Mini-ITX HTPC using AMD A4 series

[strike101]

Anyone here using an AMD A4-3xxx cpu series on a Mini-ITX Casing (setting up as HTPC) ,

just wondering how big is the stock HSF of the AMD A4-3xxx processor , will it fit on my current Mini-ITX casing

http://www.in-win.com.tw/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=67

and can the stock 200w PSU of the case handle it ?
AMD A4-3300/3400 , Asrock FM1 Mini-ITX board , 4gb DDR3 , 2TB HDD

i'm replacing my current AMD-e350 , it has problem playing back 1080p videos with very high bitrates , specially 10bit (Hi10p) encodes

 

[wirednuts]

i bet that thing puts out about 100w real world power, and thats probably about what your system will draw so might as well try it. worst case is it dies and takes out your whole system with it? just kidding.... if youre worried just buy a good ps for $50 for it, its really not an area you want to gamble on

 

[Topweasel]

CPU is 100 watts and the the rest of the components without a GPU probably hit 20 watts at max. You should be fine.

 

[Binky]

You should compare the price and performance of an Intel based G530 or G620 before you pull the trigger.

 

[Jimmah]

You should compare the price and performance of an Intel based G530 or G620 before you pull the trigger.

I agree, I was in he same boat deciding between the A series and the G530, went with the celeron and I'm immensly impressed.

 

[wirednuts]

actually im in op's boat now too.. mom needs to upgrade her athlon x2 htpc. well she doesnt know it but im going to make her do it

i was eyeing a very similar case with a 200w supply as well. i figured i can get a 3 core apu from amd for $80 and an itx board to go with for another $80. whether or not the stock hsf will fit who knows, i think im just going to gamble and see... but i do agree now that i think about it more, the 200w supply should be fine.

i mean, in my car pc im running a dc-dc converter that only put out 160w max, and thats running an e5200 cpu with a ton of accessories, and ive never had problems there

also, im pretty sure the 65wTDP on the apu chips includes the video power consumption too, right? thats just a lot of goodness for the power used....

 

[Topweasel]

actually im in op's boat now too.. mom needs to upgrade her athlon x2 htpc. well she doesnt know it but im going to make her do it

i was eyeing a very similar case with a 200w supply as well. i figured i can get a 3 core apu from amd for $80 and an itx board to go with for another $80. whether or not the stock hsf will fit who knows, i think im just going to gamble and see... but i do agree now that i think about it more, the 200w supply should be fine.

i mean, in my car pc im running a dc-dc converter that only put out 160w max, and thats running an e5200 cpu with a ton of accessories, and ive never had problems there

also, im pretty sure the 65wTDP on the apu chips includes the video power consumption too, right? thats just a lot of goodness for the power used....

Yeah the rated TDP includes both the power usage of the CPU and GPU.

 

[Binky]

All of the Pentiums are 65W or less too. So is the i3-2100...

 

[Childs]

I bought the G530 for $35 as part of a new HTPC build, and its working out great. Fairly low CPU usage doing H.264 1080p mkvs. Makes me think I over spent on the motherboard, power supply and ram.

 

[wirednuts]

the a6 3500 spanks the g530 and is still faster overall then the g620.... and the intel cpu's dont technically playback 24p correctly as i have read, while the llano cpu's do.

 

[Childs]

the a6 3500 spanks the g530 and is still faster overall then the g620.... and the intel cpu's dont technically playback 24p correctly as i have read, while the llano cpu's do.

A6 is also $80 on Newegg. If the G530 plays back all media with low cpu usage, I'm not sure what the benefit is to spending more to play media that has fixed frame rates.

 

[Binky]

And..the op asked about the 3400, not the 3500. The G840 is about $85, so that's more comparable to the A6-3500. From the OP's description, any of these CPU's would fill the need.

AMD = slightly better graphics
Intel = much better CPU
Either one = very good for HTPC use

Anand recently did an article on the A8-3850 comparing the HTPC graphics quality. The A8 won by a little bit, but both lost to a discrete 6570.

 

[rchiu]

Depending on how efficient the psu is. in-win is an okay name, hope their psu is not crap.

I just built an htpc with A8-3870, same mobo, Lian Li PC-Q11 case....found out the CPU ran pretty hot . Am using a 400w psu right now as I am using 3 hdd. Good thing PCQ-11 supports regular ATX psu, but with regular ATX, the inside is damn cramped.

 

[laputan machine]

I actually recently bought this case, but I went with an intel build instead (pentium G850). I noobed it out and ordered wrong ram though as the m-itx board I got used so dimm-ram but I should have it up and running today or tomorrow.

It should have more than enough room of the heatsink. Unless in-win are lying to us about the psu, you won't be anywhere near to max it out even if you torture test it.