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Message: <blockquote data-quote="joz" data-source="post: 409284" data-attributes="member: 70244">wow, you are talking about this from a completely different viewpoint then normal. Most people want their HTPC to run as low cost as possible. What you're talking about is putting a high end system to the works.I ask myself, why? Do you encode videos a lot on your HTPC and you really mind waiting another x minutes for it to complete? Whenever I do that an I use mediaslayer plugin for that I tend to keep MP just doing it's thing. I tend to do that when leaving the HTPC alone for a while too since doing anything else while mediaslayer's running results in bad rips for me most of the time.If I were to built a new HTPC it would be either AMD X-2 5050e or X-3 8xxx series based. I believe I've read somewhere the X-3 phenom 2 AMDs are really more power efficient then the one that had the crown before when looking @ performance per watt (5050e). Phenom 2 also has a 45nm architecture like your intel 8xxx and 9xxx series.AMD solutions will always be less power hungry, at least currently speaking. Why's that? Because of the integrated memory controller. The Core I-7 intel series have the same thing going but these are, really, really high end machines and definitely not worth the money for HTPC usage.p.s.I run a E6750 as my HTPC CPU but that's because of 2 reasons:- I had the CPU lying around eating dust, so I'd better put it to some use- I rent a room which has electric bill included with the rent. I pay too much rent anyways so I leave the HTPC running 24/7 just too annoy my landlord (and also because my HTPC is a server too).My system eats ~100 watt full load (I think it was 105 with orthos running and hdtune so both CPU and HD were stressed) and about 55 to 60 watt @ idle-----EDIT-----Just so you know;Overclocking tends to increase the powerusage quadratically. In my opinion just a no-go with HTPC usage, just pick the right CPU in the first place <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />Of course undervolting is a different deal and maybe worth it depending on your system and usage. From personal experience I know Core2Duo and Core2Quads do not really cope that well with undervolting. At least they can be undervolted but you always lose the SpeedStepping functionality.There's a tool for AMD CPUs, I think made by RightMark (some corp.), which is able to also provide AMDs Cool & Quiet (the AMD varient of SpeedStep) when undervolting. It is an awesome tool, really powerful. It's possible because of the extra driver that's required by AMD CPUs (integrated within vista not xp I think)So all in all I guess you should be looking at a AMD based system, because of the following reason; Low cost, both in purchase and in maintenance.Try looking for a board with a GeForce 8200 or higher onboard. It will support DXVA and stuff = graphic accelerated video decoding</blockquote>

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