Using a AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus Quad-Core 2.6 GHz Socket AM3 95W for HTPC

[jabjab90301]

I found an AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus Quad-Core 2.6 GHz Socket AM3 95W in my closet from my first PC build. I was wondering if this would be good enough to pair with a ASUS M5A97 PLUS AM3+ MoBO and my old HD5770. This would be hooked up to the tv in the living room to watch netflix and youtube.

 

[techne]

If your TV has a standard HD resolution, yes, it's good enough - and it would be even overkill.

I've been using this poor thing as my HTPC during the last years and I'm pretty satisfied.

 

[hojnikb]

Just get an Orange Pi PC. It will handle more formats (think HEVC) and will draw around 50x less power. It will practically pay for itself compared to amd setup. A bit more expensive option is a TV box based on S905 chipset. Those run for around 30$.

 

[cbn]

A bit more expensive option is a TV box based on S905 chipset. Those run for around 30$.

Is this the one you are referring to ($34):

http://www.amazon.com/TICTID-Android-Amlogic-Lollipop-Streaming/dp/B0196GIUUK

Quad core Cortex A53, 1GB RAM, 8GB NAND, 4K@60fps H.265 hardware decoding, etc.

Another one @ $35 with an HDMI 2.0 port:

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/NEXB...-265-HDMI-Miracast-DLNA-Dolby-DTS-364377.html

More info on S905 here --> here

Very nice specs for the money.

 

[zir_blazer]

I had a near identical setup. Undervolt the AIIX4 620, and use Radeon BIOS Editor to do the same with the Radeon 5770. These are my stable PowerPlay Power States.

 

[escrow4]

Is this the one you are referring to ($34):

http://www.amazon.com/TICTID-Android-Amlogic-Lollipop-Streaming/dp/B0196GIUUK

Quad core Cortex A53, 1GB RAM, 8GB NAND, 4K@60fps H.265 hardware decoding, etc.

Another one @ $35 with an HDMI 2.0 port:

http://www.geekbuying.com/item/NEXB...-265-HDMI-Miracast-DLNA-Dolby-DTS-364377.html

More info on S905 here --> here

Very nice specs for the money.

Be very very careful with dropshipped Android boxes:

-> Most have no support at all. You'd be lucky to get a single OTA update
-> 4K doesn't always work. Depends on the rip (see cnx-software).
-> Amcodec in Kodi is still twitchy and all over the place. Stock video app is better
-> Avoid Rockchip or Allwinner SoC, Rockchip has poor support in the first place
-> The kernel build is an old 3.x release which dies this year security wise despite running Lollipop
-> No support for Netflix HD due to lack of DRM support
-> Possibly no auto 23.976 switching
-> Some have poor build quality and overheat

I have one coming in to replace my old WDTV but do note their limitations. Why do you think they are all $50 or less? If you are looking at one that is $100 you are getting ripped off. For offline 1080p and below playback sure. For a perfect all rounder, buy a Shield (if you are not in the US, the Shield is half useless).

OP, your build has no HEVC support and will dump a lot of heat power. Otherwise it will do fine.

 

[cbn]

For a perfect all rounder, buy a Shield (if you are not in the US, the Shield is half useless).

What features don't work outside of the US?

 

[escrow4]

What features don't work outside of the US?

Its not that they don't work, its that Netflix has a fraction of the content outside the US, there is no local support you need to import from Amazon and pay for shipping, and all the gaming bits are US centric. Over here it would cost $365 local when you can buy an Android box for $50-$60.

 

[Sheep221]

I had i3 based HTPC, there was i3-3220(55W) and i3-550(73W) in it, both of these were kinda toasty in that tiny case. Unless you plan to have your setup in full ATX case with good cooling, that combo of 95W CPU and HD5770 will fry to death.

 

[Doom2pro]

I am using an ga-78lmt-usb3 rev 6.0 with FX 6300 black edition and a GTX 570 HD DS for my media center... I guess I'm even MORE overkill?

 

[ReignQuake]

-> Amcodec in Kodi is still twitchy and all over the place. Stock video app is better

Wish I had known this before buying an ODROID C2. S905.

 

[techne]

I am using an ga-78lmt-usb3 rev 6.0 with FX 6300 black edition and a GTX 570 HD DS for my media center... I guess I'm even MORE overkill?

As far as I know, to be overkill is not against the law...

Just hide your specs from the ecologists and you'll be safe.

