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Hey all,
I am putting a HTPC together that will primarily be used with XBMC, but also be used to browse the internet and download films via lovefilm.com. Here is what I am considering...
AMD Llano A8-3800
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-a8-3800.html
Gigabyte Motherboard - AMD A75, Socket FM1, DDR3 (GA-A75M-UD2H)
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-358-GI&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2058
Corsair Vengeance 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C8 1600MHz Dual Channel
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-298-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=1517
Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-368-WD&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1953
OCZ ModXStream Pro 500w Silent
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-037-OC&tool=3
Lian Li Case (PC-C37B)
http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_1194.html
For these simple tasks I am under the impression Llano will suffice. Should I be worried about the lack of a discrete GPU?
Also this will cost about £500 which is kind of pricey for a HTPC. Has anyone got any suggestions to reduce the price of the build?
Thanks for any feedback?
PSU and RAM is a bit overkill for a HTPC. Also, run LINUX if you wanna keep it low-powered. From what I hear, Llano has a great GPU but sucky CPU. It should suffice as a HTPC processor. I'd go for a lower end PSU and about 1GB RAM if Linux, 2GB if Windows.
Thanks for the good advice about the PSU and RAM.
I have heard that the LLano CPU is a little weak on other sites too. I was considering instead an Athlon II with dedicated graphics. It will cost a similar amount as this system.
I can even get the AsRock vision 3D for the same price...
http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Vision3D/index.asp?c=Main
There are just too many options...
edcoppen said:
Thanks for the good advice about the PSU and RAM.
I have heard that the LLano CPU is a little weak on other sites too. I was considering instead an Athlon II with dedicated graphics. It will cost a similar amount as this system.
I can even get the AsRock vision 3D for the same price...
http://www.asrock.com/microsite/Vision3D/index.asp?c=Main
There are just too many options...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3D is overrated. I'm assuming that you:
1. Have a 3D HDTV.
2. Have the 3D glasses
3. Have a desire for headaches.
Also, a lot will depend on usage pattern/behaviour. If you are only using it for some browsing (assuming social networks, youtubes, reading forums like XDA, some degree of flash playing), the Llano should be more than sufficient. It will also serve well in a light gaming mode (we're talking COD:MW2 probably). And if you're running Linux, I'd say that bumping to 2GB will make it a behemoth when it comes to webapps.
That said and done, what I suggested (Linux build and bumping it to 2GB) will be more than sufficient for watching movies and some light browsing with webapps. The Llano is not good as a CPU, but it is a real kicker when it comes to making a no fuss dedicated system (although it sucks when it comes to making a good gaming PC). I believe that many sites actually view it as a high potential processor for HTPCs. Just remember to properly cool your rig (silent cooling FTW) when building your HTPC (my brother's sucked because he used a 9800GT).
So... building your own (if you have the expertise or can seduce/befriend someone with the expertise) will definitely yield savings, benefits and earn an essential geek badge.
Linux is out the question as my Dad (who will be using the HTPC) has used Windows all his life and will not learn another OS.
I get your point about the 3D and I have no intentions of using it for now... but it will be there for the future
I believe that both a LLano based system and the ASRock Vision 3D will fit the needs of a HTPC. As they cost a similar price and I am comfortable building my own system I have both options open to me.
I guess what it comes down to is which system is better... Llano with A75 chipset or i3 with HM55 chipset? Any opinions???
edcoppen said:
Linux is out the question as my Dad (who will be using the HTPC) has used Windows all his life and will not learn another OS.
I get your point about the 3D and I have no intentions of using it for now... but it will be there for the future
I believe that both a LLano based system and the ASRock Vision 3D will fit the needs of a HTPC. As they cost a similar price and I am comfortable building my own system I have both options open to me.
I guess what it comes down to is which system is better... Llano with A75 chipset or i3 with HM55 chipset? Any opinions???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Llano.
It has similar processing powers to an i3, but trumps even an i7 when it comes to GPU power. As for 3D, when the glassless 3DTVs come out, the specs will be different. I get most of my home movies off the internet, and from what I understand, a Blu-Ray disc has about 20+GB on average on it, so go figure.
