CPU for HTPC

[Furton]

Of the following CPU's

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Which are the best for a HTPC box in terms of coolness, are they the EE at the top of the page or the BE23xx variant at the bottom?

[staffsMike]

The BE is the brisbane core which is 65nm and does run a hell of a lot cooler also the 5000+ 1mb cache and 5000+ black edition is 65nm as well.

But if you want to decode 1080p with the BE's you will need something like a Ati HD2600pro/XT to take the load of the cpu as it won't quite be powerful enough with integrated graphics, the 5000+ might be enough with Integrated.

[Jay]

I use an AM2 3800 X2 and it does the job with a Biostar 6100 mATX board and a passive Ati 2400pro

[jimbouk]

Second on the 2400Pro and AM2 X2, thought I've got a 3600+ EE. £30 well spent on the graphics card.

Edit: ebuyer seem to do the cheapest X2:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ Socket AM2 (1.9GHz) 1MB L2 Cache OEM Processor - Ebuyer
If you're keeping it cheap

[Furton]

Excellent, going to pair the BE-2400 with a Abit AN-M2HD nForce 520 which has an HDMI output built in. From what I've read this should be able to decode HD video files on the fly but will probably struggle with a straight Blue Ray/HD-DVD disc.

Once it's built I'll post my findings.

[staffsMike]

i use this board with my 5000+ BE Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Comes with DVI and you can get a HDMI version to