Well, I'm thinking eventually building a low power computer, what's the best choice? Via or AMD or... ?
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/Virt ... 16,00.html
regards
marc
AMD geode processors
Moderators: NeilBlanchard, Ralf Hutter, sthayashi, Lawrence Lee
Translation: The Geode is for embedded systems. AMD wants to use x86 for EVERYTHING.AMD wrote:The AMD Geode family of embedded solutions is part of AMD’s strategy to offer assets, resources and vision for extending x86 solutions from low-power embedded solutions up through the highest-performing server platforms.
AMD bought the Geode processor designs from SGS-Thomson (I think!!). They're for low power embedded applications. Stick em together with another chip and they're pretty much a complete PC.
Whether you should use it all depends on your application.
They'd be good in a wireless/wired standalone MP3 placyer but won't be powerful enough for an HTPC. They're about as powerful as a Pentium 1.. but they are available with slightly higher clock speeds and sometimes have multimedia optimisations. They're expensive for low volume purchases.
If you want cool and powerful CPU, get an Barton XP-M.. a XP-M 2400+ runs at 1800MHz and depending on the exact model runs at 1.35V and 35W max - apparently there are also 25W versions but I've never seen them.
The way to go is one of these 35W babies and underclock and undervolt - people have been getting them down to 13W on the forums here at still running 1000MHz. Don;t quote me on that though - it was just a guestimate.
I have a 35W 2400+ XP-M and I'm amazed with my load temps - full speed, running F@H I'm getting CPU temps 4 deg C above case temp. CPU is cooled by a DP-102 and a 60mm (!!!) fan.
If you want really low power then a 35W 1.35V XP-M run at 1.0V and 800MHz would put out only 8.5W under full load. I can't guarantee you'll be able to undervolt that far but you might - check the other posts here on the lowest people have got.
Whether you should use it all depends on your application.
They'd be good in a wireless/wired standalone MP3 placyer but won't be powerful enough for an HTPC. They're about as powerful as a Pentium 1.. but they are available with slightly higher clock speeds and sometimes have multimedia optimisations. They're expensive for low volume purchases.
If you want cool and powerful CPU, get an Barton XP-M.. a XP-M 2400+ runs at 1800MHz and depending on the exact model runs at 1.35V and 35W max - apparently there are also 25W versions but I've never seen them.
The way to go is one of these 35W babies and underclock and undervolt - people have been getting them down to 13W on the forums here at still running 1000MHz. Don;t quote me on that though - it was just a guestimate.
I have a 35W 2400+ XP-M and I'm amazed with my load temps - full speed, running F@H I'm getting CPU temps 4 deg C above case temp. CPU is cooled by a DP-102 and a 60mm (!!!) fan.
If you want really low power then a 35W 1.35V XP-M run at 1.0V and 800MHz would put out only 8.5W under full load. I can't guarantee you'll be able to undervolt that far but you might - check the other posts here on the lowest people have got.
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silvervarg
- Posts: 1283
- Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:35 am
- Location: Sweden, Linkoping
I don't agree that the Geode would be good for a standalone MP3 player. It is far too powerfull to play mp3 only. Since standalone mp3 players typically runs on batterys a few watts usage in a CPU is a lot since it will drain batteries rather quickly.
The power rating of the Geode is similar to the VIA C3 clock speed. So a Geode 1500 is similar to a P3 750 MHz. That is about 900MHz P4.
The Geode is very close to the VIA C3 CPU, and it seems to performe a bit better with slightly lower heat. The major problem is that there is no reasonably priced motherboard for the Geode. So if you want something today the Geode is not an option.
In that power range you can either go for VIA C3 or an undervolted and underclocked Barton XP-M.
The advantage with VIA C3 is mainly the cost and very small size of motherboard..
The advantage with the Barton is the abillity to increase speed when you need to. Even mATX boards with good undervolting is very hard to find, so you might end up with a full ATX board.
Another interesting option is the VIA Eden-N (nano-ITX) that hopefully hits the stores before XMAS. I have not seen any reliable information on the pricing yet, but I excpect it to be priced similar to VIA Eden (C3) boards.
Yesterday Intel released a new solution in Asia with "Shelton" CPU (very similar to Banaias core). It runs on a 170x190mm board passively at 1GHz. Read more on mini-itx.com.
The power rating of the Geode is similar to the VIA C3 clock speed. So a Geode 1500 is similar to a P3 750 MHz. That is about 900MHz P4.
The Geode is very close to the VIA C3 CPU, and it seems to performe a bit better with slightly lower heat. The major problem is that there is no reasonably priced motherboard for the Geode. So if you want something today the Geode is not an option.
In that power range you can either go for VIA C3 or an undervolted and underclocked Barton XP-M.
The advantage with VIA C3 is mainly the cost and very small size of motherboard..
The advantage with the Barton is the abillity to increase speed when you need to. Even mATX boards with good undervolting is very hard to find, so you might end up with a full ATX board.
Another interesting option is the VIA Eden-N (nano-ITX) that hopefully hits the stores before XMAS. I have not seen any reliable information on the pricing yet, but I excpect it to be priced similar to VIA Eden (C3) boards.
Yesterday Intel released a new solution in Asia with "Shelton" CPU (very similar to Banaias core). It runs on a 170x190mm board passively at 1GHz. Read more on mini-itx.com.
Welcome to SPCR!!roo wrote:Can I get a "Welcome to SPCR" ??
btw.. regarding my comments on the Geode - yes, sorry, maybe the more recent ones are more powerful - I investigated them a a few years ago when clock speeds were of the order of 300 MHz - which I figured would be enough (and then some) for MP3 playback and a bit of HDD serving. I had no idea their speeds broke a gighertz - cool.
@sven - I believe you!!
The history of the Geode is quite complex -originally there was a company call Cyrix who made x86 microprocessors, fabbed by IBM. They had two lines of processor, one a straight x86, similar to a 486/Pentium, and one which was a SOC (System On a Chip) -it had graphics, sound etc. integrated, and was designed for cheap systems. Cyrix were aquired by National, who didn't really do very much with either line. National sold the Cyrix name and the straight x86 designs to Via who used the name in their original low power chip aquired from IDT (IIRC); whilst National keept the Geode. Eventually, they managed to sell the Geode to AMD, who promptly killed the architecture, and used the name for what are essentially K7 chips.
HTH
HTH
Why not undervolt and underclock a barton to 1.1volt and 1GHz... it can be passivelly cooled too, only 15W max I think...bhtooefr wrote: Doing some comparisons against the 1750@14W and some mobile Bartons, it seems that it would OC like a bat out of hell, and still be passively cooled.
The geode NX is socketA the GX is a complete system on a chip (AMD PIC)AMD have introduced a new range of low power consumption Geode CPUs, based upon their Mobile Athlon architecture. The Geode NX is Socket A compatible
Check these links! very interesting, it seams tyan has geode boards
http://pair.offshore.ai/pic/
http://www.mini-itx.com/news/76391757/