Thank you for the good advice. I am nearly ready to make my purchase. I have decided to go for a custom Llano based system pretty similar to the one outlined in the OP. I will follow the advice though to downgrade the PSU and ram. Just a few more questions pls...
I was hoping to avoid using a dedicated GPU but I just realised i'm not sure if the motherboard supports lossless bitstreaming. I have looked but couldnt find out. Here's the motherboard I have in mind...
http://uk.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_Socket_FM1/F1A75M/#specifications/#specifications
If this board doesn't support it I will probably get this GPU but I want to avoid it if possible...
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-263-SP
Thanks again for the help so far!
This situation just got a whole load more confusing
It turns out that the only way to get lossless bitstreaming with a Llano-based system is to use a dedicated GPU. This kind of defies the whole point of going down the Llano route as its integrated graphics was one of it's key benefits. Seeing as everyone says the CPU performance of Llano system is underwhelming I am seriously reconsidering the whole build.
Instead I could base the build around the H55 chipset as this does support lossless bitstreaming. I could then use the superior CPU performance of an i3, but would still require dedicated graphics to escape crappy Intel HD2000.
Bearing in mind that bitstreaming is an essential part of the build what would you do?
Edit: the H55 path really limits things like SATA 6gb/s and USB 3.0
edcoppen said:
This situation just got a whole load more confusing
It turns out that the only way to get lossless bitstreaming with a Llano-based system is to use a dedicated GPU. This kind of defies the whole point of going down the Llano route as its integrated graphics was one of it's key benefits. Seeing as everyone says the CPU performance of Llano system is underwhelming I am seriously reconsidering the whole build.
Instead I could base the build around the H55 chipset as this does support lossless bitstreaming. I could then use the superior CPU performance of an i3, but would still require dedicated graphics to escape crappy Intel HD2000.
Bearing in mind that bitstreaming is an essential part of the build what would you do?
Edit: the H55 path really limits things like SATA 6gb/s and USB 3.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... I'll need to do a little homework first... I'll get back to you regarding the lossless streams
edcoppen said:
This situation just got a whole load more confusing
It turns out that the only way to get lossless bitstreaming with a Llano-based system is to use a dedicated GPU. This kind of defies the whole point of going down the Llano route as its integrated graphics was one of it's key benefits. Seeing as everyone says the CPU performance of Llano system is underwhelming I am seriously reconsidering the whole build.
Instead I could base the build around the H55 chipset as this does support lossless bitstreaming. I could then use the superior CPU performance of an i3, but would still require dedicated graphics to escape crappy Intel HD2000.
Bearing in mind that bitstreaming is an essential part of the build what would you do?
Edit: the H55 path really limits things like SATA 6gb/s and USB 3.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to me that using an AMD Phenom/Athlon with a dedicated GPU will be slightly cheaper., although the whole rig will never fit in that casing...
I have decided to rule out the Llano system due to the complications with lossless audio. This now leaves me with an i3 system or Athlon like you suggested.
For an Athlon system I saw these parts:
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz
Asus M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3 AMD 880G (Socket AM3)
These are cheaper than an i3 system for sure... as far as performance goes I am confident both the Athlon and i3 route is enough for a HTPC. I wonder about how their power consumption compares though?
edcoppen said:
I have decided to rule out the Llano system due to the complications with lossless audio. This now leaves me with an i3 system or Athlon like you suggested.
For an Athlon system I saw these parts:
AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz
Asus M4A88TD-M EVO/USB3 AMD 880G (Socket AM3)
These are cheaper than an i3 system for sure... as far as performance goes I am confident both the Athlon and i3 route is enough for a HTPC. I wonder about how their power consumption compares though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AMD usually has a lower power profile than Intel, although if you underpowered your PC the processor will have to work REALLY hard to keep up... depends a lot.
