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Ok so the AMD 4850e 'energy efficient' cpu seems to be really popular with HTPC builds. But is it seriously worth the extra $20/$30 or worth the sacrifice in performance compared to the similarly priced AMD 5400+?
I'm all for a quiet HTPC, but has anyone directly compared the fan noise of a 4850e vs say the 5400+ under load?
If the difference is only a decibel or two, I'd rather opt for the 5400+, to be on the safe side and ensure my HTPC has the grunt.
FYI, I will be using a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H, 2GB Kingston (800MHz), W.D. 640Gb, Pioneer DVD-RW, Leadtek DTV1000h, Antec Micro Fusion 350, to watch and record HD, and Blu-ray in the future.
It may also be the difference between running a completely passive HTPC or one with semi-passive cooling.
My goal was for a completely passive HTPC (no fans at all) and this was achievable with the 4850e. In my case, the extra $20-$30 was worth it in the end.
I'm about to start a build soon and I have to admit I'm puzzled over the whole "quiet HTPC" thing which seems to border on obsessive-compulsive in some threads.
While it's sensible not to have a ridiculously noisy one - like a standard desktop perhaps - "noise" is hugely subjective per individual, as the wife will attest to when she demands I turn down the volume.
Also, my own assessment is that I'm unlikely to notice a very small small fan noise over the top of Pink Floyd's Delicate Sound of Thunder Concert in surround sound, or the Formula 1 grand prix, or almost anything else I do with the HTPC for that matter, especially as I sit a reasonable distance away from the unit. Even "quiet spots" in movies are not totally silent, and every household has an ambient noise level too.
Noise to some extent is also required to efficiently dissipate heat (through fans), which is required so your HTPC doesn't lock up just as the bad guy is about to get knocked off in the final scene. So while I'm going to try to make sensible decisions about noise and power consumption, it won't completely dominate the components I get. No point in having a semi-functional, but silent, HTPC! Just my personal thoughts.
It does make a difference in my experience. I installed a 4850e in my brother-in-law's media center and he's able to run his CPU fan at 5v (instead of 12v) with the cpu still staying fairly cool while under load. You can barely hear it up close. My media center has the same case but with a regular dual core AMD CPU(3200?), and I have experienced significantly more heat than he has and I actually ended up modifying my case so I could get better airflow onto the CPU. Early on I tried to run my CPU at 5v but unfortunately it got too hot for my liking under load.
If you get a really quiet cpu fan and have good ventilation around the case you won't have a noise issue with a more power-hungry cpu, but if your build won't have good air flow due to the physical location of the machine or if you won't be using many fans, I'd really recommend getting a low power cpu. FYI - a cpu fan and a psu that blows air out is more than adequate to get good enough air flow to keep your system cool.
I installed a Scythe Shuriken Heatsink/Fan onto the CPU, it runs @~700rpm and I can not hear it at all, even with the case open and my ear near the fan.
yeh i think it is worth it as less power means less heat which means less cooling which means less noise....ahhh.... *catches breath* ...lol but no seriously i have this and it stays around 30 degrees according to the bios and every other program tells me it idles at 12 degrees lol... either way it means my heatsink runs at its lowest fan settings and my htpc stays nice n quiet
Ive just finished building my HTPC with a 4850e and a slim case. Over the past couple of days I can hear the CPU fan (stock amd unit) above everything else. Can anyone recommend a fan to replace the stock one or some sort of passive cooling instead?
Depends on the height of the case, but a Scythe Mini Ninja or Scythe Shuriken both get good wraps.
As for is it worth it, I don't know I just bought one and am waiting for it. But MSY are selling them for $79 as of yesterday (although you have to wait for it to come in).
I think the Shuriken would fit, but is it just worth replacing the stock fan with something that has ball bearings and is a bit quieter?
I don't think it is - the problem with the stock fan isn't really the fan, it's the heatsink which isn't that efficient (so the fan has to spin more/faster). With an add on cooler, it more efficiently cools the CPU before you even get to the fan, so the fan itself doesn't have to spin as much or as fast.
Justin
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VMC32: Asus M3N78-EMH HDMI, 4850e, TMG A2 CPU Cooler, 2x1GB Kingston HyperX 800, 2 x HVR-2200 (4 tuners), 500GB Samsung, NSK2480B. Connected to a Metz 32 inch LCD.
Office/Server: Abit A-N78HD, BE-2350, 2x1GB Kingston HyperX 800, 2 x AverTV Duo (4 tuners), CoolerMaster Centurion 5 Tower.
Just my personal thoughts.
