[mythtv-users] CPU for a frontend

[William Otten]

On 2/26/2012 1:07 PM, R. G. Newbury wrote:
> On 02/25/2012 11:15 AM, dave cunningham wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> My current frontend is SD only with an Intel Little Falls board.
>>
>> This has been fine (if a little slow navigating menus) but I'm now
>> moving to HD and so it's time to upgrade.
>>
>> The frontend is and will be fanless in a mCubed case. I'm running on a
>> PicoPSU type power supply so am quite limited component wise.
>>
>> Where I am at is GT430 + 4GB RAM + either a G630T or i2100T (+ DVDR,
>> net-boot).
>>
>> This frontend will be used exclusively DVB-T/T2/S/S2 FTV in the UK.
>>
>> Is there any reason as to why I should choose an i2100T over a G630T?
>> (Conversely a G630T appears to be 50% cheaper than an i2100T here so
>> that's the way I'm currently leaning).
> For a Frontend-only box there is no reason why you cannot use an ION
> based motherboard. I purchased a Zotac ION 2 years ago when they were
> introduced, for use as a VOIP box. It does that job just fine!
> But before I installed the VOIP setup, I tested it as a fronted.
>
> No problems playing myth recorded OTA High Def. The box runs off a power
> brick. It touches 35 watts for an instant during boot, and thereafter
> stabilizes around 27-29 watts during HD replay. Small CPU fan is the
> only fan installed. It has an Atom 330 dual core cpu and on-board nvidia
> gpu (9500 or 9600 chip, can't remember which).
>
> Lots of boards of this type at logicsupply,com for reference and of
> course at mini-itx.com.
>
> But if you are going to build up a box, then you probably should browse
> at ark.intel.com  (yes that is an "R") and look at the i3 *and* i5 2xxxT
> series cpus. They are all low TDP versions. The i3 I have my eye on is
> the 2120T at 35 watts or the i5 2390T also at 35 watts TDP. Both are
> dualcore at about 2.5 to 2.7GHz. There are also 17 watt chips! running
> in the 1.5-1.7GHz range with Intel 2000 or 3000 video chipsets.
>
> Given that the Zotac cpu is that sort of speed the real question point
> for THIS use, is the video chipset. It looks like Intel will have full
> video accel for their chips in the not too distant future. In the
> meantime, you would need the GT430.
>
> Of course, these are limited chips but they are built for a particular
> niche.
>
> And our limit is generally determined by the amount of 'wallet-pain' we
> wish to endure....
>
>
> Geoff
>
>
>
Here are more examples of users only using the intel sandy bridge gpu 
with success and getting very good video quality.

http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/501137