Cuppa-Chino
11-17-2008, 05:13 PM
I know there are a bunch of threads on system building here (it is after all the system building area...) but please bear with me.
Intro
Also note I will post this request at SPCR, Phoronix and MythTVTalk, all to get input on the various aspects of the build. Some of these questions will have been asked before but in order to get clearest set of repsonses from the 3 sources I will post the same post in each forum. I will use Euro as price meter with prices from http://geizhals.at/eu/.
Intent:
to build a cheap and low energy and thereby low noise HTPC running Linux in an Antec Micro Fusion case (micro-atx) using onboard graphics. HD content will be (if any mostly downloaded or from Freesat (which I believe is 720p)
Base question: AMD v Intel and ATI v NVIDIA v Intel
The base question is of course a mixed one, if I go for ATI graphics I will have to use an AMD processor, Intel graphics will need an Intel CPU - nVIDIA will the choice of either
CPU:
Intel A) Pentium Dual Core 5200, 45nm, (72Euro, boxed) - plenty of power for what I intend to do
Intel B) Pentium Dual Core 2180, 65nm M0 stepping (55Euro, boxed), should still be enough power
Tom's E2220 M0 Stepping (http://www.tomshardware.com/de/Pentium-Dual-Core-E2140-E2220-E2180,testberichte-240062-6.html)
both offer great wattage and power (despite intel calling them 65w tdp), 2180 is about
AMD A) Athlon 64 x2 4850e (55 Euro, boxed)
processing power similar to above, thermally not so good (just cpu)
Motherboard -- rather chipset:
this is more about a chipset in the first instance than about a specific board
Nvidia for Intel: Nvidia does decode on mGPU and have just published VDPAU for Linux (http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=nvidia_vdpau&num=1), Thermals have been tested as good and so is video (on Windows tests) (100 Euro, for Asus board)
Nvidia for AMD: geforce mGPU 8200 (official TDP14.3W) as above for video capabilities, but much more availability (50-55 Euro plus)
ATI for AMD: 780g chipset (or 780m if avail) supposedly uses less than 1W, but I doubt that is same basis as TDP for nvidia or intel -- happy to hear it is -- works fine, I believe there is an hdmi sound restriction which is irrelevant for me as my amp will need a co-axial/optical lead, AMD has announced UVD for Linux but its not out yet UVD for AMD (http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Njc4Ng), (50-55 Euro plus, an 790gx board for 125Euro appears overkill)
Intel for Intel: G45 chipset can do full hd, tdp 23w, will have open source drivers at some point, Intel though not the best at even getting windows drivers to work (100 Euro)
G43 instead of G45, same tdp, cuts out a bit video processing might strain cpu more ie higher heat rate (80 Euro, not a big saving v G45)
Hard disk
Is it worthwhile to go 2.5" for sound and heat?
DVD:
Will follow recommendation from spcr
The chipset might be the clincher so I am more than happy to hear opions and so, also if people have specific recommendations please fire away.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME and HELP!
Intro
Also note I will post this request at SPCR, Phoronix and MythTVTalk, all to get input on the various aspects of the build. Some of these questions will have been asked before but in order to get clearest set of repsonses from the 3 sources I will post the same post in each forum. I will use Euro as price meter with prices from http://geizhals.at/eu/.
Intent:
to build a cheap and low energy and thereby low noise HTPC running Linux in an Antec Micro Fusion case (micro-atx) using onboard graphics. HD content will be (if any mostly downloaded or from Freesat (which I believe is 720p)
Base question: AMD v Intel and ATI v NVIDIA v Intel
The base question is of course a mixed one, if I go for ATI graphics I will have to use an AMD processor, Intel graphics will need an Intel CPU - nVIDIA will the choice of either
CPU:
Intel A) Pentium Dual Core 5200, 45nm, (72Euro, boxed) - plenty of power for what I intend to do
Intel B) Pentium Dual Core 2180, 65nm M0 stepping (55Euro, boxed), should still be enough power
Tom's E2220 M0 Stepping (http://www.tomshardware.com/de/Pentium-Dual-Core-E2140-E2220-E2180,testberichte-240062-6.html)
both offer great wattage and power (despite intel calling them 65w tdp), 2180 is about
AMD A) Athlon 64 x2 4850e (55 Euro, boxed)
processing power similar to above, thermally not so good (just cpu)
Motherboard -- rather chipset:
this is more about a chipset in the first instance than about a specific board
Nvidia for Intel: Nvidia does decode on mGPU and have just published VDPAU for Linux (http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=nvidia_vdpau&num=1), Thermals have been tested as good and so is video (on Windows tests) (100 Euro, for Asus board)
Nvidia for AMD: geforce mGPU 8200 (official TDP14.3W) as above for video capabilities, but much more availability (50-55 Euro plus)
ATI for AMD: 780g chipset (or 780m if avail) supposedly uses less than 1W, but I doubt that is same basis as TDP for nvidia or intel -- happy to hear it is -- works fine, I believe there is an hdmi sound restriction which is irrelevant for me as my amp will need a co-axial/optical lead, AMD has announced UVD for Linux but its not out yet UVD for AMD (http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Njc4Ng), (50-55 Euro plus, an 790gx board for 125Euro appears overkill)
Intel for Intel: G45 chipset can do full hd, tdp 23w, will have open source drivers at some point, Intel though not the best at even getting windows drivers to work (100 Euro)
G43 instead of G45, same tdp, cuts out a bit video processing might strain cpu more ie higher heat rate (80 Euro, not a big saving v G45)
Hard disk
Is it worthwhile to go 2.5" for sound and heat?
DVD:
Will follow recommendation from spcr
The chipset might be the clincher so I am more than happy to hear opions and so, also if people have specific recommendations please fire away.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME and HELP!