HTPC 4 vs 6 core CPU? (1 Viewer)

[nzdreamer55]

So as I delve deeper and deeper into Media portal I am realizing that my need for a new computer for my HTPC is very great. I am trying to go budget, but will put more into it where it counts. I want it to do the standard stuff (play blue ray movies on a big screen, record TV from cable (analogue and digital), but I also want to do a lot of DVD ripping. Right now it take a lot of energy away from my computers and it takes for ever.

Right now the sweet spot for $/CPU power seems to be at the AMD 4 core processor level. I wanted to know if going with a 6 core processor is going to give me a lot more in terms of ripping DVD's (meaning encoding them to .m4v files). Not only will I need to pay premium, but there is going to be more of a noise and cooling problem.

I was thinking about this
AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX635WFGMBOX

Compared to this
AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT90ZFBGRBOX

Right now the price difference is $160, not to mention that there will be additional cooling issues so say $200 if I put in a different cooler.

Anyone else pondered this or have an opinion?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Spooky]

Depends on the software/encoder you use i.e. whether or not it's capable of fine grained multi-threading.

 

[pilehave]

I would never use a CPU in a HTPC with a TDP that high. Are you sure you need 4 cores? Why not opt for a much cheaper Athlon II X2 240e with a TDP as low as 45W. How many DVDs do you need to rip? Could you keep them as ISO's instead?

 

[mironicus]

AW: HTPC 4 vs 6 core CPU?

Look here for a speed comparison: Athlon X4-635 against a Phenom X2-1090T
Bench - CPU - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

The most important value: X264 2nd bench
Athlon: 18,8 fps.
Phenom: 30.3 fps.

If you look at the power consumption you'll see that the Phenom only draws 10 Watt more, but is much faster. You can also try to undervolt the CPU so you don't need much better cooling. If you have the money and want the best speed for encoding, just go for the 1090T. If you want to have a great value for the money, just get the Athlon X4.

 

[SiLenTYL]

stressing a htpc is not a great idea

htpcs are meant to be quiet, cool and smooth pcs with the bare minimum of whats required to do the job

i have a 2nd pc for internet/downloading/streaming/storage/transcoding/ripping...that does the hard grind

the htpc does the simple playback part

 

[drealit]

Exactly, in my mind an HTPC is just supposed to serve as a front end for your media playback... encoding and storing of media should take place elsewhere. Heck, I have a separate storage PC (unRaid based) for storing and serving my media and then have a 1050 6 core based desktop for encoding when the need arises along with all other production based uses (along with gaming).

My file server is low power and my htpc is low power... in my mind that's how it should be.

 

[Eeyore]

yep agree with all the comments, use the right tool for the job.

my system is as follows
MP Server : Core i7-860 8GB RAM 500GB HDD, 3x TV tuners. Used for ripping DVDs and CDs and converting my HD Video camera to AVI.
MP Client : Asus EB1501. Small quiet Atom PC in the Living room.
Storage : Drobo FS. 5x 1TB HDD for storage.

 

[nzdreamer55]

Thanks for all your feed back. I hear you when it comes to low power for an HTPC. I would love to have the money for a machine that could be the hard crunching data muching encoding machine with a low power client, however I only have the money to build one machine. I think that I will try to find a balance between cool and quiet and preformance rather than going with the 6 core processor and stick with the 4 core. If I happen to come across a 2 core then I would be able to upgrade my client machine which is a 1 core celeron processor running at 1.6GHz I think. It is barely able to act as a client and will only work with the blue skin. Other skins push it over the edge and then it freezes. I know that it isn't up to the minimum specs, but that is all I have to work with. I think that I want to create a new server/client machine that will act as my data chruncher during the down times (when I am at work or asleep and it isn't taping TV shows) and also play my videos. I'll have to deal with the noise and the heat.

Any suggestions for the heat from AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX635WFGMBOX? 250mm fan? 2x120mm fans? Just a good CPU cooler? I'm not sure how cool I need to keep this thing for data chrunching. I won't be doing any game playing.

Thanks
Steve

 

[nzdreamer55]

One more thing. Anyone using an intel atom processor for a client? Maybe I could afford this.

Steve

 

[funkstar]

As long as it has a decent GPU (i.e. not the ancient GMA450) an Atom makes a pretty good front end.

I've been after a Nettop, like the MSI Wind for a while. Never got round to buying one and playing about, but others have and they seem to work well.