[tamarind]

Hi all


Thinking of going in one of two directions for my HTPC:

1. Give the credit card a work out and do similar to bossanova808s awesome set up but with fc8/A8-3820/ASRock A75M-ITX
-Silent. Power enough for all streaming, a box to get all my music to a decent hifi through optical, and emulation.

OR

2. See reason and just get a Zotac Zbox for movies/music.


So for 1, would it be impossible to be able to run a dedicated gfx card like an HD 6670 in Dual Graphics with even the most powerful picoPSU?

for 2. One of the reasons for getting the HTPC is to be able to play streaming videos from www.digitalconcerthall.com. These videos are 1280p using Adobe Dynamic Streaming. Would this put me into group #4 or group #5 set?


Cheers!

[assassin]

I don't see the point of the A8 or A4 anymore. There are better options with an Intel CPU (and ATI discrete card if you need/want ATI) for less money, less heat, less power consumption, and easier/flexible upgrade path in the future.

[bluray]

Hi all


Thinking of going in one of two directions for my HTPC:

1. Give the credit card a work out and do similar to bossanova808s awesome set up but with fc8/A8-3820/ASRock A75M-ITX
-Silent. Power enough for all streaming, a box to get all my music to a decent hifi through optical, and emulation.

So for 1, would it be impossible to be able to run a dedicated gfx card like an HD 6670 in Dual Graphics with even the most powerful picoPSU?

Out of your two choices, #1 is the best choice......this "PowerColor AX6670" low profile card should fit in that case......after crossfire, you'll get a powerful HD6690D......

[Dougie Fresh]

Do you plan to run games too? If not, then the integrated GPU is enough and you can also drop down to the A6-3500 (same GPU faster enough GPU) or G620 and save considerable money and heat. You can always add the discrete GPU later should your needs change but it's not necessary for streaming or 1080p.

[tamarind]

Thanks everyone.

It would be great to have the option there for adding the discrete GPU there for later. The missus will sometimes play some games and having something better than the macbook would be good.

If I have filled out the thermaltake wattage calculator correctly this setup seems to require 173 W?

http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/Power

which means that this picoPSU that is suggested with the case isnt going to be enough I assume?

http://www.rylun.com.au/components/power...o-psu.html

Is there a maximum that the picoPSUs go up to? I assume they are designed more for low power environments?

[Dougie Fresh]

What configuration did you put into the calculator? Without the discrete GPU, A6-3500 systems with a picoPSU top out around 80W as tested with a Kill-a-Watt meter. I have a HD5670 I can drop into an A6-3500 system and test with a 120W picoPSU to see what I get for readings. I'll add it to the list of things to test .

[assassin]

Why on earth would you get an a6 for a gaming machine if you are adding a video card?

[Dougie Fresh]

Why on earth would you get an a6 for a gaming machine if you are adding a video card?

I am not suggesting such a setup. I am just trying to get to the bottom of what he wants to do with the PC. If it's not gaming then the HD6670 doesn't make sense. If it is gaming, then the next step is to figure out what kind of gaming and size the system according to that.

[bluray]

I have a HD5670 I can drop into an A6-3500 system and test with a 120W picoPSU to see what I get for readings. I'll add it to the list of things to test .

A6-3500+HD5670 is not going to have the same power consumption as A8-3820+HD6670 in OP........

---

Why on earth would you get an a6 for a gaming machine if you are adding a video card?

I think he is getting an A8-3820, and he is planning to crossfire with HD6670.......if that is what he want, it should be fine with less entensive games......

[Dougie Fresh]

I have a HD5670 I can drop into an A6-3500 system and test with a 120W picoPSU to see what I get for readings. I'll add it to the list of things to test .

A6-3500+HD5670 is not going to have the same power consumption as A8-3820+HD6670 in OP........

---

Why on earth would you get an a6 for a gaming machine if you are adding a video card?

I think he is getting an A8-3820, and he is planning to crossfire with HD6670.......if that is what he want, it should be fine with less entensive games......

Yes, it won't be exactly the same but at least it's a real world test. The HD5670 will consume a bit more than the HD6670 and the A6-3500 will consume less than the A8-3820 (perhaps) so it should be comparable. Anyway, I am looking at it as more of a black & white test -- can a 120W picoPSU even run that. I've run a i3-2100 and HD5450 with a 120W DC and 84W AC adapter without issue but I have serious doubts about 120DC/120AC and a HD5670.

Unless someone has a A8-3820, HD6670 and picoPSU 120-WI-25/19V 120W AC adapter they want to test and is willing to take the time and make the effort to do so?

[bluray]

The HD5670 will consume a bit more than the HD6670

This is not right either.....HD6670 should consume a little more than HD5670.......here is a comparison- HD5670 vs HD6670.....

[Dougie Fresh]

The HD5670 will consume a bit more than the HD6670

This is not right either.....HD6670 should consume a little more than HD5670.......here is a comparison- HD5670 vs HD6670.....

Really? I think 2W is the same ballpark, especially since the tested HD6670 was an OEM sample. C'mon. It's funny. I didn't expect to offer to do this simple test with the caveat with it's a "ballpark" test and expect to get so much flak about it.

[bluray]

The HD5670 will consume a bit more than the HD6670

This is not right either.....HD6670 should consume a little more than HD5670.......here is a comparison- HD5670 vs HD6670.....

Really? I think 2W is the same ballpark, especially since the tested HD6670 was an OEM sample. C'mon. It's funny. I didn't expect to offer to do this simple test with the caveat with it's a "ballpark" test and expect to get so much flak about it.

I work with data/numbers all day in the office......the wording have to match the number to prevent confusion......I know that you are trying to help, but I'm trying to save you time.....the number might not be valid to test a different set of GPU/APU, and the other guy is interesting in another set of GPU/APU.....

If he want the ballpark number, it is in the spec sheet: A8-3820+HD6670=128W. If he is transcoding blu-ray in the background while playing game, it might reach the magic number (128W or higher).......

[Dougie Fresh]

I work with numbers too. They usually require a source. What's your source? What spec sheets are you referring to? TDP?

There's also this thing in data/numbers called extrapolation. If the only satisfactory answer is testing the exact system then we are all wasting our time here saying anything.

I find it interesting in the last thread you say TDP is a good enough measure yet when I offer to test an A6-3500 APU in the same family with the same TDP as the A8-3820 then it's not good enough -- they'll be too different.

[assassin]

This is a pretty good list and reference...

http://mark.zoomcities.com/images/gfx/GF...andgen.png