AMD CPUs

[milomak]

So I may be getting myself an AMD for my HTPC. I see they have quite a wide range of CPUs to choose from. Are these order from worst to best so to say:

Athlon 64 939
Athlon 64 AM2
Athlon 64 FX 939
Athlon 64 FX L1
Athlon 64 X2 AM2
Athlon 64 X2 AM2+

 

[scotty777]

um, maybe aim for a Phenom 2 (the regular phenoms are k@k), maybe a AMD phenom 2 x3 710 is up your street

 

[Juggy]

The FX 939 is a decent CPU.

 

[Chevron]

So I may be getting myself an AMD for my HTPC. I see they have quite a wide range of CPUs to choose from. Are these order from worst to best so to say:

Athlon 64 939
Athlon 64 AM2
Athlon 64 FX 939
Athlon 64 FX L1
Athlon 64 X2 AM2
Athlon 64 X2 AM2+

For an HTPC as long as it's dual core you're fine no matter what. Really doesn't matter.

A cheap Athlon64x2 would probably be best.

um, maybe aim for a Phenom 2 (the regular phenoms are k@k), maybe a AMD phenom 2 x3 710 is up your street

The phenoms weren't ***. Just not great. They performed better than the Athlon64s which weren't slouches.

 

[scotty777]

but surely you want a cpu with low power requirements and decent speed? if so then a phenom 2 is your best shot

 

[Chevron]

but surely you want a cpu with low power requirements and decent speed? if so then a phenom 2 is your best shot

Yes, of course.

If he is buying new, it'd be best just to get a cheap cpu like the 5600+ or 7750.

Both can still be used for gaming and have no problem running HD content.

A phenom II, while awesome, would be overkill for an HTPC.

 

[chickenbeef]

I would also suggest the 7750 dual core black edition, maybe use it with a xfx 8300 motherboard so that you wont really have to go out and spend extra on a separate gpu.

 

[milomak]

i was thinking of the xfx 8209 motherboard with a 64 X2 5400+ CPU

 

[Chevron]

i was thinking of the xfx 8209 motherboard with a 64 X2 5400+ CPU

The cpu is fine. Do you by any chance have a link to the mobo?

 

[milomak]

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=16117

 

[Thestealth]

Decent board. I built one for a customer for an htpc type app (htpc and surfing) and he is as happy as a pig in sh*t. The HDMI out is a real winner, wena!

 

[milomak]

The 1080p spec is what wins me over?

 

[Chevron]

That's an awesome board.

 

[milomak]

my main concern is about whether the CPU can handle x264 1080p mkv files.

Hence why I went with the board and hoped the X2 would cope

 

[Thestealth]

The X2 can cope. I have friends running the 5200+, 5600+ and 6400+BE and they have no hassles with that content.

 

[stroebs]

I am running a 5400+ Bblack Edition with a board very similar to the XFX one (Asus M3A-H/HDMI). I just couldn't get my hands on a XFX one as there was no stock at all when I was lloking to buy my PC. It can handle x264 1080p mkv files perfectly, so no worries there.

Would you be buying the board from Sybaritic?

 

[Pe-Killer]

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?products_id=16117

Just remember this board can only take up to 95watt cpu.Where most of the new amd cpu are 125/140watts.

 

[stroebs]

Just remember this board can only take up to 95watt cpu.Where most of the new amd cpu are 125/140watts.

This is also true. The Asus boards support the 125/140 Watt CPUs

 

[milomak]

Would you be buying the board from Sybaritic?

Not necessarily

Just remember this board can only take up to 95watt cpu.Where most of the new amd cpu are 125/140watts.

I could always go with this bad boy - Asus M2N68-VM GeForce 7050PV Motherboard or this one - Asus M3N78 GeForce 8200 Motherboard

 

[sleeper]

Hi,
Maybe have a read here :

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001107.html

The 4850e is VERY efficient - thus cool & quiet! and that is what you want in an HTPC. Please dont go buy the biggest CPU you can afford - it will spoil the experience because it will be noisy keeping it quiet - but that is just my opinion. I followed that article's instructions to the tee and I am 110% happy - 6 months down the line now.