 

[ethebubbeth]

I'm running an i5-3570k and a GTX 970 in my HTPC. madVR can still bring it to it's knees if I'm not careful. There is no such thing as overkill in HTPC

 

[bigboxes]

I'm repurposing my old i7 920 and using a GTX 950 (HDMI 2.0 and HEVC support) in my HTPC. I never have to worry about it not playing anything I throw at it. That's why I built it. I got tired of my TV and it's finicky nature of codec support and my TV was top of the line when I bought it. It's amazing what others tell you what you "need".

 

[techne]

I'm running an i5-3570k and a GTX 970 in my HTPC. madVR can still bring it to it's knees if I'm not careful. There is no such thing as overkill in HTPC

I recognize your right to spend 300W to do something I do with 30W. Why do you want to deny me the right to use the word "overkill"?

 

[Phynaz]

Best advice: Buy a Roku. You don't build a HTPC to watch Netflix.

 

[HiroThreading]

If you're just using it for Netflix and YouTube, and other streaming services, just get an Apple TV or a Roku (depending if you already own an Apple device or not).

Way more stable and power efficient.

 

[escrow4]

My Android box (MXQ Pro) arrived yesterday. Excellent for offline media playback. Every single x264 and x265 file I have including 10 bit works fine in Kodi 16.1. Only have up to 1080p so not interested in 4K even though in theory it should have support. Delighful box in broken English too. :sneaky:

Well worth the $60 delivered. If you are in the US you can pick one up for sub 50. All that fancy 4K Netflix and super Dolby Digital 10.1 Atmos v3 won't work (this is pre-rooted and has no DRM support at all) but the basics are fine.

 

[TeknoBug]

I had i3 based HTPC, there was i3-3220(55W) and i3-550(73W) in it, both of these were kinda toasty in that tiny case. Unless you plan to have your setup in full ATX case with good cooling, that combo of 95W CPU and HD5770 will fry to death.

The HD5770 card is actually fairly power efficient (draws a bit less power than a GTX750Ti) I still have a HD5770 card myself and it does the job, but yeah the 95W used for HTPC is kind of overkill and a bit of a waste.

If you're just using it for Netflix and YouTube, and other streaming services, just get an Apple TV or a Roku (depending if you already own an Apple device or not).

Way more stable and power efficient.

I'm using a X5 Z8300 Intel compute stick and it's perfectly usable for those plus Steam streaming and whatever else.

 

[ethebubbeth]

I recognize your right to spend 300W to do something I do with 30W. Why do you want to deny me the right to use the word "overkill"?

Because I think it should be mandatory to say overkill in all caps with as many exclamation points as possible

I used to run the same E35M1-M as you in my HTPC, but since nothing does hardware 10-bit h.264 decode, it couldn't keep up on a lot of the files I wanted to play and I had to switch

 

[2is]

It's hard to beat free, but that's a lot of power consumption for Netflix and YouTube viewing. My HTPC consists of a 35 watt i3 4160T connected via HDMI using the IGP. If it wasn't for the fact that I also use this box to run my accounting software on, which I sometimes need to access remotely when I'm out in the field to generate or look up an invoice, I'd have went with something even more efficient like an AppleTV or Amazon Fire Stick.

 

[techne]

Because I think it should be mandatory to say overkill in all caps with as many exclamation points as possible

I used to run the same E35M1-M as you in my HTPC, but since nothing does hardware 10-bit h.264 decode, it couldn't keep up on a lot of the files I wanted to play and I had to switch

I'm sorry to hear that. Until now, I've been able to play absolutely everything I wanted to play, so I have no complains.

However, I really doubt that it will cope with h.265 and I already started to look for alternatives.

 

[jabjab90301]

I have a non reference hd5570. I think it is Gigabyte. Run s quite and cool. The reason I am going with 620 is because I have and only need a mobo to build. I have everything else. Not looking to buy all parts. The is just project. More of a living room pc.

 

[techne]

I have a non reference hd5570. I think it is Gigabyte. Run s quite and cool. The reason I am going with 620 is because I have and only need a mobo to build. I have everything else. Not looking to buy all parts. The is just project. More of a living room pc.

Is there any chance it will be used also for gaming? Because that would change everything...

 

[cbn]

More expensive @ $79.67 free shipping than the Android TV boxes mentioned in this thread, but it also does have more RAM (2GB), more eMMC (32GB), and dual band Wifi....plus Windows 8.1 and Intel Z3735F SoC:

http://www.*************/tv-box-mini-pc/pp_187348.html

EDIT: Oh well, that link doesn't work. (Product's name was Beelink Pocket P1)