as gaming that can utilize QC, the A6 will be a little better.

For non-gaming though, yeah I like it better. I wouldn't recommend going ITX fwiw, it's worth using a little more space and sticking with micro ATX, you'll have more flexibility with it in the future.

With the 1155, you have the possibility of putting in significantly better CPUs should you ever repurpose it, or just want more power in the future.

With FM1, who knows.

Good point. If gaming is important to the OP, go the A6 route. If future CPU upgrades are more important, then go Intel. Both will do the job well.

 

[GamingDaemon]

No, gaming on this is not important or a requirement. My gaming rig is in my sig.

So, I have discounted ITX because they do not have a PCI Express slot, which I want because I am adding the Intel network card.

So, that said, I am looking at this mobo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128523 (Gigabyte Z68, $105)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811352009 (Fractal Design, $35)

I'd prefer a rack or slim desktop case, since all of my home theatre equipment is in a rack in the closet, but I will use thsi case if I have to.

I know this is now digressing from the thread forum, but what do folks think of this mobo and case?

 

[Arg Clin]

Llano. I'd consider it the more future proof of these options because of the better GPU, as stuff is gradually being offloaded to the GPU.

 

[blckgrffn]

G620 + as fast of a discrete card that fits into your thermal/acoustic envelope. I would say getting a 128 bit DDR3 card or a 64-bit DDR5 card should be your minimum target - that's just based on Anand's reviews that show both nVidia and AMD video cards suffer a bit in IQ when bandwidth is at a premium.

 

[nyker96]

I also say llano in this case, the gpu is what counts in HTPC, not the cpu as much.

 

[GamingDaemon]

G620 + as fast of a discrete card that fits into your thermal/acoustic envelope. I would say getting a 128 bit DDR3 card or a 64-bit DDR5 card should be your minimum target - that's just based on Anand's reviews that show both nVidia and AMD video cards suffer a bit in IQ when bandwidth is at a premium.

#1) Just to make sure, you are saying that you don't think that this 64bit DDR3 6450 video card is sufficient to play Blu Rays, mkv's, mp4's, mpg's, etc?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125404




#2) And, are you saying that the i3-G530 is not sufficient, that I need the 620 instead?



Just double-checking before I pull any triggers...

 

[Lonyo]

A $100 motherboard is waaaaaaaaaay overkill. Something $50~$60 is more than enough (H61 chipset). Just grab something with enough SATA ports and enough PCIe slots.

 

[GamingDaemon]

A $100 motherboard is waaaaaaaaaay overkill. Something $50~$60 is more than enough (H61 chipset). Just grab something with enough SATA ports and enough PCIe slots.

I was trying to find something with some future proofing, by including USB 3,.0 and Sata 3 6GB/s. I'd rather have that now, then wish I had it 6 months down the road.

 

[Lonyo]

I was trying to find something with some future proofing, by including USB 3,.0 and Sata 3 6GB/s. I'd rather have that now, then wish I had it 6 months down the road.

You only need SATA 3 6GB/s if you plan to get a high end SSD, which shouldn't really be required for an HTPC. You can use the Win7 Sleep mode to get instant on/off rather than worrying about an SSD, and a cheapo SSD would be more "appropriate" anyway.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157236
This has SATA3, two PCIe slots and USB3 and it's only $70, unless you need two x16 slots.

I'm all for buying for the future, but there's really no point in splashing out on a higher end motherboard for a low end PC that is aimed at being fairly cheap.

 

[blckgrffn]

#1) Just to make sure, you are saying that you don't think that this 64bit DDR3 6450 video card is sufficient to play Blu Rays, mkv's, mp4's, mpg's, etc?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125404


#2) And, are you saying that the i3-G530 is not sufficient, that I need the 620 instead?

Just double-checking before I pull any triggers...

I think that the setup you described would do those things just fine. It's just that the "best" video quality with all the filters and such that AMD and nvidia can apply take some bandwidth. I'd encourage you to at least consider something like the 6570.

The G530 is fine. I like that the G620 retains all of the features and L2 cache of the i3 series, that's all. If the difference in price is more than $20 it's likely not worth it. Someday the "Pentium" might be easier to sell than the "Celeron."

Honestly, I had only really read half of the thread when I responded, sorry. I think you are on the right path.

That said, I wouldn't buy anything less than a Z68 motherboard if you are going Intel. Why limit yourself? Get the features you want now and don't be kicking yourself later - that's what I usually end up doing and then I am kicking myself later.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128523

Do it right now and love it later. Z68 is good for Ivy Bridge too, so two years from now you can beef it up if you want just by doing a bios flash and a drop in...

That motherboard Lonyo linked to does look compelling if you are really wanting to say every dollar on your build....

Lastly, any chance you live near a Microcenter? I just redid my HTPC and used a $60 retail Phenom 2 (really an Athlon II x4, but whatever) and an 870 Motherboard - it cost ~$130 all told but I am sure that it'll have the power to do anything

 

[Lonyo]

Apparently H61 should support IB as well.

 

[Arkaign]

Llano. I'd consider it the more future proof of these options because of the better GPU, as stuff is gradually being offloaded to the GPU.

This would make sense in theory, but the A6 is so slow GPU wise (it's still only the equal of SUPER low end discrete GPUs, even when combined with expensive DDR3-1866, and it's horrible on DDR3-1333 or lower) .. it doesn't seem like it makes a lot of sense.

With the 1155 build, dude could decide to drop in an IB 22nm quad in a year or two, and if GPU needs more juice, AMD 7650 or whatever in the future.

FM1 is a question mark right now, and 1155 is currently, and will likely remain to be, a lot more dynamic in terms of flexibility.

I am something of a hater of designs which share system memory with GPU memory though, going all the way back to turbocache Geforces and earlier designs.