How much CPU for online multimedia?

[dougz]

Youtube's new "Theater View style" http://www.youtube.com/blog?entry=F1xABdzKby4 has convinced me that I need to upgrade a box. My Duron is not up to viewing it.

Goals:
- Cheap, but reliable AM2 mobo w/ integrated video
- CPU adequate for streaming media and light general computing
- Doesn't need to be silent, just "reasonably quiet."

Note:
- No need for gaming or HD TV
- Linux media players do NOT use GPU HW acceleration
- Budget is tight.

I'm thinking of:
- Gigabyte GA-MA74GM-S2 ($55 + S/H)
- AMD Athlon X2 4450e 2.3GHz 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 45W 65nm Dual-Core Processor - Retail ($59)

Any better alternatives?

I'd like to reuse the Antec case and Antec SL300S PSU, if feasible. I'd need to find a 20->24 pin adapter, as well as a molex->P4 cable. Should I punt and just get a new PSU? (Antec is about 6-7 years old, IIRC.)

[tehcrazybob]

For what you're looking for, I think you've chosen pretty well. Realistically, absolutely any dual-core processor will give you the performance you need, so if your budget is extremely tight you could probably drop a bit further.

If you're content with the noise and efficiency of your current power supply, you might as well stick with it. I'm pretty sure you won't even need a 20->24 pin adapter, as such a low-powered system should be perfectly content without the additional juice.

[dougz]

If you're content with the noise and efficiency of your current power supply, you might as well stick with it. I'm pretty sure you won't even need a 20->24 pin adapter, as such a low-powered system should be perfectly content without the additional juice.

The Antec is noisier than I'd like, but I can live with it, for now.

I did not know that you could plug a 20 pin ATX into a (low power) 24 pin mobo, but I found a nice article confirming it and specifying caveats. Much appreciated. http://www.playtool.com/pages/psucompat/compat.html

However, surgery on either the key or the keyway in the socket might be required as the 20 pin's key is opposite 5-6 and the 24 pin's is opposite 6-7. See pinouts in following URLs (not quite compatible with the forum posting tool) --
http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/ATX ... (ver._1.x)
http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/ATX ... (ver._2.x)

[dougz]

I'm pretty sure you won't even need a 20->24 pin adapter, as such a low-powered system should be perfectly content without the additional juice.

You're correct. From the mobo manual --

The main power connector is compatible with power supplies with 2x10 power connectors. When using a 2x12 power supply, remove the protective cover from the main power connector on the motherboard. Do not insert the power supply cable into pins under the protective cover when using a 2x10 power supply.

Less clutter, better airflow, less chance for noise if I just skip the adapter. Thank you!

Gigabyte does recommend a 400 watt PSU, but I won't need it for this system.

[CA_Steve]

That will probably work well for you. The next upgrade step would be 780g for $30 more - GA-MA78GM-S2H. It also has 2 firewire and 1 eSATA ports.

[dougz]

While reading up on Adobe's new Flash 10, I happened to notice the Adobe system requirements page. While Flash 10 claims performance improvements and the page only lists system requirements for Flash 9, they are a useful guide. http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplay ... ystemreqs/

Adobe's minimum tested Linux system is beefier than their minimum Windows system, but their standard & high def recommendations are identical.

Atom processors need not apply, even for 480p.

Adobe recommends a minimum of Intel P4 at 2.33 GHz for 480p (Windows & Linux). They recommend Intel Core Duo 1.8GHz processor for 1080p for Windows & Linux; Intel Core Duo 2.66GHz for Mac.

A performance note on Flash 10 hardware requirements --

I was getting a lot of choppy video playback in Flash on my MacBook Pro, that seems to be doing better with this version, although its not completely gone.
http://technologizer.com/2008/10/14/ado ... player-10/

Adobe Flash 10 --
http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flas ... notes.html

[tehcrazybob]

Notice that the system requirements call for a 1.8 GHz Core Duo, not a Core 2 Duo. A Core Duo is roughly 30% slower than a Core 2 Duo at the same clock speed. The 2.3 GHz AMD you've selected should do quite nicely; as far as I can tell, Athlon X2 and Core Duo are nearly identical clock-for-clock.

[dougz]

Notice that the system requirements call for a 1.8 GHz Core Duo, not a Core 2 Duo. A Core Duo is roughly 30% slower than a Core 2 Duo at the same clock speed. The 2.3 GHz AMD you've selected should do quite nicely; as far as I can tell, Athlon X2 and Core Duo are nearly identical clock-for-clock.

Thanks for the info. I was a bit nervous when I read that.

I'm not usually an early adopter, but Flash 9 was such a problem child that I uninstalled it and installed Flash 10 on Ubuntu 8.04.1 (Hardy Heron) with Firefox 3.03. Based on a few hours of playing, I'd say it is significantly more stable. Not one crash or freeze yet.

Easy install; Adobe now supplies a .deb! http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-instal ... heron.html

Faster? How can you tell on a 900 MHz Duron? It's amazing that it works as well as it does!