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[jim]

I was intending to strip down and sell my HTPC, but in the meantime my mini-itx desktop developed a fault (dodgy RAM courtesy of Corsair), which has made things a little bit more complicated - I've decided I can cut back a bit and could do with the money.

I have the following parts available:

Intel i5 760
Mini-ITX Gigabyte H55N-USB3
2x2GB Corsair DDR3 RAM

AMD Phenom X3 705e
Mini-ITX J&W Minix 780G-SP128MB
2x2GB Crucial DDR2 SO-DIMMs

Asus GTX 460 768MB
Silverstone Sugo SG06BB-450 (inc 450W PSU)
Compucase 8K01 (inc 120W PSU)
Corsair X32 SSD
WD5000AAKS 500GB drive

What I'm looking to create is a small, powerful secondary PC for video encoding, music encoding, software testing and so on, which I can throw tonnes of junk onto and then wipe once a year if necessary. Graphics really aren't a big deal, although something a little more powerful than the AMD 3200 would be nice.

1) The logical answer seems to be to reassemble the HTPC, with the J&W Minix board and the Compucase 8K01, but I'm finding the CPU too slow at present for any sort of multitasking which is no use. I don't think the board will support particularly powerful chips, and it's already pretty loud with a shallow enough heatsink to fit in the 8K01.

2) Alternative is to reassemble the desktop, but any later CPU upgrades will probably be very expensive, the Sugo SG06 seems like massive overkill, and the CPU cooler wouldn't fit into the 8K01... even if it did, I think it would overheat and/or blow the PSU. Also, IIRC I can't use integrated graphics with the i5 760, so I would need a card which is always a pain in the neck.

What should I do?! Neither solution really works... should I just sell the whole lot and start again or reuse some of the components?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Could you list your desktops again as your signature looks to be out of date?!

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

TBH,I am surprised an X3 705E is struggling with multi-tasking! I wonder if the PSU is the reason it is having issues??

Anyway,for HTPC perhaps you should sell the bits and invest in a socket 1155 Core i3 and a new case??

The following build is one I suggested in another thread last week.



You could probably go for a standard 65W Core i3 if you want more processing power. The Core i3 2100T has a 35W TDP BTW.

The Intel H61 motherboard does not have a full length PCI-E slot although if you go for a H67 mini ITX motherboard such as the Gigabyte GA-H67N-USB3-B3 you will get a full length slot. I am using the Gigabyte motherboard with a Core i3 2100 ATM in my secondary build.

[jim]

Could you list your desktops again as your signature looks to be out of date?!

Good point.

The two PCs in question are:

HTPC (Self-built): 7 Home, Compucase 8K01 (Inc PSU), J&W Minix 780-SP128MB, Phenom II X3 705e, 4GB Crucial RAM, Corsair X32
Desktop 3 (Not in my sig): Sugo SG06BB-450, Gigabyte H55N-USB3, i5 760, 4GB Corsair RAM, 500GB Western Digital Drive

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The other alternative is to replace the Phenom II X3 705E with an Athlon II X4 620E:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMD-Athlon-II-...item3f09142e95

The Athlon II X4 also has a 45W TDP too.

The case is also nice too:

http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/5/2/itx2



Edit!!

I just realised the case does not take 3.5" drives!!

The ITX6 and ITX7 do take 3.5" drives:

http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/21/2/itx6

http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/6/2/itx7_2

[jim]

TBH,I am surprised an X3 705E is struggling with multi-tasking! I wonder if the PSU is the reason it is having issues??

Anyway,for HTPC perhaps you should sell the bits and invest in a socket 1155 Core i3 and a new case??

The following build is one I suggested in another thread last week.

http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/s...cification.jpg

You could probably go for a standard 65W Core i3 if you want more processing power.

I'm pushing it pretty hard to be honest... Football Manager 2011 pretty much soaks up as many cores as you give it since it's just doing millions of calculations... trying to run other applications alongside it is asking for trouble. I anticipate using it as well for video and FLAC encoding in the future. I don't have trouble with my Q9550, but then that's a 2.83GHz quad versus a 2.5GHz tri-core.

I'm thinking about something like a Phenom X6 or an i5, integrated graphics, good cooler. But on the other hand, I have no idea!

By the way, I am completely scrapping the HTPC as a computer, don't need one any more! Just going to combine HTPC and Desktop 3 parts into one desktop and sell all the leftovers.

[jim]

The other alternative is to replace the Phenom II X3 705E with an Athlon II X4 620E:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMD-Athlon-II-...item3f09142e95

The Athlon II X4 also has a 45W TDP too.

The case is also nice too:

http://www.wesena.co.uk/product.php/5/2/itx2

https://www.wesena.co.uk/shopimages/...itx2black1.jpg

Fastest proc I can get is the 610e according to the CPU supports list, concerned I wouldn't be able to upgrade beyond there though :/

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I'm pushing it pretty hard to be honest... Football Manager 2011 pretty much soaks up as many cores as you give it since it's just doing millions of calculations... trying to run other applications alongside it is asking for trouble. I anticipate using it as well for video and FLAC encoding in the future. I don't have trouble with my Q9550, but then that's a 2.83GHz quad versus a 2.5GHz tri-core.

I'm thinking about something like a Phenom X6 or an i5, integrated graphics, good cooler. But on the other hand, I have no idea!

I just realised the ITX2 does not support 3.5" drives so if you are interested you will need to check the slightly larger versions of the case which I have suggested in post 5.

I would suggest a 65W Core i5 2400S:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...che-65w-retail

There is also an Ebay seller I talked to who can do the Core i5 2500S for a similar price.

The HD2000 IGP is a step above the HD3200 IMHO. The 95W Core i5 2500K has the much faster HD3000 IGP and I suppose you could trying undervolting one of them instead.

Also,with an H67 motherboard you can use Quick Sync too.

[jim]

So I'm probably best off just building a whole new PC then.

On the plus side, if I'm building from scratch I can wait until November roughly, since I can make do without whilst I'm at home over the summer. That should give me a few more options in terms of building.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

So I'm probably best off just building a whole new PC then.

On the plus side, if I'm building from scratch I can wait until November roughly, since I can make do without whilst I'm at home over the summer. That should give me a few more options in terms of building.

This means AMD Llano will be out which means you will get a faster version of the current Athlon II X4 with a 400 shader IGP:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...che-65w-retail

[jim]

Your link's for an i5 proccy, moosey

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Your link's for an i5 proccy, moosey

The Moose saw a grumpy Elk and got distracted!

Here is the correct link:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...che-65w-retail

Llano should be released in June or July so hopefully by November there should be mini ITX socket FM1 motherboards.

[jim]

The Moose saw a grumpy Elk and got distracted!

Here is the correct link:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...che-65w-retail

Llano should be released in June or July so hopefully by November there should be mini ITX socket FM1 motherboards.

I hate to repeat myself moosey, but...

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I hate to repeat myself moosey, but...

Flipping Elk!

This is most definitely the link 100% verified by a Ferret who has taken truth serum:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/dis...Documents.html

[jim]

Flipping Elk!

This is most definitely the link 100% verified by a Ferret who has taken truth serum:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/dis...Documents.html

Interesting, wasn't really aware of those. Sounds like they might be perfect

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Interesting, wasn't really aware of those. Sounds like they might be perfect

It seems the HD6550 IGP is much faster than the HD2000 IGP:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/d...dy_Bridge.html