HTPC - CPU? Mobo?

[coolVariable]

I have the Prescott P4: Prescott - 2.4GHz - 533MHz fsb - 1MB cache - 89W

Which one would you get?
X2 4850e or e5200?

 

[Denithor]

Prescott? Ouch. Your whole new system may eat less power than just that old chip alone.

Which would I get personally? e5200+G43. Faster than 4850e at stock speeds & overclocks much higher (even if that's not an object for you, it might be nice at some point in the future). Plus with the G43 motherboard you've got the upgrade path to one of the low power quads (65W, Q9400s or Q9550s) if you need it in a year or two.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: coolVariable
and in my experience the intel IGP solutions svck.

Only the made-by-Intel ones. The Nvidia 9300/9400 is a pretty good platform (though obviously not for serious gaming -- hybrid SLI will work though).

 

[coolVariable]

What about the lesser nvidia IGP solutions?
Nvidia 9300 boards are darn expensive.

 

[Denithor]

Why does it matter? You're using that 3650 I thought...

EDIT: Go read this article comparing the the IGP solutions from AMD (780G, 790GX), Intel (G45) and nVidia (Geforce 8200/9300/9400). Just keep in mind if you game at all these IGP "cards" aren't going to be even close to using that 3650 (which itself isn't a gaming card, but still considerably better than IGP).