Which AM2 proccy should I get for my HTPC?

Get the X2 5800+ Brisbane 3ghz stock

6000x2 , is a powerfual cpu , but you can take black adition , like 6400+ BE , it is better in overclock too and it is last amd x2

I would say get a 5000 X2 Black Edition. Bump the multi up and you basically have a 5800 X2. The only thing a 6000 X2 would have over these is more L2 Cache(2 x 1MB compared to the others 2 x 512kb) but more power hungery(125W, or 89W if you can find one!).

get a 45 watt proc

Pinchy said:

I got no idea what to get...whats powerful and whats not.

I probably WONT OC (well I will, but leave it stock 24/7).

The specs of the HTPC are:

GA-MA78GM-S2H
2GB PC6400 RAM
Onboard graphics for now (780G)...but might Hybrid CF later on with like a 3650 / 3850 or whatever
Hard drive / dvd drive / etc.


On the actual PC....I just want it to be nice and responsive for internet browsing / hd tv / hd movies and SOME games (but nothing intense like Crysis)...just random old N64 games / PS2 games / racing games (like NFS?). (Prolly get Vista for it)

I would just go all out and get something like a 6000+...but I dont know how power efficiency is with AMD. Like....it wont be gaming on it all that often, just every now and then (and thats where the proccy will play its main role)....so I dont want to get a power hungry 6000+ when I can get a 45W CPU that does the same job (unless the 6000+ wont use much power idling / general internet and tv usage?)

Help me out guys

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If I were u I would get the 45w X2 4850e. More than enough cpu. Its a work horse. You can leave the pc on for 24/7 and guarenteed it will consume less than 50w. (I have the kill-a-watt meter and I measure every damn pc that I build now.) I am running a BD/HDDVD HTPC with a 4800 + ECS mobo. Not a single frame missed. I can play HD, record HD and record digital program all at the same time and the cpu never goes more than 60%. Using a 8600GT HDCP.

Infact
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103232

Buy that and OC a little. It will be fine.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103221

This should also be fine.

my 2 cents.

ill cosign your first chioce

any x2 Energy efficient should do and they tend to clock well

they are the new ones with E on the end as you have found

i like the idea of being able to hybrid crossfire later on

seems like a sound plan to me!

try and get a BE version of a cpu aswell

Even a 5000+ Brisbane would fit your needs.

Pinchy said:

Thx for the replies

Im thinking of the 4850e, but hows a 2.5Ghz X2 compared to a 3Ghz? As you can probably tell...I have never used AMD before .

Initial price of the CPU doenst worry me *too* much. Its just I dont want to go spend $100 on a 4850e when I can get a 4800 for half the price (and I mean, 20W isnt THAT much).

Also, I have seen like 6000+'s and 5000 BE's go for $50-60 on the forums here...so spending $100 on a 4850e isn't very tempting .


But again...I am not sure with AMD. If a 4850e and 6000+ arent THAT far apart in performance, I wouldnt mind spending the $100 on it.

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There is a decent peformance difference, for a AMD you want at least 3ghz.

I wouldnt get a 4850e, just get a 4800+ and just undervolt it, my 4200+ can do 2.2ghz@1.05V

If your running it in a small case i would get a Brisbane 5000+ black due to less heat, but if your running in a big case get the 6000+.

Pinchy said:

Heat shouldnt be a problem...Im running in an Icute Ibox (not a slim PC...like a cube thing). Plus I have stacks of aftermarket coolers to put on it

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As long as you can cool it properly get the 6000+, Most will do 3.3-3.4ghz the best ones get 3.6-3.7.

the amd 5000x2 BE compared to a 3Ghz and more

[I.R.A]_FBi said:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255&Tpk=4850e

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My very first thought...great minds think alike

I believe the description you put up for the thread title and what you say you will use it for don't match up quite right. What is the MAIN purpose (what will be done say 80% of the time) should determine what you choose processor wise. If you are building a true HTPC then you should surely go with the lowest power hungry cpu that won't have you wishing for more performance. In that respect I'd say the 4850e is a hands down choice and the other processors shouldn't even be considered and option. If this machine is going to be used for occasional gaming (like you said) then there is no need to build it for running games on the highest spec or even worrying about that in anyway and the 4850e will give you more than enough power to run whatever you'd like near the Highest spec with the exception of a few games where you will have to tone the settings down a bit which isn't a big deal. For movies and such you can tone the 4850e down or leave it as is and use very little power while keeping heat to a bare minimum.

