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[WINDOWS] New HTPC Build only for XBMC - Printable Version

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[WINDOWS] New HTPC Build only for XBMC - Bendo - 2011-05-31

Do i need an upgrade ?

Currently i have a build with the following components:

AMD Phenom 9500, some Gigabyte Motherboard with ATI IGP HD3000 i guess. + Intel SSD, Corsair vx550 PSU

If i enable the Aeon nox skin, there is a lot of stutter and wait time, when switching in the menu's.
Standard Confluence skin is fine.

i am thinking about upgrading med HTPC with an Intel i3.. mostly because i want a more power efficient system.

Besides that, my Currently system is very noisy.

Would i feel a big difference if i upgrade? or should i also buy some sort of GFX Card to put in the system or would the Intel HD 2000 do ?

If so, could you advise me to what GFX Card i should buy?

Anyways, this is what i intend to buy so far:

CPU: Core i3 I3-2100T
RAM: 2X 2GB Kingston KVR1066D3N7/2G
Motherboard: ASUS P8H67-M EVO B3
GFX: ??

Thanks in advance Smile


- jbo87 - 2011-05-31

Looks good. The HD 2000 supports DXVA. It even may be used with VAAPI in Linux.
If it does not fit your needs though you could add a passively cooled GT210 later on.


- alexb38 - 2011-05-31

No need for a GFX card with the setup you want to buy.

The Core i3 you mention is a SandyBridge one, so you will be able to play 1080p videos flawlessly and I think XBMC's interface will be as fast as with my i3 540 Wink


- Bendo - 2011-05-31

Should i go for the regular i3 2100 or 2100t?
Does the 2100t have enough power?


- eskro - 2011-05-31

be careful with i3 onboard video,,,
INTEL did not fix the 24fps issue...
Intel has committed to addressing the problem in the next major platform revision,
which unfortunately seems to be Ivy Bridge in 2012.
Read on it Here...


- Bendo - 2011-05-31

eskro Wrote:be careful with i3 onboard video,,,
INTEL did not fix the 24fps issue...
Intel has committed to addressing the problem in the next major platform revision,
which unfortunately seems to be Ivy Bridge in 2012.
Read on it Here...

Thanks for the heads up.

What do you recommend i buy for gfx then ?


- Mallet21 - 2011-05-31

Turn off UAC in windows and 24p works just fine.....at least as well as AMD and Nvidia.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1333324&highlight=uac+24p


- eskro - 2011-05-31

i think the review on the Anandtech website explained it very well...
We need to understand that an Nvidia Video Card works no problem,
its if someone wants to use the i3 cpu onboard video....


- wsume99 - 2011-05-31

There's also a macroblocking issue with the sandybridge in XBMC. You can read the details in this post: Macroblocking with new sandy bridge build, dxva2 enabled. You can just turn off hardware acceleration but then you'd use more power.


- tboooe - 2011-05-31

Bendo Wrote:Should i go for the regular i3 2100 or 2100t?
Does the 2100t have enough power?

Personally I would get the 2100 and get more processing power. I think the real world power consumption difference between the two is negligible. The other option is to get the 2105 which uses the HD3000 chip.


- Bendo - 2011-05-31

tboooe Wrote:Personally I would get the 2100 and get more processing power. I think the real world power consumption difference between the two is negligible. The other option is to get the 2105 which uses the HD3000 chip.

Thanks, i will get the 2100..

Well i think i will be getting a passiv cooled nvidia GFX - what should i choose ? 210 , 220 or 430 ?


- eskro - 2011-05-31

well you have a couple of choices here....

if you DONT need 3D playback, you can get a HD5450 or GT210...

if you do NEED 3D playback, you can get a HD6450 or GT430...

However, if your planning on using Linux, stay with Nvidia.... not ATI...

Under windows, no problem with ATI....

Oh and also, i agree with the i3-2100 model