does such a cpu/gfx combo as this exist?

tezmo · 19 Nov 2006 at 15:02

In building a media centre, my specific requirements are i) that the video card should be able to spit out 1920*1080 over DVI, and ii) that the processor should have enough oomph to decode HD (720p) x264 video - don't care about doing anything more computationally intensive - no games, for example. My question though, is can I have i and ii but be passively cooled as well? If so, which cpu & gfx? (cheap as poss!

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Dureth · 19 Nov 2006 at 15:06

A 7600GS passively cooled will do for your graphics card requirements. You wont get a passively cooled CPU these days but you can get one that is near enough silent with the right heatsink and fan. The best option would be a Core2 Duo 6300 as its very cool running.

tezmo · 19 Nov 2006 at 15:11

thanks Dureth - doesnt even a 7600GS count as overdoing it for my requirements, though? If not, is something like this http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-082-LT the kind of thing you had in mind? Similarly, im pretty sure core2duo is overdoing it here isn't it?

Ender · 19 Nov 2006 at 15:51

you can passively cool, though its probably best to have some form of airflow in case, im guessing (though not actually sure) something like a amd 3500 will do you fine, stick a sycthe heatsink on it and you can probably get away with not having a fan.

Dureth · 19 Nov 2006 at 16:27

True both my suggestions are probably over kill. However the 7600gs you linked is silent while many lower end GPU's have small loud fans.

I suggested the 6300 as it will run very cool. I'm not sure if a single core A64 is up to decoding HD, does anybody else have any experience of this?

allllec · 19 Nov 2006 at 18:02

e6300 with a scythe ninja - fan running at lowest RPM.. you wont be able to head it, will keep the cpu well within operation temps

Dureth · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:15

The only problem that he might have with a scythe ninja is that it wont fit in the case hes using if its SFF or a HTPC.

Joe42 · 20 Nov 2006 at 01:03

I've recently built a media centre myself with similar requirements.

Passive isn't worth the extra money and effort, when you can get fans such as the nexus 120mm which are inaudible at 7v.

I went for onboard 6150 graphics, all boards with this are passively cooled anyway, and many come with dvi. I then chose an antec nsk2400 which has really good case cooling and i'm currently using the stock cooler for my 3200+ with the fan massively undervolted. The stock fans and psu in the nsk are all very quiet.
I'll soon be upgrading to an xp or si 120 with a nexus/yate loon fan which if undervolted will be silent.

If you need help choosing a board let me know as i spent some time finding the only mAtx 939 board with dvi, hd audio and overclocking options with voltage adjustment, so i know where to look.

Answer these questions and i'll do you a spec if you like. Do you need 5.1 and hd audio? Do you need overclocking options with voltage adjustment? Whats the budget?

Edit: A typical minimum for a decent media center is about £500.