2015-08-25, 22:00
Hi Guys
I'll start by prefacing this with the following; I intend to use this build purely as an OpenELEC HTPC essentially running as a appliance for wife-friendliness. I want it to run 1080p Hi10p fluidly, which I am fully aware is CPU orientated, but I've never seen a good benchmark or results chart so I've got precious little to refer to; and my budget is VERY tight, which is why it is important to get this right the first time round, but also not to just go for the most expensive option.
I will be putting this into a ITX build.
I already 2GB of RAM, and will be running OPENELEC off a USB stick, so that's covered, I will also be running off the IGP, for both cost, heat and power reasons
I will have to buy the PSU/ITX case but that's going to be a relevant cost for all these builds, but it's something else to add pressure to the budget.
I have 3 build options
1)
I3-2100 - FREE
Skt 1155 ITX mobo - £40
Cooler - £20?
I already have this I3 sitting in my cupboard which is why it's got a good place in my list because using it will keep the cost down. BUT Ivy and Sandy especially had a few issues with the IGP, such as imperfect 23.97Hz support.
I've found ITX mobos for £40 so this is quite a cost effective option, IF the issues won't frustrate me. I'm also slightly put off knowing that Skt 1155 is now completely dead and not even that recent, so I'd be throwing money after an several-generations 'extinct' ecosystem
I COULD get around the IGP issues by buying a low profile card, but that mitigates a lot of the cost saving of using the chip I already have, and could get tight in an ITX case. It would also use more power than the other options so I'd potentially have to push for a slightly better PSU if I went this route. By the time you factor in the requirement for a cooler, it may end up costing as much as the other builds!
2)
Haswell G3250 Pentium and use stock cooler - £40
Skt 1150 ITX Mobo - £45
Found the mobo for about £45, so not a huge difference here, the chip is slightly weaker than either of the other options, but it might be enough? Haswell has working 23.97 so that's not a worry.
I've heard mixed reports on whether this CPU will be enough to handle anything I throw at it 1080p/Hi10p however. Costs more than option 1.
3)
Haswell I3-4130 - these seem to go around £50-60 on Ebay, but may again require me to obtain a cooler.
Skt 1150 ITX Mobo - £45
OK this build should definitely have the power, BUT, at the highest outlay, and I can't really empathise enough that even the extra £10-20 over option 2 may make this harder to achieve in a reasonable time frame.
This would be the 'safe' option.
Thoughts everyone? Am I worrying too much that the cheapest option (1) wouldn't have enough power/just do that and add a GPU, or realistically would I be better off with option 2/3.
If I have to spend the extra to be happy, so be it, I just want to make the best advised option, as I'm going to be faced with an outlay any way I go here. I will also be trying to run this semi-passively/as quiet as I can, which is another area where the lower TDP/power-usage of Haswell may come in handy.
As a vaguely relevant aside originally I was going to go NUC when I got rid of my old HTPC, but alas other costs have become involved, and I cannot justify spending £300 on a media machine right now as originally planned.
I'll start by prefacing this with the following; I intend to use this build purely as an OpenELEC HTPC essentially running as a appliance for wife-friendliness. I want it to run 1080p Hi10p fluidly, which I am fully aware is CPU orientated, but I've never seen a good benchmark or results chart so I've got precious little to refer to; and my budget is VERY tight, which is why it is important to get this right the first time round, but also not to just go for the most expensive option.
I will be putting this into a ITX build.
I already 2GB of RAM, and will be running OPENELEC off a USB stick, so that's covered, I will also be running off the IGP, for both cost, heat and power reasons
I will have to buy the PSU/ITX case but that's going to be a relevant cost for all these builds, but it's something else to add pressure to the budget.
I have 3 build options
1)
I3-2100 - FREE
Skt 1155 ITX mobo - £40
Cooler - £20?
I already have this I3 sitting in my cupboard which is why it's got a good place in my list because using it will keep the cost down. BUT Ivy and Sandy especially had a few issues with the IGP, such as imperfect 23.97Hz support.
I've found ITX mobos for £40 so this is quite a cost effective option, IF the issues won't frustrate me. I'm also slightly put off knowing that Skt 1155 is now completely dead and not even that recent, so I'd be throwing money after an several-generations 'extinct' ecosystem
I COULD get around the IGP issues by buying a low profile card, but that mitigates a lot of the cost saving of using the chip I already have, and could get tight in an ITX case. It would also use more power than the other options so I'd potentially have to push for a slightly better PSU if I went this route. By the time you factor in the requirement for a cooler, it may end up costing as much as the other builds!
2)
Haswell G3250 Pentium and use stock cooler - £40
Skt 1150 ITX Mobo - £45
Found the mobo for about £45, so not a huge difference here, the chip is slightly weaker than either of the other options, but it might be enough? Haswell has working 23.97 so that's not a worry.
I've heard mixed reports on whether this CPU will be enough to handle anything I throw at it 1080p/Hi10p however. Costs more than option 1.
3)
Haswell I3-4130 - these seem to go around £50-60 on Ebay, but may again require me to obtain a cooler.
Skt 1150 ITX Mobo - £45
OK this build should definitely have the power, BUT, at the highest outlay, and I can't really empathise enough that even the extra £10-20 over option 2 may make this harder to achieve in a reasonable time frame.
This would be the 'safe' option.
Thoughts everyone? Am I worrying too much that the cheapest option (1) wouldn't have enough power/just do that and add a GPU, or realistically would I be better off with option 2/3.
If I have to spend the extra to be happy, so be it, I just want to make the best advised option, as I'm going to be faced with an outlay any way I go here. I will also be trying to run this semi-passively/as quiet as I can, which is another area where the lower TDP/power-usage of Haswell may come in handy.
As a vaguely relevant aside originally I was going to go NUC when I got rid of my old HTPC, but alas other costs have become involved, and I cannot justify spending £300 on a media machine right now as originally planned.
