Decent Vista MCE Performance

**kungpo** · 04-05-2007, 04:15 PM

Here's a thought. Rather than waste my spanking new Core2 in the HTPC, would the old Pentium 531 (3Ghz, 1MB) perform OK with an 8600GT? For playback of 1080 material?

Any comments?

**aidanjt** · 04-05-2007, 04:29 PM

Yes, it'll work fine.

**Flewis** · 04-05-2007, 04:30 PM

The 8500GT would probably handle the res and DVD playback etc. just not play any games.

**shaithis** · 04-05-2007, 05:21 PM

For the sake of 50quid, I would consider buying another C2D, if only to keep the temperature and noise as low as possible.

**kungpo** · 04-05-2007, 05:23 PM

I thought that, but would an E4300 be that much better than the P4? I know the 6420 is too good for the Media center machine.

**shaithis** · 04-05-2007, 05:34 PM

It will have a lot more grunt while running a lot cooler.....

Which means you could probably use the power and noise saving features quite heavily.....which can be quite a boon in a HTPC.

**kungpo** · 04-05-2007, 05:41 PM

but that means another motherboard, ram etc. arghhh. more money.

**Flewis** · 04-05-2007, 05:43 PM

The 4300 isnt much slower than the 6420, the cache only makes a small difference in normal apps. Benchmarks tend to take advantage more so the 6420 looks much better. A 4300 at stock will still cream a P4, overclocked it outperforms the E6700 at stock.

**tinners** · 04-05-2007, 06:57 PM

I run Vista MCE on a 3400 A64 with 1Gb OK. If you get Purevideo then the GPU will do the processing if your playing HD Movies

Originally Posted by http://www.nvidia.com/object/purevideo_hd_faq.html

What is the new in the GeForce 8500 and GeForce 8600 GPU video processors?

These GPUs feature a new video engine that includes a bitstream processor (BSP) and an improved programmable video processor (VP). The BSP offloads the 100% of the CABAC and H.264 decode process from the CPU allowing playback of "full spec" HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. The new VP also has more advanced video post-processing algorithms which improve video quality.

**kungpo** · 05-05-2007, 10:23 AM

OK - rebuilding as we speak. What we've got is a Gigabyte GA-8915G-MF, 2x 512MB (PC3200) and 2x 1GB (PC 3200), 250GB WD SATA HDD, and the P4 531. Using the ATI x800 at the moment, and see how that goes. otherwise off to the shops to get the 8600GTS.

Bizarrely, it won't boot from the Vista DVD, so I think it's an XP install first, Bios upgrade, then back to Vista. Ho hum.

**kungpo** · 05-05-2007, 02:33 PM

OK - the ATI was knackered. Went off and bought an 8500.

Wow! It really does make a difference. CPU load came right down to about 40% on 1080i Spiderman 2.

Thread: Decent Vista MCE Performance

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Decent Vista MCE Performance

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Similar Threads

Another Vista problem! Network Shuttle SN25P nForce 4

MS releases public 'Beta' version of Vista

Cheap AGP card MCE compatible. ATI 9250 or nVidia FX5200 ?

Posting Permissions