Currently, an AMD-AMD setup for CPU and GPU combo is more efficient than an Intel-NVidia setup, although for the mid-range PCs, it might be different. A key component of power draw and power efficiency is actually your PSU. Most of the time, the PC will be on idle/low usage. Having an 80+ rated Gold or Platinum goes a loooooooong way towards saving power.
In terms of performance, the i3 does not have much benefit over AMD, because the good techs are limited to the i5s and i7s. AMD only differentiates the core count and superficial unlocks.
DISCLAIMER: A little late on this, but: I AM A HUGE AMD FAN. Not that I blow, but I really like AMD, and have been using AMD rigs for as long as I can remember.
Well I think I have come to a decision... again. Almost every component is different now. Here's my new selection of components:
Intel Core i3-2100T 2.5Ghz
MSI H67MA-E35 Intel H67
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666
Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 6670 1024MB
Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB
SilverStone Grandia GD04
OCZ StealthXStream2 400w Silent
I can get all of these for a round £500. Any last minute feedback from anyone before I buy it all would be much appreciated.
One thing that I didn't clarify with you. The service is movie streaming or downloading? Coz 1TB is mighty little for heavy downloading (trust me).
Although, from your setup, the parts look mighty fine to me. Just upgrade the CPU and GPU down the road and you'll have a mainstream gaming rig
Everyone,
I know that we don't currently have a gingerbread (GB) update for the the famed Samsung 7 inch tablet (wifi only).
However, I was doing some research and discovered that the nook color runs either OMAP3621 or OMAP3622 system on a chip.
The P1010 runs the OMAP3630 system on a chip but the 3630, 3621 and 3622 have that same PowerVR SGX530 graphics chip. And of course, all of the listed OMAP SOC models have the same ARMv7 Cortex-A8.
I have also learned that the droid X has that same that same PowerVR SGX530 graphics chip.
Both the nook color and the droid X have GB builds.
So this begs the question, why can't we modify a nook color or droid X GB build for the P1010? I ask because the p1010 should have the same hardware minus a cell modem, sim slot, or HID device. So shouldn't it be a matter of removing software from the build?
Thanks for any time & effort reading or replying.
c0le
*** EDITED ****
**** BUMP ****
*****BUMP*****
Now, I'm a P1000 owner so I don't have much experience with the TI sets, but I don't think it will be anything like that easy. Generally speaking, porting a ROM from such very different sets of hardware is very tricky. Although the processor's and graphics units might be the same, they won't be built into the system the same way and all the other components like the display, touch screen, USB, power, audio, and everything else will be quite difficult.
I'm not saying it's impossible (it's probably not, not sure) but I will say that I don't think you'll see one anytime soon. It's very tricky and very unreliable, and the 1010 really doesn't have the developer base that would usually accompany a project like that.
Again, I'm not certain (never got that far into any devices other than the P1000, really), but I don't think it would be that easy.
I think that some things, like display and power might be the same as the p1000. As for the usb, isn't that part of the system on a chip? I find it hard believe that samsung didn't use some rather common components. Should just be a matter of finding the drivers from other builds and putting them in a new build.
Sent from my GT-P1010 using Tapatalk
I am going to buy a new smartphone in couple of days.
For the first time i thought of buying Neo V because of its design and bravia engine display with large screen for gaming[ Ray would be little bit small to hold in both hands for gaming so dropped it ].
But,
Now i am confused to choose which phone to buy after seeing Galaxy S even though its on old model it has the same stand in the market.
I actually want to buy smartphone for HD gaming from gameloft and nonGL.
Which mobile supports all HD games
So please tell me which one should i buy....?
I have the SGS (Samsung Galaxy S) and it's a very good phone!
Anyway, for HD gaming is not too good... I don't have the Neo V, but checking the specs I can tell that it ain't very good neither.
I would recommend you to get a Xperia Play ( If you want your smatphone for gaming), is Cheaper than the SGS and has a better GPU.
The good thing about the SGS is that it has a lot of attention from the community (that means a lot of custom ROMs).
If you can get the money get a SGS2 or a Galaxy Nexus.
