Which of these old gen CPUs best for HTPC?

[slackerinabox]

I'm retiring the macbook I used with a sff refurb cheapie windows pc. I do the following with it:
1. Local playback of 720p mkvs
2. streaming 720p to XBMC -Apple tvs
3. PytivoX server to TRANSCODE 720p to tivos format

Which of these old school processors are best:

*core 2 duo e8200 (intel gma 3100)
* pentium dual core e5800 (no clue what the gpu)
* amd fusion 300

 

[birthdaymonkey]

I think the E5800 would be best. It outperforms the C2D because of its higher clock speed. I'm pretty sure it's the same arch as C2D rebranded for low-end sales.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Duo+E8200+@+2.66GHz

The Fusion would be fine for playback, but slow in transcoding.

 

[Ferzerp]

For HTPCs you typically want that weakest/lowest power processor that can still do your task without dropping frames.

That means if the AMD part can do it, being only an 18W part, you should use that.

 

[alyarb]

I wouldn't entrust the E300 with this.

 

[BrightCandle]

When it comes to relying on the GPU decoding of video you have to control every encode. If however you are playing 720p videos encoded by others than you can get yourself into the situation where the decoder can't work it out and you are falling back on the CPU. I had this situation with an Atom machine and in practice the decoder just didn't work about 60% of the time, which meant the atom could not play the video at more than about 4 fps.

So while the AMD E-300 is great for the planet you have to consider the CPU performance. Its the better chip for power consumption but its underpowered on CPU performance. Personally I would get the e5800 and trust in the CPU grunt doing the work. Its more flexible.

 

[gmaster456]

Neither of those are very good choices, but of the 3 I would go with the E-300 if only for the GPU performance. The intel gma 3100 will not handle 1080p Youtube or HD netflix. If getting a cheap, low power consumption deticated card is an option, I would go with the e5800 and a HD6450.

 

[jacktesterson]

I had a E-350 based HTPC for a few weeks. It was only a few weeks because it could not play Netflix HD.

Everything else was fine. Netflix was too important.

 

[gmaster456]

I had a E-350 based HTPC for a few weeks. It was only a few weeks because it could not play Netflix HD.

Everything else was fine. Netflix was too important.

Scratch that then. None of the listed CPU's are good enough for HTPC use as they are. However, if you install a cheap, dedicated card to either of the intel machines, they will be fine. Or sell all three and get a llano machine.

 

[alyarb]

the e5800 is fast enough to play 1080p with a software decoder. Not ideal, but the best of the 3.

 

[Magic Carpet]

E5800.

 

[slackerinabox]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the time spent answering this. Is the best final solution to up my budget? I tried using a llano netbook as a tivo server (transcoding mkv to mpeg 2) and it just was awful. My temporary solution is to use the llano as just a file server and do all the heavy lifting through my apple tv (via xbmc). My current system is a bit schizophrenic because my wife likes to use the tivo's media features because it's all (watching tv, mkvs, netflix, hulu) on one box. I prefer using an htpc for better quality and much better sound, plus minor web browsing. So, yeah, I can do work arounds but if being cheap just gets me another frustrating experience then should i just wait?
In other words, is the e5800 perfect for the job or just a compromise (I'll spring for a better gpu in time). FYI 720p seems fine to me as a nice compromise, if I need better I'll use the bluray player. As you can tell I recently got a job so I don't want to overspend

 

[Magic Carpet]

In other words, is the e5800 perfect for the job or just a compromise (I'll spring for a better gpu in time).

It's good enough. Buy some beer for the difference.

 

[gmaster456]

Thanks guys, really appreciate the time spent answering this. Is the best final solution to up my budget? I tried using a llano netbook as a tivo server (transcoding mkv to mpeg 2) and it just was awful. My temporary solution is to use the llano as just a file server and do all the heavy lifting through my apple tv (via xbmc). My current system is a bit schizophrenic because my wife likes to use the tivo's media features because it's all (watching tv, mkvs, netflix, hulu) on one box. I prefer using an htpc for better quality and much better sound, plus minor web browsing. So, yeah, I can do work arounds but if being cheap just gets me another frustrating experience then should i just wait?
In other words, is the e5800 perfect for the job or just a compromise (I'll spring for a better gpu in time). FYI 720p seems fine to me as a nice compromise, if I need better I'll use the bluray player. As you can tell I recently got a job so I don't want to overspend

Are you positive it was llano you were using and not Brazos?

 

[slackerinabox]

Are you positive it was llano you were using and not Brazos?

Yep, sorry - it was an e350, that's brazos right?

 

[fffblackmage]

I can't imagine either the E5800 and E8200 not being able to handle HD video. You don't even need a dedicated video card, since software can handle everything. The E-350 I can understand, as I have one. It's just too reliant on the IGP for hardware decoding, which doesn't work too well with things like Netflix.

 

[fuzzymath10]

Old GMA 3100 is actually OK for HD, provided you have an appropriate CPU. Either S775 CPU will do that fine.

At one point, Power DVD even supported blu-rays with it, and stuff played beautifully.

 

[gmaster456]

Yep, sorry - it was an e350, that's brazos right?

Yep. That's brazos.