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My new HTPC build

VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
I had previously been using a low-power AM2 CPU on a mATX 780G board, then a Llano quad-core on an FM1 mATX board, then I wanted something smaller. So I bought a Foxconn NanoPC AT-5570. It's a passively-cooled AMD C-70 "book size" PC. It sure was tiny, and the HDMI worked great. But it was too slow CPU-wise for my tastes.

So further along in my quest for the ultimate combo of performance and small size, I present my current HTPC. (Just assembled today.)

case ($51):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...05&ignorebbr=1

mobo ($40):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135341

CPU ($35 + tax MC):
Intel G1610 Ivy Bridge Celeron dual-core 2.6Ghz

RAM ($30):
2x4GB Gskill DDR3-1333

Much faster than the C-70, but not much larger, and similar power-consumption.

Edit: Though, no USB3.0, like the Llano or the Foxconn.

Edit: Storage is a Kingston V300 120GB SSD. ($72) (I got suckered too by the low price.)
 
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Heh, even ECS can now put all solid caps on their boards. To think that the G1610 level of performance cost quadruple its current selling price, with higher power consumption, and not even an IGP on the die.
 
Shame it doesn't have USB3.0, but otherwise it looks pretty good.

What are you using for storage and/or OS drive?
 
If your mainboard supports it, you can under-volt the G1610 quite far. I've gotten it down to using 10-12W maximum, and 1-2W idle on an Asrock B75M-ITX. That's for the CPU only, total system power consumption was obviously higher, but not much more then 20-25W idle and 35W full load.
 
Torn Mind said:
Probably the E8400. I had experience with the chip since my university used Dells with E8400s.
Click to expand...

Oh yes, that's the CPU that the G1610 is most often compared too. E8400 was like $300 originally, wasn't it? Nice to get that power, in a cheaper package, WITH a serviceable IGP, for $50 (or less, I got mine at Microcenter for $35 + tax).

Edit: Hmm, seems like I might need to do some troubleshooting.

I had an appcrash one night for Waterfox, and the next night for Skype.

Thinking I might want to do a RAM test.

One thing I noticed in the BIOS settings, and I believe this was after I loaded CMOS defaults, was that under the voltage settings, the IMC voltage defaulted to +0.15v, instead of AUTO. I put it back to AUTO. I wonder if there is some sort of board design deficiency that needs this adjustment to work properly?
 
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Bump, because I just woke the PC from monitor sleep mode, although before I did that, I unplugged the webcam and plugged in a USB3.0 flash drive into a USB2.0 port, then I moved the mouse to wake it up, and I got a multi-colored snowy haze. I switched the HDMI switcher, no change, unplugged the HDMI cable, still same snow.

I then tried to power off, but it wasn't powering off. I had to hold the power button in.

So either it's bad RAM, or that +0.15v IMC voltage setting that I reverted back to AUTO, or it's just the usual ECS quality at work here I guess. 🙁

Edit: I reverted back to the +0.15v IMC setting, and did a Boot-time Windows Memory Diagnostic. It said it would display results upon login, oh, here it comes, no errors found.

Not sure what the reason for the two appcrashes, and the hazy colored lines filling the screen.

I have CoreTemp running, and it's around 45C on both cores.

Interestingly, the BIOS reports that the CPU Ratio is 30x. This is a 2.6Ghz CPU, I don't understand why the ratio is 30x and not 26x, and I cannot select it to change it. BIOS bug?

Is the CPU actually overclocked? I didn't think that the locked Celeron CPUs could be overclocked. They don't have Turbo Bins either, that I know of. Wierdness with ECS I guess.

Edit: CPU-Z reports 26x as the max multi, and core speed is maxed at just below 2600Mhz. Looks like the CPU is ignoring the 30x multi.

Edit: Might have been CoreTemp. RC6 (current version) is buggy, apparently, and causes the UI of Windows 8 to crash on Intel machines. My HTPC is running Win7 64-bit, but it may be causing memory corruption or something due to an errant driver.
 
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If you're running 7 or 8, I think you can go to Control Panel, type in "error" into the Control Panel search and click on "View reliability history". You might find something there.
 
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