eflyguy

I am pondering several options for a full-time HTPC..
.. use one of my i7's (I know this is overkill - I have a 965 and a 920)
.. use a spare Dell quad-core 2.0Ghz Xeon (good use of a system that can't be OC'd?)
.. use my 3.0 OC'd Q6600 rig (overkill? I like this as my server)
.. use an older Shuttle XPC that has a P4 (w/HT) @3.0 GHz.

I'm leaning towards the Dell, as I really don't care to use it for anything else. Will it be enough?
..a

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justarealguy

What you should do is send me that i7, I'll send you this Q6600 and you'll have a pretty good HTPC imo.

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blupupher

Any dual core could handle most any HTPC duties.
Once you start getting to Blu-ray/HD playback you can require more CPU depending on the video card and TV tuner.
You really need something between the Q6600 and P4 option. I would say the Dell is the best choice of what you have listed.

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Sheyster

The Dell might be good if it's quiet enough. You might want to upgrade the video and get something with HDMI out for best results.

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MalVeauX

Heya,

Well, a HTPC really doesn't need much CPU power. Everything you've listed is overkill pretty much for HTPC. Overall, I think I would put that Xeon CPU into whatever you have for a server. I'd keep the i7 for something else, it's completely going to be way more than is needed for HTPC. I'd probably end up using the Q6600, only I would not over clock it, I'd try to simply make it as absolutely quiet as possible and reduce as much heat as possible. It's overkill for HTPC too, but it at least isn't as overkill as the i7, and not a waste of a Xeon (which is better for servers anyways). I mean really, an average dualcore is way more than needed for HTPC. So use whatever is the lesser that you have that can be made as quiet as possible. I'd almost suggest you use whatever you can use that can be under-volted and cooled passively... but I'm not sure if any of those CPUs could go that route.

Very best,

eflyguy

All good, thanks.

Given that I like to use the Q6600 for VMWare work, and will probably move my "full time server duties" that include backup tasks and security video monitoring over to it, would the Dell, at 4x2.0Ghz be "enough" for the HTPC (with a good HDMI video card)?
Sheyster seems to think so. I would just hate to run into video stuttering issues at a later date. btw, both the Q6600 and Dell have 8GB RAM.

Thx again!
..a

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Stevo

The older Shuttle XPC that has a P4 (w/HT) @3.0 GHz, with a new video card should be able to do 1080p,

I was able to get my am2 3800+ to do 1080p with a 3450 with some tweaking. Try getting that P4, unless you got a good mobo for that p4 to become the file server.

eflyguy

I have a 2.8GHz P4 Dell Desktop as my server now, actually..
Looking to get rid of that once the Q6600 system takes over the duties..
..a

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AMG

The i7 will be good for your HTPC if you plan to do lots of encoding, i.e Bluray to MKV. Since the i7 is a Quad with HT encoding should be fairly fast. But the i7 has a TDP of 130w, IMO too much for an HTPC. Unless you plan on using it for gaming aswell.

The Dell Quad 2.0GHz Xeon will probably work, I would use this for an HTPC if I had lots of encoding to do. Generally a dual core should be adequate.

Q6600 is definitely enoguh for an HTPC, but this chip consumes alot of power just like the i7. Too much heat or power for an HTPC IMO. I'd keep this as your server.

The P4 with HT would work only if you had a GPU like the ATI HD4550 to offload 1080p content. Many people (including me) choose to use a CPU like the P4 coupled with a GPU for an HTPC.

The two best choices would be the P4 or Xeon IMO.

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DuckieHo

Sell some parts... get a Sempron 140 + 785G for $100 at Newegg.

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