Processor Comparison

[jonathan_phang]

Hello,

I've got to do a new media PC build, after my old man saw mine and wanted one. So I'm building a new one and then giving the other one to him. Anyway, I am pretty much going to replicate my existing one except for the processor. It doesnt have to be bleeding edge, but in the back of my mind, there needs to be enough CPU power to do some software x264 decoding (Until you can GPU HW acc in WMP)...

I have settled on 2 AMD choices. Now they are both very similar in price...

X2 4800+ (65W - 2.5Ghz)= £55.99
BE 2350 (45W - 2.1Ghz) = £53.98

What does the BE chip have over the standard X2? I know that the BE has 45TDP, but my current chip is a 65W and thats ok. Is there any more that the BE offers? Because otherwise, is the X2 the better deal as the clock speed is better?

Thanks in advance

JP

[mrt9888]

They should both be able to decode x264, I have the X2 4000+ which is 2.1Ghz the same as the BE 2350 at it can handle X264 so its really about power consumption.

[staffsMike]

BE's overclock quite nicely

Have you considered the 5000+ black edition? Only around £10 more and has an unlocked multiplier and uses the Brisbane core

[tintax]

For a media pc I doubt you'd notice much difference in performance between them. However you'd hope to generate less noise cooling the BE - and that is noticeable in a media pc.

Plus I always think it's better to save a few pence on the electric bill than add them on. Alternatively, tell people you are taking steps to combat global warming and act smug.

[jonathan_phang]

@Staffsmike - nice call on the Black Edition, its only £66 at scan at comes in at 2.6Ghz. On the plus side, its not going to need OC to achieve that speed, however, I guess that I need to weigh that up against the extra heat that its going to put off and whether the ICE cooling in the shuttle can handle it...

So I guess it bolis down to these things:
- Better stock performance = 5000+ Black Edition or 4800+
- Lower temps = BE 2350

My head tells me that the 2350 should be enough for my needs but for only £10 more, my heart seems to say go for the extra 500Mhz and...

Oh - dont you love choices

[staffsMike]

my black edition reads 20 degrees in the bios with the scythe ninja cooling it. @ 3.0MHz. In coretemp it reads 7 degree's haha which I guess isn't quite right

It runs very cool and and is a good overclocker, best £65 you could spend on AMD at the moment imo.

[jonathan_phang]

I dont doubt that its a decent chip, but you have to remember that I will be running this in the confines of a small Shuttle chassis, which means that its going to be pretty hard to dissipate heat in there and get temps like yours. This could then have a knock on effect on other components like the GPU (if its passively cooled)...

I'm just a bit weary of something like this happening:
Shuttle SN68SG2 Barebones PC - TrustedReviews
Which may or may not be attributed to to the excess buildup of heat.

It it was purely in terms of value, then the Black edition wins hands down (and to be honest, I'm leaning towards it) but I have that nasty nagging in the back of my head that I should go for the cooler one...

[staffsMike]

The BE 2350 is certainly the logical choice if cooling really is an issue.

But if you are already running a 65W X2 then i'm sure it will cope with the Black Edition

[jonathan_phang]

Bah – just to throw another spanner in the works… I went the AMD route as I thought that it would work out cheaper, mainly due to the lower cost of the AMD barebones units. However, with the processors previously mentioned costing a bit more, it appears that I could get an intel version and put in an e2140/e2160 for about the same price (need to search for some comparison charts).

Although I know that these are going to be slower at stock than the 5000+ they are definitely going to produce less heat and are more energy efficient. Performance wise (at stock) I think that they sit in between the 3600+ that I have now, and the 5000+ Black Edition, which may be just the right balance of performance and generated heat.

And in terms of overclocking, the intels may produce higher clocks relative to the temp increase that they bring… It’s a nice option to have – and maybe the intel rig would be better vfm incase I ever upgrade the CPU again.

Does that sound like a rational argument to you?