C2D E6400 Fast Enough for HTPC?

[Xope_Poquar]

HTPC specs:
Windows 7 Professional
Core2Duo E6400 2.13GHz
2GB DDR2-800
X1950 XT 512MB


The framerate of 1080p playback is pretty bad for larger bitrates. I've tried using various players such as Media Player Classic (home cinema) with the k-lite codec pack, VLC, Media Portal. I've tried ffdshow, mpeg-2, h264, etc. The CPU is around 80% usage for all of them. Is 8mbps and over too high a bitrate for the E6400?

[lowfat]

If you can afford a new videocard it most definitely will. X1950XT doesn't support DXVA. All Nvidia 9-series cards and ATI 4-series cards and newer do. You could buy a ~$50 Geforce 9400GT or an ATI HD4350. Then use MPC-HC. Your CPU usage when playing h.264 1080p movies will now be ~5%.

However if you don't want to buy a new videocard. First delete all that k-lite codec crap. Then download CoreAVC and ac3filter. Those should be the only two codecs you should need. CoreAVC should be able to play 1080P perfectly fine w/ a E6300. Although CoreAVC isn't free. It is around $20 I do believe.

[Xope_Poquar]

Thank you for the reply!! This sounds much cheaper than buying a faster CPU. Quick question though. It looks like CoreAVC uses CUDA. I also have an 8600GT lying around. Would I be able to use that for a better boost?

[zsamz_]

Thank you for the reply!! This sounds much cheaper than buying a faster CPU. Quick question though. It looks like CoreAVC uses CUDA. I also have an 8600GT lying around. Would I be able to use that for a better boost?

[zanzabar]

Thank you for the reply!! This sounds much cheaper than buying a faster CPU. Quick question though. It looks like CoreAVC uses CUDA. I also have an 8600GT lying around. Would I be able to use that for a better boost?

core avc also uses dx10 shaders and that normally works better, ffdshow can do shaders also and its free so i would try that, my cpu never comes out of cool and quiet with ffdshow (installed through the CCCP) and it uses my 4890

[drdeath]

IMO, get a new CPU, mobo and 5770. 5770's are nicely priced. You should be able to migrate your existing hardware with the new stuff as long as PSU is large enough.

Edit: You will need DDR3. It can start getting expensive at this point.......

[zsamz_]

IMO, get a new CPU, mobo and 5770. 5770's are nicely priced. You should be able to migrate your existing hardware with the new stuff as long as PSU is large enough.

Edit: You will need DDR3. It can start getting expensive at this point.......

you got no clue man
stop givin bad advice
a cheap ati or nvidia card will do the job of no need for a 5770
no need for a large psu
no need for new cpu
no need for ddr3 and a new board

you be @ 100 posts fast like this

[dengyong]

IMO, get a new CPU, mobo and 5770. 5770's are nicely priced. You should be able to migrate your existing hardware with the new stuff as long as PSU is large enough.

Edit: You will need DDR3. It can start getting expensive at this point.......

You want him to buy a new computer to fix his minor video problem.

[zsamz_]

You want him to buy a new computer to fix his minor video problem.

he gonna tell us all to buy a new pc soon

[radaja]

question

hey guys im having trouble with my case's side panel,it wont shut all the way.do you know where i can get a replacement for it?

answer

IMO,get a 980x and a rampage III extreme and a 5770.5770's are nicely priced.you should be able to migrate your existing hardware with the new stuff as long as PSU is large enough.
Edit: You will need DDR3. It can start getting expensive at this point.......
EDIT 2:also get a new case,i recommend the corsair obsidian 800D.the corsair obsidian 800D are nicely priced

[Xope_Poquar]

Thank you thank you!! It's about 99% perfect. Many of the 1080p files I have which where jerky are smooth as silk. There is only a little bit of jumping with my 20mbps files when there is a lot of motion. But they are very watchable.

[zsamz_]

Thank you thank you!! It's about 99% perfect. Many of the 1080p files I have which where jerky are smooth as silk. There is only a little bit of jumping with my 20mbps files when there is a lot of motion. But they are very watchable.

glad you didnt get a whole new rig as someone suggested lol

btw i have my e6400 overclocked to 3.6 1.36v since day 1 so if you need power just get a good heatsink and overclock it

[Xope_Poquar]

Haha, yeah I could always overclock it but the goal of the HTPC was to make it as low power as possible. I have a spare TRUE copper edition even but it doesn't fit in the case. I think there may be a Scythe Infinity laying around somewhere, and a Tuniq Tower. I can't remember. But they're all too big! I might get a newer video card just to get sound through the HDMI and get rid of that crappy audio cable.

[zsamz_]

Haha, yeah I could always overclock it but the goal of the HTPC was to make it as low power as possible. I have a spare TRUE copper edition even but it doesn't fit in the case. I think there may be a Scythe Infinity laying around somewhere, and a Tuniq Tower. I can't remember. But they're all too big! I might get a newer video card just to get sound through the HDMI and get rid of that crappy audio cable.

even on stock volts you can bump her up but gona need a low profile heatsink
my tuniq is coolin the e6400
next htpc i gonna put in a h50

[Forin]

hello,

E6400 is fast enought CPU for HTPC.

I have ATI HD4350 with passive cooling and I can recommend it.

[Ket]

HTPC or not, if you have a mobo capable of doing so, OC your 6400

[l0ud_sil3nc3]

question


answer

thats great.

[Xope_Poquar]

It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for an XS member to not desire to overclock something.


Once more I'd like your help. I'm now about to purchase a better video card just so I can get features like DXVA and HDMI.

1. I have an X-Fi and I'm wondering if I can get it's audio through the HDMI in the video card, or am I stuck with an audio cable or the video card's audio?
2. 9400GT vs 4350 vs 5450 etc. The 5450 seems to have a speed and power consumption advantage, any objections? Other suggestions?
3. My TV (LG 60PS11) says it supports HDMI control. Does this mean when my HTPC shuts off it can turn off the TV as well? I can't find anything about that in the manual.
edit: From research apparently I'm thinking of a feature called HDMI-CEC. I don't know if any video cards support it but it appears not.
4. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard setup that get massive interference from the 2.4GHz wireless N network. What do? Switch to Bluetooth?

[zanzabar]

HDMI uses digital audio u wont get a difference from the auzen hdmi card or the HD5 ati cards some of the older cards like the NV and ati hd4 and under dont have full pass through or 24bit. so the ati hd5 cards are the clear choice for an HTPC as they have the best HDMI support.

for the network u could do blue tooth or change to 5ghz, for HDMI control it dosnt work with computer to TV or atleast not yet i have a panasonic with that and it only works on like 3 blu ray players

[joecop120]

I just got a e6400 and had the same question. At the same time, I got an e3300 (45nm 2.5ghz "celeron core2duo")

would the e3300 be better for the HTPC?

[BeepBeep2]

I just got a e6400 and had the same question. At the same time, I got an e3300 (45nm 2.5ghz "celeron core2duo")

would the e3300 be better for the HTPC?

Put the e6400 cooler on the e3300 and overclock the e3300. Then the answer is yes.

[joecop120]

hah, i never use stock coolers (or push pin) since the accident of '08 when i slipped and impaled my finger on the 4 pin cpu fan header.

But yeah, I'll plan on using the e3300 then.