Best Intel CPU for HD Client?

[aglennon]

I am looking to put together a new dedicated client machine for HD play back. Since this machine will be a dedicated client machine it will never be multi-tasking while watching HD (I already have a server that records HD). I "think" I am better off with the highest clock-speed CPU in my price range but I am not sure, hence this post. Given the (3) CPU's below which would you choose? I listed prices but I am not concerned with the $40 spread.

~$180 - Intel Pentium 4 630 Prescott 3.0GHz
~$229 - Intel Pentium D 950 Presler 3.4GHz Dual Core
~$229 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz

Thanks!

[briands]

I'd guess with a good video card, they are all up to the task. The core 2 Duo is supposed to run much cooler so that would make it the choice for a quiet client box.

[GTwannabe]

Go with the Conroe; runs cooler, sucks less power, and gives more performance than the P4 or the Pentium D.

For HD video, you really want a video card that can handle HD acceleration (ATI x1x series or nVidia Geforce 7-series) With my Radeon x800Pro, 1080P video clips stuttered badly and maxed out the CPU (2.2ghz Athlon XP). I recently bought a Geforce 7800GS and 1080P videos are now smooth as glass with minimal CPU usage.

[dbfresh23]

Spend the extra money on a good video card. If you get a better video card those could all be considered overkill for a dedicated client. Better off looking at a Pentium D 820 (2.8ghz) and putting the extra 70-110 into a video card.

[aglennon]

Thanks for the feed back so far. I was planning on a passive cooled 7600GT for the video card.

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by aglennon

Thanks for the feed back so far. I was planning on a passive cooled 7600GT for the video card.

I bought a 7600GT and put a Zalman fan on it, might as well be silent. FWIW

B

[dvd_maniac]

anybody see this bad boy yet?

Intel Core Quadro

Not in your list but WOWOWOWOW!!! is it the best...
Now if I could only win the lottery?

[aglennon]

Will Sage take advantage of the dual-core for HD playback?

If not it almost seems like a 3 or 3.2 GHz single-core Prescott would be better for HD playback then a Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe running at 2.13GHz. Is there something I am missing?

[Lucas]

Clock speed is not everything.....

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by Lucas

Clock speed is not everything.....

So Very true.

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

So Very true.

Some people seem to be missing the fact that he said DEDICATED CLIENT. There's no need to spec out your dream system for this!

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by aglennon

Will Sage take advantage of the dual-core for HD playback?

To answer this general purpose question: SageTV uses multiple threads and will take advantage of multiple cores. But, for playback, I believe it will depend on whether the decoder can take advantage of multiple cores. I have no idea which decoders, if any, do.

I know that on my dual core system, if I try using VMR9 on a secondary monitor (DirectX software emulation, I believe), my cpu usage during playback can hit more than 60% cpu usage... and 50% usage means a single cpu is fully in use.

- Andy

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Some people seem to be missing the fact that he said DEDICATED CLIENT. There's no need to spec out your dream system for this!

My client runs off of a sempron 2600 running at 1.6ghz. It runs a lot faster than a P4 1.6 (that was my only point).

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by paulbeers

My client runs off of a sempron 2600 running at 1.6ghz. It runs a lot faster than a P4 1.6 (that was my only point).

Oh I was agreeing with you!

[paulbeers]

Originally Posted by dbfresh23

Oh I was agreeing with you!

Sorry! I thought you were saying I was specing out a dream machine! Although now that you mention it....*starts thinking about his dream machine*.....Oh mannnnn...Core 2 Duo 6800 Extreme....*starts drooling*...

[aglennon]

I decided on the Duo Core 2.

I also went to the CPU comparison charts on tomshardware. While they don't have anything specific to HD playback they do have some video related tests. Though, I am not sure any of them mean anything to what I am trying to do.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.ht...=437&chart=173

Thanks for the help!

[dbfresh23]

If this truely is a dedicated client - SD or HD - you're spending a lot of unnecessary money. But hey it's you're money to toss in the wind.

[aglennon]

It's just that it took me so long to get HD to record (it wasn't until Sage 5 that I got it working, tried since 2.something), now I am having playback issues with a 2.4 Celeron and ATI9600 I just don't want to have any more problems. It seems to take a heavy-duty system to play back HD. I just added up all the parts I need for a Duo Core 2 and I am at $680 (MB, CPU, Mem, Video). Decisions decisions.

[dbfresh23]

Originally Posted by aglennon

It's just that it took me so long to get HD to record (it wasn't until Sage 5 that I got it working, tried since 2.something), now I am having playback issues with a 2.4 Celeron and ATI9600 I just don't want to have any more problems. It seems to take a heavy-duty system to play back HD. I just added up all the parts I need for a Duo Core 2 and I am at $680 (MB, CPU, Mem, Video). Decisions decisions.

You don't really need as heavy duty of a system - you need a heavy duty video card - search the forum - that is way more important.

[GTwannabe]

You don't need to go overboard... assuming you plan on re-using your case, PSU, optical drives, etc you can build a damned-good client for ~$500

DFI RS482 mobo - $86
AMD Athlon X2 3800+ - $150
1 gig DDR 400 dual channel kit - $100
Geforce 7600GT - $115
nVidia PureVideo - $20

Total Cost: $471