What's the best INTEGRATED CPU right now?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

About a year ago, I bought a PCChips V21G motherboard, which includes onboard video and a VIA C7 1.5 GHz processor. I've been happy with it overall, for 98% of my computing, but it really lags for any video encoding. In fact, it falls behind a Duron 1.8 by about half, and the Duron 1.8 technology isn't exactly new. However, I can't really argue with the price - I paid only $60 with free shipping for the motherboard. Plus, since the CPU only uses about 15 Watts, it works fine with my current power supply.

I am once again in a situation where I'd like to build a new system using an integrated motherboard. I don't want to go above the 200 or so Watts of the power supply in the case.

Like I said, I've been pretty happy with the V21G overall, but would like something with just a bit more CPU power - at least on par with a Duron 1.8 or better. However, I still want the cost savings given by a mboard with integrated CPU.

PLEASE don't respond telling me about some rebate deal that will let me get a new mboard and CPU for under $100. I'm really not interested.

What I'm asking is if there have been any advances when it comes to mboards with onboard video and especially, onboard CPU in the past year.

For example, I've found all sorts of articles mentioning releasing the VIA C7 in a 2 GHz version, but can't find any for sale. I also imagine that AMD must have some boards with integrated CPU's as well.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[CrystalBay]

T-Force 690G. AM2....IMO Plus a 3800X2 = $140..... plus 2Gb Ram $80... much ,much faster low power but ,you'll need more ram than your current setup. Under the powersupply requirements needed... There is nothing "new" available yet as totataly integrated ASFAIK


My suggestion ..

 

[21stHermit]

You keep using the term "Integrated CPU" the day of graphics integrated into the CPU die is still a few years off. The MB has a video chip on it and is considered an video integrated MB, not CPU.

Go to NewEgg and use advanced search for a MB. Select integrated graphics as a criteria. Read the reviews for the MB's which you like. I would go for a Intel E21xx CPU, most performance per watt and per $$$. The E21xx's can be either under-volted to 15W or over-clocked to 3 - 3.6 GHz giving you flexibility.

HTH
Hermit

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: 21stHermit
You keep using the term "Integrated CPU" the day of graphics integrated into the CPU die is still a few years off. The MB has a video chip on it and is considered an video integrated MB, not CPU.

Go to NewEgg and use advanced search for a MB. Select integrated graphics as a criteria. Read the reviews for the MB's which you like. I would go for a Intel E21xx CPU, most performance per watt and per $$$. The E21xx's can be either under-volted to 15W or over-clocked to 3 - 3.6 GHz giving you flexibility.

HTH
Hermit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIA_EPIA

VIA EPIA (VIA Embedded Platform Innovative Architecture) is a series of mini-ITX, nano-ITX and pico-ITX motherboards with integrated VIA processors.

 

[Cogman]

Isn't the Via Epia the ONLY integrated cpu available (integrated full x86 compatible, PDA's don't count)? People like their systems to be modular, that is why integrated CPU's just won't fly unless you are talking about niche market spaces like Media center PC's

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Some laptops have integrated/embedded CPUs as it shaves a few mm off the thickness.

 

[bfdd]

Weird thing is I knew exactly what you're talking about and my experience with these is glancing over them while at a store lol. I think you have the fastest cpu VIA makes if I'm not mistaken. Now seeing that you have one, I was thinking of building my mom a computer, maybe I'll do one of these with a gig of ram and a left over 60gb harddrive I got laying around. But do you think the Celeron 215 in the intel integrated board would be any faster? I think it clocks in at around 1.33ghz though so I'm not sure you might have to look up some reviews?

 

[NXIL]

Intel makes low cost low power board with integrated CPU, on board VGA, etc:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813121317

Runs a Celeron 215

http://processorfinder.intel.c...tails.aspx?sSpec=SLA4L

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=7276

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=41824

Note that there is a newer version of the this Intel board coming out with 2 SATA ports, and faster, lower power, fanless CPU:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/

And

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2098456&enterthread=y

http://resources.mini-box.com/...power-consumption.html

 

[pm]

Great post, NXIL. I had no idea about the new passive-cooled board coming (yes, I know, I work for Intel... but it's a big company ). That's pretty neat.

Thanks also for the pointer to the benchmarks. I have a Via M10000 now that I use for low-budget NAS box (and apache server, and Asterisk/VOIP box). The M10000 is about 25W (from my Watts-Up! power meter measurments) and needs a fan. I'd love to get a performance boost and lose the fan.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

neat. what are the advantages of something like this over a low end computer?

 

[bfdd]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
neat. what are the advantages of something like this over a low end computer?

They use less power, they're extremely cheap too. Just look at his setup 60 for the mobo+cpu, another 35-40 for 1gb of ddr2-533, 30-50 for a nice little Micro-ATX case w/ psu, and a 160gb harddrive for less than 50 bucks. That's a sweet little rig just to do some word processing, web browsing, music listening, or movie watching(non-highdef).

 

[pm]

neat. what are the advantages of something like this over a low end computer?

To my mind, there's three advantages: power and noise and size. These systems run very cool and so you can get away with one fan, or even none. And they use about 25W total system power. And they are about 6" x 6" (ish) and so they are tiny and you can put them in very small cases. They make decent media center PC's, nice web servers for home use, good NAS systems, and other light-duty uses. Because they are small and quiet you can put them in places where a big box with a loud fan would just be annoying.

