HP ProLiant MicroServer

[TJ99]

Yeah, Win7 media center runs like a dog on only 1GB, even on my AMD quad. Try 2Gb before you give up on it.

BTW, does anyone know if the microserver motherboard supports dual channel memory? i.e. is it worth putting two matching sticks of ram in it for a performance increase?

No, single channel only. Not that it would matter, dual channel only gives performance benefits in extremely highly demanding things like gaming or benchmarking. Even then it's not huge.

 

[Sentari]

Ordered myself the following this morning

Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/8G VALUERAM 2x4GB Kit DDR3-1333 1.5v CL9
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD5450 1GB DDR3 64-bit PCI-E x16
Sony AD-7260S DVD Writer 24X SATA Dual Layer

 

[stroebs]

No, single channel only. Not that it would matter, dual channel only gives performance benefits in extremely highly demanding things like gaming or benchmarking. Even then it's not huge.

Although, I noticed a MASSIVE performance drop when my board would no longer startup in dual channel. Also my WEI dropped by almost 3 points for RAM.

 

[thedon124]

What did you pay for the graphics card?

Guys,
What card do you suggest? I know it's been asked plenty before, but can't come to a conclusion.
How is the MSI GT210 card?
Or should I go for the 5450 card?

Just picked up my Microserver last nite, and now need to start building it up.

Ordered myself the following this morning

Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/8G VALUERAM 2x4GB Kit DDR3-1333 1.5v CL9
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD5450 1GB DDR3 64-bit PCI-E x16
Sony AD-7260S DVD Writer 24X SATA Dual Layer

 

[greg_SA]

What did you pay for the graphics card?

Guys,
What card do you suggest? I know it's been asked plenty before, but can't come to a conclusion.
How is the MSI GT210 card?
Or should I go for the 5450 card?

Just picked up my Microserver last nite, and now need to start building it up.

I think the general consensus is ATI for Windows, Nvidia for Linux.

 

[SomeoneEls]

How is the MSI GT210 card?
Or should I go for the 5450 card?

Just picked up my Microserver last nite, and now need to start building it up.

What OS are you planning to use, XBMC live doesn't play nicely with 5450.



If ($OS == "windows") {
$graphics_card_options = "5450 or 6450 or GT210 or GT520 ";
}elseif($OS == "Linux"){
if ($distro == "XBMC live"){
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active";
}elseif($distro == "Openelec"){
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active or GT520 active";
}elseif($distro == "Ubuntu 10.04" && $drivers == "ATI/AMD site" && $opensourcedrivers== "uninstalled"){ //According to cbrunsdonza
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active or GT520 active or 5450 or 6450";
}else{
$graphics_card_options = "Huh?!? ";
}
}
echo $graphics_card_options;


</lame attempt at some php>

 

[SomeoneEls]

I think the general consensus is ATI for Windows, Nvidia for Linux.

Doh that seems a lot simpler than my response!

 

[PostmanPot]

What OS are you planning to use, XBMC live doesn't play nicely with 5450.



If ($OS == "windows") {
$graphics_card_options = "5450 or 6450 or GT210 or GT520 ";
}elseif($OS == "Linux"){
if ($distro == "XBMC live"){
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active";
}elseif($distro == "Openelec"){
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active or GT520 active";
}elseif($distro == "Ubuntu 10.04" && $drivers == "ATI/AMD site" && $opensourcedrivers== "uninstalled"){ //According to cbrunsdonza
$graphics_card_options = "GT210 active or GT520 active or 5450 or 6450";
}else{
$graphics_card_options = "Huh?!? ";
}
}
echo $graphics_card_options;


</lame attempt at some php>

cbrunsdonza should do a guide on how he got his HD5450 working with Linux/XBMC.

 

[xrapidx]

What do the 6450 cards go for?

 

[thedon124]

I think the general consensus is ATI for Windows, Nvidia for Linux.

Apologies for sounding duh....but, which is the ATI and which is the NVidia.
Looking to load Windows on the system, with probably XBMC....would that work>?

EDIT: Ok, the 5450 is the ATI and the GT210 is Nvidia...
Hmmm....Now which to choose

 

[PostmanPot]

Apologies for sounding duh....but, which is the ATI and which is the NVidia.
Looking to load Windows on the system, with probably XBMC....would that work>?

