[mythtv-users] Possible small HD frontend

[Brian Foddy]

On Saturday 22 March 2008, Frosty wrote:
> Brian Foddy wrote:
> > On Friday 21 March 2008, Drew Tomlinson wrote:
> >> Brian Wood wrote:
> >>> The continuing search has revealed:
> >>>
> >>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883103074
> >>>
> >>> 6150 graphics, should be adequate, though not upgradable.
> >>>
> >>> Reviewers say it is noisy though, and it looks like no digital audio.
> >>>
> >>> Can't get power consumption figures.
> >>>
> >>> And of course I hate paying the Vista tax.
> >>>
> >>> Still cheaper than a Mini.
> >>
> >> I just looked and it's listed as "deactivated".  Also, I can't remember
> >> exactly what I've read or where I've read it but I'm under the
> >> impression that the Intel Core 2 Duo chips are much more power efficient
> >> than the AMD chips.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> Drew
> >
> > Actually, I haven't looked at the AMD/Intel comparisons for a few months
> > now, but if I remember, the Intel were more "efficient" because their
> > work to power consumed ratio was greater.  However the AMD's
> > consumed less total power, they just performed less work.  But for a FE
> > machine the question should be, is the 3600x2 enough and for at least
> > 1080i and below, I'm sure it is, having seen a 3800X2 play HD running at
> > 1/2 CPU speed.
> >
> > Brian
> > _______________________________________________
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> > mythtv-users at mythtv.org
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>
> You say the AMD consumes less total power but the Intel is faster? I
> wonder if you under clocked the Intel some it would be more of what you
> need. On a Windows machine and Intel Speedstep, when the machine is idle
> it drops the CPU multiplier and the hertz go from 3Ghz to 2Ghz and the
> temperature drops from 45 to 25C. Can a Linux machine use Speedstep?
>
> Yours,
> Frosty

My parents 3800X2 normally runs the "Conservative" CPU governor, which on the
X2 can reduce the CPU speed to a max of 1/2 (1000MHz on the 3800), which
according to my Kill-a-Watt drops the total machine power to about 60 watts at
idle from 75-80 at idle.  And many times it will still play HD content at that 
slower speed...  I don't have a newer Intel chip to compare against.

Brian