[mythtv-users] EPIA M10000..

[Micah Morton]

The problem with the EPIA series is the FPU.. The floating point was only
half speed. Making the processor almost worthless when using it for
anything highly graphic, number crunching, encryping/decrypting, etc...
However, with normal desktop apps, starting apps and such, it is quite
fast.  The NEW Nehemia processor in the NEW 1ghz and dual 1ghz will be a
full speed FPU and was said to be able to compete well with the AMD/Intel
market at comparable speeds.

So, I would say that a dual 1ghz mini-itx board would pull only around
25watts max - and would be an excellent mythtv board.

--Micah


> I bought an EPIA 800.  I can say I am very unimpressed with its
> performance, I can see why Cyrix went away.  At DVD rate MPEG2, mplayer
> has to drop frames to keep up with the bitrate.  I'll have to note that
> this is something my PIII-450 does fine.  On the other hand power
> consumption is pretty  impressive at 12 watts at idle (my Athlon and PIV
> systems pull about 80 watts).
>
> I also got an X-Box to play with as a front end.  There again, I am
> unimpressed.  The XBox is a monster and very noisy.  It also draws about
> 60 watts when running.
>
> If VIA gets their butt in gear and provides MPEG source or binary
> hardware support for MPlayer, Ogle, ...., there will be a pretty good
> feather in  their hat.  I think I'll stay away until they do.  I can't
> see a
> 200 MHz increase in processor speed being able to reduce the processor
> load significantly (in Intel terms maybe, but not Cyrix).
>
> Anyone know of a low power Athlon/PIII/PIV setup capable of decoding DVD
> rate MPEG2 and still having 20% idle?
>
> Thanks
>
>>
>> Yes, I have heard this as well - and in fact have confirmed this.
>> Stores are now selling the current M10000 as "M-10000A".
>>
>> Also: In April they plan to release a dual 1ghz mini-itx board with
>> the new nemiah processors.  That outta be fairly impressive. Can't
>> wait for that!
>>
>> --Micah
>>
>>
>> > Anyone considering purchasing a VIA EPIA M10000 might want to check
>> out this story from mini-itx.com first:
>> > http://www.mini-itx.com/default.asp#story0144
>> >
>> > Apparently, the M10000 will have 2 versions, the one currently being
>> sold which is based on the existing processor core and a version
>> "II" that will be based on the new Nehemiah core (with better
>> floating point performance). All this according to the above news
>> item. I'd love to hear different. FYI, YMMV, etc.
>> >
>> > ...Kevin
>> >
>> >
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