[mythtv-users] Low power FE/BE CPU

[Brian Wood]

On Friday 13 November 2009 11:08:04 Patrick Doyle wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 13, 2009 at 12:55 PM, Michael T. Dean
>
> <mtdean at thirdcontact.com> wrote:
> > On 11/13/2009 12:45 PM, Patrick Doyle wrote:
> >> Or am I focusing too much on the 35/45W processors and should I just
> >> aim at a dual-core 65W processor and depend on a reduced clock rate to
> >> reduce the power?
> >>
> >> I am interested in the lower power CPUs for both energy and noise
> >> conservation
> >
> > I got tired of waiting and just bought an AMD Regor-based Athlon II X2
> > 240 65W TDP dual-core CPU.  Since all of the "e" processors come off the
> > same line as the non-e processors, I'm hoping to get a lucky pick.
> >
> > Note, also, that chipset plays a /large/ role in system power usage
> > (potentially larger than the role that CPU plays).
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> What would you recommend for a chipset for use with this processor?
>
> Also, I see that it is a socket AM3 processor.  I couldn't find any
> socket AM3 motherboards with an nVidea GPU.  Do you know if they
> exist?  Should I look for a GPU-less motherboard and buy a separate
> video card?  I figured the fewer cards I put in the chassis, the
> better.  But my intuition and conventional wisdom don't always align.

There are some AM2/AM2+ motherboards that say "AM3 ready", which apparently 
means they will work with an AM3 CPU if you use the latest BIOS. Unless it 
actually says "AM3 ready" it's a crapshoot whether a particular motherboard 
has a BIOS update available that will work with an AM3 chip.

I have an Asus M3N78-VM board with an onboard nVidia 8200 that does in fact 
work with an AM3 chip, even though it does not say "AM3-ready", just as a 
data point.

But I'd go with a discreet graphics card, far more flexibility and upgrade 
potential.


-- 
Brian Wood
beww at beww.org