A cheap low-end system will use about 80W total system power, and will have a louder fan, and they are usually much larger boads.

Cheap system:
80W/1000 * 24 hours/day * 365 days/year * $0.10 per kWh = $70 per year to run.

Integrated:
25W/1000 * 24 hours/day * 365 days/year * $0.10 per kWh = $22 per year to run

 

[migo]

so the real benefit is a place that has 100 of them in the building, where they can save $4800/year.

 

[Denithor]

Or if electricity is more expensive where you live.

But as mentioned in OP, these just don't have the guts to get a lot of tasks done in a reasonable time period. If you want to use it for anything more intensive than general use/browsing/etc you are much better off with a more powerful system.

 

[piasabird]

Well Intel has lots of options. On the Intel website there was a link to an online store that sold systems with integrated video with support for multiple monitors.

http://www.directron.com/intelsystem.html

They use the Intel motherboard DQ35JOE.

Dont really know if it is any good or not. Intel sells a lot of different integrated chipsets. Asus was going to come out with a motherboard they call the P5E-VM HDMI which is suppose to have HD integrated video for TV Out. I dont think they have come out with it yet in the Retail supply chain. Maybe Gigabyte has something similar.

For encoding, I would recommend something like the Intel Quad Processor Q6600. It costs about $279.99 but it is probably worth it. Intel might come out with some new quad processors based on the 45nm process soon. These would be better. They have an Intel Extreme processor out in 45nm but I dont know if you really want a $999.00 processor. The 45nm process has 54 new instructions for processing video with SSE4. Suppose to show a marked improvement in video processing. About a year from now they are suppose to release the 8 core version. I wonder what they will call that -- Octo-Pussy?

 

[heyheybooboo]

Jetway this-a-way and check out the mini-ITX offerings. I believe there are some 'integrated CPUs' in there. . . .

The J7F5 series offers the VIA C7 2GHz cpu. The J7F3 Series offers the AMD Geode? NX 1750 @ 14W. The J9F2 Series offers the Intel C2D Merom (65 nm) / Socket M.

Not cheap at the high end. Not really 'encoding' machines but I imagine will work overnight (or 2) on small projects.

ECS, Jetway and Biostar have been integrating CPUs for awhile. The VIA ITX platform has been around for 2-3 years. And here comes Chipzilla ....

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: Cogman
Isn't the Via Epia the ONLY integrated cpu available (integrated full x86 compatible, PDA's don't count)? People like their systems to be modular, that is why integrated CPU's just won't fly unless you are talking about niche market spaces like Media center PC's

wont even put out as a media center because HD movies in H.264 format require a Core2Duo 2.0ghz or higher to run smoothly.


If you want to tinker with something small, i recomend you going on a Socket P Platform with a mobile processor. It will be a little bit more expensive, but thats ultimately the way to go.

http://www.logicsupply.com/products/ms_9803

That board with a T7300 should be more then enough power you'll need for web browsing, HD movie watching, and even some gaming if you add a great video card to it. It takes a PCI-E x16



If your looking for a cheaper solution:
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/d201gly

That would still be better then a VIA C7 cpu.


My #2 HTPC is off the socket P platform. I had a extra T7300 i had laying around when i swaped my stock laptop cpu with a T7700.

Logic supply is also a great store, i highly recomend them.

 

[firewolfsm]

Originally posted by: migo
so the real benefit is a place that has 100 of them in the building, where they can save $4800/year.

There's no point to having more than one as any decent computer can replace 10 of these. Integrated processors usually aren't using the newest technology so while power consumption will be low, performance per watt won't.

These are useful for small spaces or silent computers, that's about it. The cases are much smaller than most laptops.

 

[migo]

The point of having 100 is if you need 100 people to have access to a computer at the same time.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I just don't see the point of the low-end "integrated CPU" boards. They are underpowered for general tasks.

I put together a system for my mom, using a Gigabyte 8I865-RH-GME-775, integrated video, and a Celeron 440 (2.0Ghz single-core C2D), and it runs just great for what she needs it for. It also takes so little power, that with smart fan enabled, the fan actually stops every-other second. It runs that cool, with the half-sized heatsink that the C440 ships with.
Cost for CPU $65, mobo $50, memory $80 (DDR1 here), HD $50, micro-atx case $37.
The best part? The rig has more than enough desktop power for todays apps. Unlike those "integrated CPU" platforms.

 

[ZOXXO]

I can see several uses for the small integrated cpu boards. Home built jukeboxes, MAME, carputers, NAS, or anything else where size and efficiency is of greater importance than performance.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I just don't see the point of the low-end "integrated CPU" boards. They are underpowered for general tasks.

Great when used in a CAR.

Im currently thinkn of a way to migrate my SocketP system into my car.

 

[Denithor]

Here is an option that has not been presented yet:

JetWay J7F3E-PB with an integrated Geode NX 1750 (1.4GHz) cpu for $145

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: Inspector Jihad
neat. what are the advantages of something like this over a low end computer?

I have a WYSE dumb terminal that has a 533mhz cpu and 328megs ram. I added a 2.5" hd, loaded Windows and use it as a print server and torrent downloader. My main rig sucks up electricity like mad even at idle, so I can leave my WYSE on all the time. It is also small enough to tuck behind my bookcase and is virtually silent. Even a low end computer will take up some space and have fans blowing every which way.

Its good for occasional web browsing, and I may even throw and external drive on there for network storage.