EDIT: Ok, the 5450 is the ATI and the GT210 is Nvidia...
Hmmm....Now which to choose

HD5450 is the best suited card for the system, especially since you're loading Windows.

 

[PostmanPot]

What do the 6450 cards go for?

Both of these go for about the same price:

Sapphire HD5450 chipset , HDMi ready , support Hyper Memory upto 2.8Gb , Silent heatsink only + extra Low-profile pci bracket , DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 upto 2.8Gb hyper memory , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 80 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 650/1333mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=917&pid=316&psn=&lid=1&leg=0


Sapphire HD6450 chipset , Silent heatsink only , HDMi ready , DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 160 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 625/1333mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=1166

 

[thedon124]

HD5450 is the best suited card for the system, especially since you're loading Windows.

Ok. Thanks. Now to source one at a good price.

 

[xrapidx]

Both of these go for about the same price:

Sapphire HD5450 chipset , HDMi ready , support Hyper Memory upto 2.8Gb , Silent heatsink only + extra Low-profile pci bracket , DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 upto 2.8Gb hyper memory , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 80 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 650/1333mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=917&pid=316&psn=&lid=1&leg=0


Sapphire HD6450 chipset , Silent heatsink only , HDMi ready , DirectX 11 , built-in HDMi codec+7.1 audio , pci-e 2.0 x16 , 1Gb 64bit DDR3 , RoPs : 4 , 12.8Gb/sec memory transfer , 160 stream processors ( pixel shader engine + vertex pipelines ) , core/memory : 625/1333mhz , dvi+d-sub+hdmi , HDMi+HDTV-out - retail pack http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=1166

Thanks - apparently the 6450 has more shaders 160 vs 80.

Do you know of anyone using this card in the microserver?

Wondering which would be better to get - apparently the 6450 doesn't come with a lp bracket - but I suppose I can make one.

 

[jannievanzyl]

What did you pay for the graphics card?

Guys,
What card do you suggest? I know it's been asked plenty before, but can't come to a conclusion.
How is the MSI GT210 card?
Or should I go for the 5450 card?

Just picked up my Microserver last nite, and now need to start building it up.

Nvidia: GT520 - best performing NVidia card that fits within the HP MS power limitations.
Radeon: 6450 - ditto but only if you feel like playing with drivers or will be running Windows.

Any other dedicated HTPC using XBMC (i.e. not on the HP MS): Nvidia GT430. It's tweaked for video playback but requires more power the HP MS can supply.

 

[PostmanPot]

Thanks - apparently the 6450 has more shaders 160 vs 80.

Do you know of anyone using this card in the microserver?

Wondering which would be better to get - apparently the 6450 doesn't come with a lp bracket - but I suppose I can make one.

I think stroebs has one, also think Jannie tried one but opted for Nvidia for easier use with XBMC Live. Heatsink is different to the HD5450 it seems, but still fits.

 

[jannievanzyl]

Thanks - apparently the 6450 has more shaders 160 vs 80.

Do you know of anyone using this card in the microserver?

Wondering which would be better to get - apparently the 6450 doesn't come with a lp bracket - but I suppose I can make one.

I've got one if you want to test.

No bracket but you can secure it in the MS no problem, using one of the DVI connector screws.

 

[thedon124]

Would it be a major problem if I were to put the GT210 and use Windows????

 

[stroebs]

I think stroebs has one, also think Jannie tried one but opted for Nvidia for easier use with XBMC Live. Heatsink is different to the HD5450 it seems, but still fits.

Yebo yes, i do have one. I am currently not using a bracket at all (Card didn't come with one) but seeing as I am not moving the box around at all it's ok for now until I cut holes in the existing bracket.

HD6450 gives me great performance (Although I did have to tweak XBMCs settings slightly to make sure it was using the GPU to render and not software.

 

[steve-rsa]

Club 3D HD6450 noiseless edition 1Gb DDR3 fits fine and has the LP bracket. ~R500 ish

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6450-caicos-blu-ray-3d,2920-11.html

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6450-review/4