Torn on HTPC AMD cpu

[DisgruntledVirus]

I am overhauling my HTPC, from an old Athalon 2800+, 1 gb mem, x800 graphics, etc. I have settled on the 780G chipset, which means AMD (I know Intel is faster, but I want that chipset. I also like AMD more than Intel and it's cheaper, so no need to go flame me for that choice). I have decided on doing a low power system and want nothing over 95 watts TDP for the proc (mobo doesn't support higher), which means either a x2 4850e or the Phenom 9140E quad. I am also looking at the cheapest Phenom x3 the 8450, which will help the post processing of the IGP (yes for now I will be using the IGP, but will most likely upgrade to the 4670 in a month or two).

My question is would it be worthwhile to drop the extra $80 on the quad core? Encoding speed isn't a big deal, I just need it to play HD content without stuttering. Since the Phenoms help with post processing is it really worth dropping the extra $33 or $80 to get a Phenom if I am just going to be adding in a 4670 later?

What proc should I go with on this build just to play back HD content (maybe some gaming but I have a solid system for that already).

I am sending this to a Kuro 5080 (a 720p display) if that changes anything.

PS: if you want to see the specs check this thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2227105&enterthread=y

 

[Andrew1990]

If you want something low power, then you might want to wait for the 22w 1.5GHz Athlon X2 coming out. Looks interesting if you pair it with a 4670 or 780g.

 

[perdomot]

I chose the X3 8650 for my 780G mobo and am quite satisfied with it including HD playback.

 

[angry hampster]

Why would you want a quad or triple core for HTPC? With a 780G,you also won't need a graphics card (unless you feel like gaming). Get a BE2400:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103215

Here it is reviewed:
http://www.tomshardware.com/re...y-compared,1765-9.html


Buy the cheapest CPU cooler you can find (look at local shops for an OEM unit).

 

[nerp]

The 4850e would be more than enough for deciding 1080p. Even a lowly sempron can handle it on the 780G chipset. Since it sounds like this HTPC will be pretty straightfoward, go with one of the BE chips of the 4850e. Extra cores and 'postprocessing' stuff won't really make a difference.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
Since the Phenoms help with post processing is it really worth dropping the extra $33 or $80 to get a Phenom if I am just going to be adding in a 4670 later?

No, unless you plan on doing something you haven't told us. Even then, its probably better to upgrade later on. Something 45nm-ish

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
What proc should I go with on this build just to play back HD content (maybe some gaming but I have a solid system for that already).

Cheapest X2 on sale. You said you want a Phenom because of the post-processing capabilities of the 780G while using HT 3.0. OK. If you are sure you will get a 4670 later maybe you should just get a cheapo cpu because, I believe, the 4670 has superior decoding ability

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

For now it will be just a HTPC primarily, but I would like it as a backup gaming rig (I can throw in my current graphics, add memory, etc from my gaming rig if need be) for friends or w/e. That is a secondary concern though, the primary is HTPC, with secondary concerns being ripping media (which I don't care much about speed because I am only home ~3 hrs/day mon-thurs and can leave it to rip the other 21 hrs/day), media/file server (eventually because all my HDs except two plus a 1 tb I will be buying soonish are PATA, so this is a not immediate concern either), FTP server (just so I can have remote access to some files like school work), and some gaming (we usually play Warcraft 3 or other *simple* game so it's not a big concern here either).

All said and done it has to:
Be able to play 720p content (h.264, blu-ray, etc) without stuttering/slowdowns
Be low power because it will be on 24/7
Be able to meet the secondary concerns in the future

I am thinking the 4805e, but just am having some second thoughts about everything before I buy it and want to make sure it will be able to perform HTPC functions without issues.

 

[edplayer]

Even the BE-2400 can playback 1080P with the 780G without stutter. That runs at 2.3GHz. It should be able to do it even underclocked below 2GHz (just guessing on that). That was available at newegg for $30 w free shipping about a week ago. Its $40 w free shipping now.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

edplayer, I am thinking going with the 4850e because for $26 the extra clock speed and IIRC better core is worth it.

 

[zerogear]

I got a 9600 Phenom Black Edition (yes, with the TBP Bug), but honestly i have never heard of anyone able to reproduce the bug outside of AMD Labs.

 

[bryanW1995]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus
edplayer, I am thinking going with the 4850e because for $26 the extra clock speed and IIRC better core is worth it.

it's probably not worth the extra $$$ for the 4850e. in fact, anandtech was unable to find any advantage for the 45w cpus over the 65w units in power consumption when they tested a few months ago. imho that 200mhz means nothing to you at all, the only hassle will be getting a cpu cooler. for $26 you could get a nice cooler that you could transfer over to a later cpu upgrade, or just get a cheapo $5-10 unit and end up saving $15-20. your 780g chipset will be fine btw until you start playing games, it is specificially designed for htpc usage.

as a side note, many htpc experts like amd right now b/c of the 780g platform. intel has nothing to touch it. I'm making my htpc out of an intel rig just bc that's what I had lying around the house. well, that and I crunch DC 24/7...

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
as a side note, many htpc experts like amd right now b/c of the 780g platform. intel has nothing to touch it.

