2008-12-21, 01:01
I'm trying to make a purchasing decision as well. I want two systems that will both do 1080p with no problems. They DON'T have to play the Killa Sample without dropping frames, but I DO want them to be able to play non-transcoded HD/BD rips.
I'm looking at the Zotac miniITX boards here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813500012
and trying to decide between the:
E5200 @ 2.50Ghz, 2MB cache US$83 (this is NOT a Core2 chip, but a Pentium Dual-core.)
E7300 @ 2.66Ghz, 3MB cache US$120
E8400 @ 3.00Ghz, 6MB cache US$165 (clearly this one is best if $ isn't an issue)
These are all 45nm chips, so they should be overclockable.
A low-power alternative is to use an AMD 780G board with something like the Athlon X2 5050e, which only uses 45W at 2.6Ghz with 512K cache per core for US$62, or for US$76 you can get an Athlon X2 6000 at 3.1Ghz, but it uses twice the power at 89W. (still pretty low, I guess).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103298.
How important is cache? Do you think these AMD chips and the non-Core2 Intel can even handle 1080P?
I know I can just by the E8400 and be done with it, but since I'm buying two, saving US$80 or US$100 each is a big deal.
I guess the question is, which of the chips above is the cheapest that will flawlessly play 1080p non-transcoded straight BD or HDDVD rips.
If it's the 8400, so be it.
I'm looking at the Zotac miniITX boards here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6813500012
and trying to decide between the:
E5200 @ 2.50Ghz, 2MB cache US$83 (this is NOT a Core2 chip, but a Pentium Dual-core.)
E7300 @ 2.66Ghz, 3MB cache US$120
E8400 @ 3.00Ghz, 6MB cache US$165 (clearly this one is best if $ isn't an issue)
These are all 45nm chips, so they should be overclockable.
A low-power alternative is to use an AMD 780G board with something like the Athlon X2 5050e, which only uses 45W at 2.6Ghz with 512K cache per core for US$62, or for US$76 you can get an Athlon X2 6000 at 3.1Ghz, but it uses twice the power at 89W. (still pretty low, I guess).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as...6819103298.
How important is cache? Do you think these AMD chips and the non-Core2 Intel can even handle 1080P?
I know I can just by the E8400 and be done with it, but since I'm buying two, saving US$80 or US$100 each is a big deal.
I guess the question is, which of the chips above is the cheapest that will flawlessly play 1080p non-transcoded straight BD or HDDVD rips.
If it's the 8400, so be it.