Captain Reynolds Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 After playing around with the onboard RAID controller of my ASUS P5K WS a few times, I have decided that it is time for me to upgrade to a dedicated RAID controller. The P5K doesn't have onboard graphics, and it's only PCI-E x16 slot is being used by an 8400GS. I am therefore contemplating repurposing my current HTPC as my WHS2011 and getting a new MB & CPU for the HTPC. Current setups as follows: HTPC: Core i3 540, Gigabyte GA-H55M-D2H, GSkill 4GB DDR3, Corsair Force 80GBSSD (OS), WD2TBEARS (Recorded TV), LG Bluray Combo, W764Bit WHS 2011: Q6600, ASUS P5KWS, 4GBDDR2, 8400GS, 2x500GB RAID1 (OS & Work Files), 3xWD2TBEARS (Everything else) Proposed setups: HTPC: AMD A6-3500, 4GB DDR3, Corsair Force 80GBSSD (OS), WD2TBEARS (Recorded TV), LG Bluray Combo, W764Bit WHS 2011: Core i3 540, Gigabyte GA-H55M-D2H, GSkill 4GB DDR3, Highpoint RocketRaid 2720, 2x500GB RAID1 (OS & Work Files), 4xWD2TBEARS (Everything else) I use the HTPC for DVD & BD Ripping (it has the only BD player I own), recording OTA with Media Centre (HD Homerun) and playback of all media from WHS 2011. My WHS2011 is fairly simple - it is mainly file store with a couple of add-ins (Lights out, Advanced Console, Crashplan) I haven't used it for anything virtual as yet. My questions: 1. Do I go for the AMD Llano on my HTPC? Would the extra video and third core help my media and ripping? Often the rig will be recording 2 shows and ripping a disc. 2. Would I be better off leaving the HTPC as is and going for say an i3 2100T & new MB for my WHS 2011 3. Is either of these options not worth all the work? Could I instead use a USB video card and just put a Highpoint 2720 in the ASUS board's only PCI-E slot?? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablDeViL Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I am testing my A8 Llano HTPC and so far there is nothing it cannot do. And it is surprisingly cool ( I have cool and quiet turned on). Any thing that takes advantage of the GPU will run well compared to a i3. I love it so far but it is not in my entertainment rack yet, just on the test desk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Reynolds Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 I am testing my A8 Llano HTPC and so far there is nothing it cannot do. And it is surprisingly cool ( I have cool and quiet turned on). Any thing that takes advantage of the GPU will run well compared to a i3. I love it so far but it is not in my entertainment rack yet, just on the test desk. Thanks for the info - it's good to know others have AMD as a HTPC option. In over 15 years of building my own computers, I have to admit I have NEVER owned an AMD CPU. Llano has me interested, and just may be enough to get me to take a splash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablDeViL Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I was just the opposite. Until I built a i7 =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest no-control Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Is the Llano cheaper than an i3/H67? Only reason I would go the AMD route is if it was cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcdoc Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 After playing around with the onboard RAID controller of my ASUS P5K WS a few times, I have decided that it is time for me to upgrade to a dedicated RAID controller. The P5K doesn't have onboard graphics, and it's only PCI-E x16 slot is being used by an 8400GS. I am therefore contemplating repurposing my current HTPC as my WHS2011 and getting a new MB & CPU for the HTPC. Current setups as follows: HTPC: Core i3 540, Gigabyte GA-H55M-D2H, GSkill 4GB DDR3, Corsair Force 80GBSSD (OS), WD2TBEARS (Recorded TV), LG Bluray Combo, W764Bit WHS 2011: Q6600, ASUS P5KWS, 4GBDDR2, 8400GS, 2x500GB RAID1 (OS & Work Files), 3xWD2TBEARS (Everything else) Proposed setups: HTPC: AMD A6-3500, 4GB DDR3, Corsair Force 80GBSSD (OS), WD2TBEARS (Recorded TV), LG Bluray Combo, W764Bit WHS 2011: Core i3 540, Gigabyte GA-H55M-D2H, GSkill 4GB DDR3, Highpoint RocketRaid 2720, 2x500GB RAID1 (OS & Work Files), 4xWD2TBEARS (Everything else) I use the HTPC for DVD & BD Ripping (it has the only BD player I own), recording OTA with Media Centre (HD Homerun) and playback of all media from WHS 2011. My WHS2011 is fairly simple - it is mainly file store with a couple of add-ins (Lights out, Advanced Console, Crashplan) I haven't used it for anything virtual as yet. My questions: 1. Do I go for the AMD Llano on my HTPC? Would the extra video and third core help my media and ripping? Often the rig will be recording 2 shows and ripping a disc. 2. Would I be better off leaving the HTPC as is and going for say an i3 2100T & new MB for my WHS 2011 3. Is either of these options not worth all the work? Could I instead use a USB video card and just put a Highpoint 2720 in the ASUS board's only PCI-E slot?? Thanks in advance! My two cents: 1. I would stick definitively stick with the core I3 for your HTPC as it is still overall faster in every way. Not worth the upgrade. 2. Definetyly would go for I3-21xx for the WHS server. Much better choice than what you are presently running. 3. Yes, Leave the HTPC, and upgrade you WHS for a better experience, more CPU power, less power draw and better setup for future tasks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Reynolds Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share Posted November 7, 2011 Is the Llano cheaper than an i3/H67? Only reason I would go the AMD route is if it was cheaper. Aussie pricing: AMD A8 3500 $105 or A8 3650 $125, Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2H $85 Intel i3 2100 $125 or i3 2100T $148, Gigabyte GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 $112 (Can also get the GA-Z68M-D2H for $115 on special at the moment) So $190 - $210 for AMD or $237 - $260 for i3 If there really is nothing else to consider, it would seem AMD is the way to go for a media centre at present... Beyond that, I think I am leaning towards pcdoc's suggestion and going for the i3 2100T & Gigabyte board above to start a brand new WHS. The Z68 board above seems like a good choice for an extra $3 - are there any downsides (possibly power draw?) to choosing Z68 over H67? Thanks again folks for your input Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcdoc Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Aussie pricing: AMD A8 3500 $105 or A8 3650 $125, Gigabyte GA-A55M-S2H $85 Intel i3 2100 $125 or i3 2100T $148, Gigabyte GA-H67MA-USB3-B3 $112 (Can also get the GA-Z68M-D2H for $115 on special at the moment) So $190 - $210 for AMD or $237 - $260 for i3 If there really is nothing else to consider, it would seem AMD is the way to go for a media centre at present... Beyond that, I think I am leaning towards pcdoc's suggestion and going for the i3 2100T & Gigabyte board above to start a brand new WHS. The Z68 board above seems like a good choice for an extra $3 - are there any downsides (possibly power draw?) to choosing Z68 over H67? Thanks again folks for your input One minor correction. Go with the 2011 not the "T". The extra $20 is not worth it. It is slower and translates to about 1 watt difference out of the wall. As for the Z68/H67, for a WHS it will not much matter as the primary difference is SSD caching which I am assuming you will not do for a server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CablDeViL Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 Just a FYI. I replaced my i3 h55 htpc that had a gigabyte mother board with a A8 3500 and a Msi mother board. After testing the box just runs better than my i3. It maybe the graphics difference but for my htpc needs it rocks and I am very happy. As a side note the mother board is a Msi a75ma-g55 and I have to say the board is much better than my gigabyte ga-h55m-usb3. The hudson chip set is much nicer than the h55 and x58 All the USB 3.0 ports are native and there is 6 native sata 6gb ports where the h55 x58 uses an external chip. Also I am starting to think that gigabyte is on the balls of their feet with the bios offerings. I just think they have fallen to far behind and the time from post to login is terrible compared to the latest asus and Msi offerings . That's with intel or amd. My Msi board does not spend more than two seconds before its into windows. It amazes me every cold boot. I will check asus and Msi's offerings for my z68 setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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