Intel has the G45 chipset

 

[hans007]

i ended up choosing between the 9150e and 5400+ black edition. and i took the 9150e.

just seemed nice to have a quad haha.

then again i got the 5400+ for free for buying an antec sonata, and the 9150e was cheap on ebay. but if its not absurdly more for the quad, i'd get it over a 4850e.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
as a side note, many htpc experts like amd right now b/c of the 780g platform. intel has nothing to touch it.

Intel has the G45 chipset

But once you do some price/performance comparisons and look at the power numbers, AMD does seem to have a bit of an edge. And if you plan on doing any gaming, the 780G wins there.

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: edplayer

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
as a side note, many htpc experts like amd right now b/c of the 780g platform. intel has nothing to touch it.

Intel has the G45 chipset

True...which IMHO goes to bryan's point. G45 still doesn't really compete well with the 780g.

 

[daveybrat]

Yeah, i would take AMD's drivers over Intel's drivers any day. Even if the G45 graphics have the same horsepower i'd still take th HD3200 over it.

 

[nerp]

Originally posted by: daveybrat
Yeah, i would take AMD's drivers over Intel's drivers any day. Even if the G45 graphics have the same horsepower i'd still take th HD3200 over it.

Things do change. For years, ATI drivers were the bane of my existence and I avoided ATI cards at all costs. Today, AMD/ATI drivers are pretty damn solid, I must say.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: nerp
But once you do some price/performance comparisons and look at the power numbers, AMD does seem to have a bit of an edge. And if you plan on doing any gaming, the 780G wins there.

780G is nice. I build a Gigabyte based computer for my dad and it has not given him one problem. Price is good also. Most G45 based boards are over $100. But they are fairly new and not a lot of choices yet so I expect prices will drop somewhat soon.

If you plan on gaming I suggest you get a dedicated video card as even the superior 780G is only good for older games unless you are OK with low resolution, low settings and low fps.

 

[edplayer]

Oh and there is Nvidia also (if they ever get to launching their 9300/MCP7A chipsets)

Google cache of Hexus article that was pulled down:

Page 1


Page 2


Select excerpts:

"NVIDIA's spokesmen were particularly bullish about the graphics performance of MCP7A, citing that, in internal testing, it was up to 5x faster than Intel's G45 (X4500 HD) and, cross-comparing, up to 2x quicker than AMD's 790GX. The comparisons were pulled from the default 3DMark Vantage test, and it seems that rubbishing Intel's IGPs is not only an AMD preserve."


"The chipset provides a single x16 Gen 2.0 graphics connection, but it doesn't support Hybrid Power, where a discrete card can be switched off and video routed through the IGP in instances where big-bore 3D power isn't needed."

Sucks about HybridPower. I was waiting for this chipset for months just because of HybridPower.

 

[edplayer]

Originally posted by: bryanW1995
it's probably not worth the extra $$$ for the 4850e. in fact, anandtech was unable to find any advantage for the 45w cpus over the 65w units in power consumption when they tested a few months ago. imho that 200mhz means nothing to you at all, the only hassle will be getting a cpu cooler. for $26 you could get a nice cooler that you could transfer over to a later cpu upgrade, or just get a cheapo $5-10 unit and end up saving $15-20. your 780g chipset will be fine btw until you start playing games, it is specificially designed for htpc usage.

I somewhat agree with this. The part about the power consumption specifically. A lot of people see a lower TDP rating and assume it will result in lower power consumption. I would recommend a 5000+ though. Still fits his tdp wish and comes with a fan. Runs at 2.6GHz and doesn't use a 0.5 multiplier causing your ram to be underclocked. $59.5 at newegg w free shipping.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

So what I have gotten out of the responses is:

1: 4850e is not needed.
2: That TDP doesn't matter (which just reinforces a lot of the stuff I have seen on it, because a higher TDP proc is able to usually do the work faster and sit in a lower power state more)
3: I should spend the difference on an after market HSF.

Now edplayer you say to go with the 5000+ because it's only $60 shipped on Newegg, but the 4850e is $66. I haven't looked at the charts to see which proc is better, but my assumption would be the 4850e because of the newer core.

So for the lowest power consumption rig go with the 4850e, or x2 5000+ (or other x2 proc)?

 

[MarcVenice]

Here's what you do, buy pretty much any dualcore AMD cpu, and underclock/undervolt it to shit, with some luck your HSF is going to be running PASSIVE. For HTPC use the IGP is going to be doing all the work anyways. Then, when your friends come over and you need more speed, overclock it. Easy enough.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

Well looks like I might have found an x3 +2 gb ddr2 800 for $100 shipped (it is OEM) off the fs/ft here which means $160 for cpu/mobo/mem. I think I can live with that.

 

[Raduque]

Take from this what you will, but I play 1080p contents (HDDVD, BRDs and "other" x264 stuff) on the following system:

AMD X2 4400 s939
nvidia 6150(maybe?) chipset motherboard
2gb DDR400
Radeon HD2400Pro

I use ffdshow for x264 and powerdvd (of course) for HDDVD/BRD. The only thing it has a problem with is ultra extremely high bitrate x264 1080p.

 

[nerp]

Side note, I play 1080p on an Opteron 180 with 2GB ram, Vista 32 and an Nvidia 8400GS.