CPU for HTPC

[Anders Bang]

Hi,

Would an AMD Turion 64 be a good CPU solution for a HTPC, which obviously
has to run cool and quiet, but which also has to run on a fair level of
power consumption given that I plan to use is as a file-server for 24/7/365?

Regards
Anders

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

Hi,

Would an AMD Turion 64 be a good CPU solution for a HTPC, which obviously
has to run cool and quiet, but which also has to run on a fair level of
power consumption given that I plan to use is as a file-server for
24/7/365?

Regards
Anders

Turion has two varieties; ML-xx which is a 35 watt proc, and MT-xx which is
a 25 watt proc. Either one will work on HTPC, but AFAIK they are currently
only available in notebook or laptop computers. They are 754 pin, so it you
can find a PIB, you may find a deal on 754 pin motherboards (they cannot
support Dual Channel RAM).

Bobby

 

[Wes Newell]

Would an AMD Turion 64 be a good CPU solution for a HTPC, which obviously
has to run cool and quiet, but which also has to run on a fair level of
power consumption given that I plan to use is as a file-server for 24/7/365?

The Turion is just an undervolted underclocked A64. I assume you mean HT
to mean Home Theater. As for a file server, you sure don't need a lot of
power for it with any decent file server software. Any Socket 754 CPU
would be adequate.

 

[Steve]

The Turion is just an undervolted underclocked A64. <

No the Turion is NOT an undervolted underclocked A64.

The Turion is a tweaked design with low power the main focus. If it
was just an undervolted underclocked A64 then explain how AMD can make
a 25 watt MT-40 which is the same as an A64 4000+ which is an 89 watt
processor.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

The Turion is *NOT* and undervolted and underclocked AMD64.
The A64 are 939 pin processors.
The Turion (Ml-xx and Mt-xx) are 754 pin procs, and are a new mobile 64 bit
chip.
The ML-xx series are a 35 watt chip, and the MT-xx are a 25 watt chip.
A simple visit to the AMD website is in order, Mr. Newell. You should
educate yourself on the various chips available from AMD.

Sempron
Sempron64
Athlon64
Athlon64 FX-xx
Turion64 MT-xx
Turion64 ML-xx
Opteron

Bobby

 

[Anders Bang]

Now, let me try and drag this discussion back onto the track. The important
part here is to try and find a CPU with a heat dissipation and power usage
as low as possible but powerful enough to be the center of a HTPC that is
going to be on 24 / 7 / 365. Now, the Turion being a CPU designed for mobile
computing sounded like a CPU that will fulfill these needs...? The reason
that I am so concerned about the power concumption / heat dissipation is
that the HTPC will obviously be idle a most of the time and therefore it
would be nice for it to use a whole lot of power while idle. Also, a low
heat dissipation would reduce the need for noisy fans in the case.

However, since my original post I have been advised that the AMD Venice core
actually uses only about the same amount of watts as the Turion 25W
(http://www.lostcircuits.com/cpu/amd_venice/). Now, does the Turion have
some extra power saving features or should I just go with the Venice-core
(which would probably also be offering a better upgrade path for the
future)?

Regards
Anders

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

Now, let me try and drag this discussion back onto the track. The
important part here is to try and find a CPU with a heat dissipation and
power usage as low as possible but powerful enough to be the center of a
HTPC that is going to be on 24 / 7 / 365. Now, the Turion being a CPU
designed for mobile computing sounded like a CPU that will fulfill these
needs...? The reason that I am so concerned about the power concumption /
heat dissipation is that the HTPC will obviously be idle a most of the
time and therefore it would be nice for it to use a whole lot of power
while idle. Also, a low heat dissipation would reduce the need for noisy
fans in the case.

However, since my original post I have been advised that the AMD Venice
core actually uses only about the same amount of watts as the Turion 25W
(http://www.lostcircuits.com/cpu/amd_venice/). Now, does the Turion have
some extra power saving features or should I just go with the Venice-core
(which would probably also be offering a better upgrade path for the
future)?

Regards
Anders

Anders;

To be honest, any of the AMD64 procs would suit your needs quite nicely;
however the Venice core is probably your best bet. All of the current AMD
lineup produce *FAR* less heat than the equivalent Intel product.

Have you thought at all at looking into one of the new AMD X2 dual core?

Bobby

 

[Anders Bang]

no because that would be way overkill for the applications it will be
running. Actually an Athlon XP would be fine but since I will be purchasing
a new mobo for the HTPC anyway, I might as well get something that provides
an upgrade path.

 

[Wes Newell]

No the Turion is NOT an undervolted underclocked A64.

The Turion is a tweaked design with low power the main focus. If it was
just an undervolted underclocked A64 then explain how AMD can make a 25
watt MT-40 which is the same as an A64 4000+ which is an 89 watt
processor.

The same fricking way they do/did with the Athlon XP-M, which is no more
than a Barton core XP with lower vcore and default speeds. Now if want to
call that a tweaked design, that's up to you. I don't.

 

[Wes Newell]

The Turion is *NOT* and undervolted and underclocked AMD64. The A64 are
939 pin processors.

So my socket 754 Athlon 64 3000+ that I've been running for the past 18
months isn't an Athlon 64. Thank you for informing me of that. You're an
idiot.

The Turion (Ml-xx and Mt-xx) are 754 pin procs, and are a new mobile 64
bit chip.
The ML-xx series are a 35 watt chip, and the MT-xx are a 25 watt chip. A
simple visit to the AMD website is in order, Mr. Newell. You should
educate yourself on the various chips available from AMD.

The difference between you and me is that I really know the difference.
While all you know is marketing BS. And quit top posting.

 

[Wes Newell]

However, since my original post I have been advised that the AMD Venice
core actually uses only about the same amount of watts as the Turion 25W
(http://www.lostcircuits.com/cpu/amd_venice/). Now, does the Turion have
some extra power saving features or should I just go with the Venice-core
(which would probably also be offering a better upgrade path for the
future)?

The Turion doesn't have a heat spreader. The reason for this is that it
(or any cpu) can cooled more efficiently without one. This may present a
problem with some standard coolers. Personally, for what you are building,
I wouldn't worry about an upgrade path as it should not need upgrading for
the work it will be doing. But if you are concerned with that, go for a
socket 939 MB and the slowest 939 newest core you can find. With the
proper HS and fan, you can cool it with so little noise you won't be able
to hear it outside the case.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Hi,

Would an AMD Turion 64 be a good CPU solution for a HTPC, which obviously
has to run cool and quiet, but which also has to run on a fair level of
power consumption given that I plan to use is as a file-server for 24/7/365?

HTPC or HPTC? HPTC meaning High-Performance Technical Computing?

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Now, let me try and drag this discussion back onto the track. The important
part here is to try and find a CPU with a heat dissipation and power usage
as low as possible but powerful enough to be the center of a HTPC that is
going to be on 24 / 7 / 365. Now, the Turion being a CPU designed for mobile
computing sounded like a CPU that will fulfill these needs...? The reason
that I am so concerned about the power concumption / heat dissipation is
that the HTPC will obviously be idle a most of the time and therefore it
would be nice for it to use a whole lot of power while idle. Also, a low
heat dissipation would reduce the need for noisy fans in the case.

All of the AMD processors have a power saving mode, called PowerNow! in
laptops and Cool'N'Quiet in desktops. All of these processors will run
at pretty much the same power consumption rate at idle. The difference
between Turion and the others is that it's highest power consumption
won't exceed 35W (ML series) or 25W (MT series). But at idle they may
all be running at something like 8W.

There are Turion-based laptops being sold as Media Centre PCs nowadays.

Yousuf Khan