Assuming you can set multiple boot configurations in your bios then you can have two different setups for doing what you need. The first one can be uber low power consumption for doing everything from internet surfing to hd movies to light gaming. The second you can turn up the power on the system for gaming or extremely intensive applications. It's not hard to switch settings and all it takes is a quick restart and you get the best of both worlds. That is how I do my processors (including Phenoms) to ensure I'm not wasting power when I don't need it. I also use a Kill-A-Watt meter to monitor system output and it is to me an indespensible tool for properly tuning a system.

Changing between profiles allows me to have a setting that can do everything while using only a full system draw of approx 137W or less, or switch it up and use all the power in the neighborhood for whatever I may need.

Hope you enjoy whatever you choose to go with, but I stand by the 4850e being the best choice of all the processors out for your specified uses.

K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103255
this is my suggestion, instead of getting black edition, and the like, which are more expensive and he wont be using the unlocked multiplier feature, and since its an htpc, where he will most likely use low profile, and maybe even passive cooling, it is only fitting that he gets a powerful, yet energy efficent processor, such as the one that myself, kei, and fbi have mentioned.

Andy_007 said:

Get the X2 5800+ Brisbane 3ghz stock

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+1 great CPU and runs cool.

but i also agree with pancho. If you are going to be using low pro. cooling or passive cooling then the 4850e or the 4050e would be the way to go

The main problem with the 4850E is cost, it is ~$100 AUD which is alot compared to the 4800+ which is only ~$65. The 4800+ could be just unvolted to use less power.

Pinchy said:

Lol yeah thats the thing. 4850e is almost double a 4800....and 20W isnt that much of a power increase is it :\?

I dont have any problems with heat. I have a whole lot of coolers and the case is not going to be slimline, it is more of a "box" type case.

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No 20W isnt anything, if the 4800+ is undervolted you could make it use 45W since the 4850E is simply a undervolted 4800+, its only the fact that the 4850E is tested to run at a lower voltage compared to the standard CPU.

The only thing is which CPU to get, you could just get a 4600+ which is only ~$60 also they only made 4600+ as G2 stepping which overclocks much better than the G1. Personally thats the one i would buy since its cheap and you should be able to overclock to atleast 3ghz. My 4200+, also G2 overclocks to 3.25ghz at only +0.05V and does 3ghz at stock Vcore.

The 5800 brisbane looks like a bitchin CPU to me. They're $95 US on the egg right now, if I wasn't poor I would have one already.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103274

OzzmanFloyd120 said:

The 5800 brisbane looks like a bitchin CPU to me. They're $95 US on the egg right now, if I wasn't poor I would have one already.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103274

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I thought that too, 3ghz stock is very impressive, i wonder if it would overclock any higher than the other G2 brisbanes like the 4600+. I would buy one but i want to know how the new Kuma Athlon 6050 and 6250 peform, they where supposed to be out Q2/2008 but i think they were delayed.

Well the fact is that higher end AMD chips don't OC as well as low end chips, I'll say the best you could do on that chip is 3.1-3.3Ghz

OzzmanFloyd120 said:

Well the fact is that higher end AMD chips don't OC as well as low end chips, I'll say the best you could do on that chip is 3.1-3.3Ghz

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My G2 4200+ clocks to 3.25ghz at only 1.4V, im sure that it could overclock higher but my motherboard is holding me back, it will not overclock any CPU at any voltage any higher. The interesting thing with the new Kuma is that it isnt based on Phenom so hopefully they can make something that will clock well.