Cheers
For gaming, Galaxy S has PowerVR SGX 540 graphics is probably one of the best low priced android phones for gaming since iPhone has PowerVR SGX 535 graphics . Because games are natively coded and optimized for PowerVR GPUs, there is none of that "porting" thingie needed to be done.
That means the games are stable, fast and efficient when running on PowerVR graphics. There isn't "lost in quality" as much as regular ports, that unless you're playing it on a HD TV via TV out. Otherwise, WVGA is the limitation to that.
Neo V has Adreno 205, a non-powervr chip and is relativity slower than PowerVR SGX 540. So I wouldn't recommend that for gaming.
what about galaxy r i9103
Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H
Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9
ULP GeForce
1 GB RAM
I dont know, but if you play so much your battery will be down in 2-3h
Xperia play probably would be good, but the custom rom side of things is a bit of a barren wasteground compared to over here on the SGS forum. There are only 1-2 custom roms that are any good.
Had very mixed results with converting my own PSX games with psxperia, but the dedicated hardware controller is soooo much better than a on-screen one
vamsikrishnach said:
what about galaxy r i9103
Nvidia Tegra 2 AP20H
Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9
ULP GeForce
1 GB RAM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, Tegra 2 shares many of the similarities to PowerVR architecture. Some graphically intensive games are also optimized for this particular chip and are listed THD.
Lets sum up the pluses:
1) Similar architecture
2)THD optimized games enabling extra detail for ULV Geforce GPUs
So why not?
I'm looking at buying an Android tablet around the £100 mark, and think I've narrowed it down to either a HP Touchpad from ebay (dual boot with Android), or a A1CS Android tablet like this:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1CS-FUSION...1_8?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1358246198&sr=1-8
I can't seem to find any decent comparisons for the Touchpad + Android up against dedicated Android tablets. Does anyone have any experience? Would I be better off going for the A1CS if Android is all I want, or does a rooted Touchpad + Android out perform them?
Touchpad is much better in my opinion.
Dual core CPU, double the ram (1GB is needed really), much more dev support, running Jellybean.
theronkinator said:
Touchpad is much better in my opinion.
Dual core CPU, double the ram (1GB is needed really), much more dev support, running Jellybean.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree agree completely. You'll have a unique dual boot tablet.
Ok thanks guys, sounds pretty conclusive!
I've been through 3 Android phones and another tablet, and the TouchPad with CM9 is the most stable experience I've ever had. It's shocking to see such a perfect Android experience from a device that was never intended to run it. The devs here are fantastic and so is the XDA community. And the wireless charging dock is awesome. Every time I need my tablet it's 100% charged... everyone who sees it is jealous.
The OMAP4470 has a separate GUI accelerator processor (CGPU) specifically to make compositing the GUI more efficient and faster than what the PowerVR GPU can do. I came across the OMAP4470 whitepaper and this primarily covers the benefits of the CGPU. They write specifically about high resolution (1920x1080) and the benefits of the CGPU in this case (our case!).
I've been trying to figure out if there is special setup necessary to use this CGPU, or if it is part of the PowerVR driver, or whatever the deal is. I really can not find much information about it or the setup of it! Maybe its operation is transparent like the Cortex M3 cores?
http://www.ti.com/pdfs/wtbu/swpy028.pdf
Maybe somebody here has a clue about it?
swaaye said:
The OMAP4470 has a separate GUI accelerator processor (CGPU) specifically to make compositing the GUI more efficient and faster than what the PowerVR GPU can do. I came across the OMAP4470 whitepaper and this primarily covers the benefits of the CGPU. They write specifically about high resolution (1920x1080) and the benefits of the CGPU in this case (our case!).
I've been trying to figure out if there is special setup necessary to use this CGPU, or if it is part of the PowerVR driver, or whatever the deal is. I really can not find much information about it or the setup of it! Maybe its operation is transparent like the Cortex M3 cores?
http://www.ti.com/pdfs/wtbu/swpy028.pdf
Maybe somebody here has a clue about it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this mean nook HD+ can run smoother in launcher / web borwsing ?