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Processor upgrade for 1080p

 
This forum is locked: you cannot post, reply to, or edit topics.   This topic is locked: you cannot edit posts or make replies.    CurtPalme.com Forum Index -> Home Theater PCs
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daves123



Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 126


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 5:03 pm    Post subject: Processor upgrade for 1080p

I've decided to res-erect my htpc, and want to bring it up to speed for 1080p. I switched from xp mce to vista. I don't want to change my motherboard, and figured the cpu upgrade would do it, just not sure which one to go with. I want to be able to play both Hd dvd & blu ray.

Here are my specs:


Motherboard - M2NPV-VM
Processor - Amd am2 x2 4400+
Ram - Ocz DDR2 PC2-6400 800MHz dual channel 4gb
Video Card - Ati hd2400 pr 256mb

I realize I also might have to upgrade my video card, but would like to do this as cheaply as possible.
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greg_mitch



Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:14 pm    Post subject:

I think the ATI2400 has HW acceleration. Have you tried playing a 1080p video file from BR or HDDVD? Usually the choppiness is a driver/software issue.

I would think that system can do 1080p.
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daves123



Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 126


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 6:50 pm    Post subject:

It does have hw acceleration, but hd dvd playback was a little choppy. I was reading up on cpu's and they said the general rule is +3ghz x2 for 1080p on an amd. My current cpu is 2.2ghz. I can't seem to find a amd x2 3.0ghz socket am2. I've seen a 2.7ghz that was in my price range, but I don't want to buy it and find out i'm no better off.
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macgyver655



Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 8508


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:47 pm    Post subject:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4361687&CatId=2328
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daves123



Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 126


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:14 pm    Post subject:

Thank you. That's what i'm looking for.
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greg_mitch



Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320


Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:45 pm    Post subject:

I can tell you for a fact that you don't need 3ghz unless you are specifically referring to AMD processors.

I have an Intel E4500 (2.2ghz) with a 2400 xt that does 1080p from bluray and 1080p MKV files from BR's and HD DVD.

What software and drivers are you using?
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Zebu Fellenz



Joined: 21 Dec 2006
Posts: 2567


Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:07 am    Post subject:

I don't think you need 3Ghz. X2, I use a 4800+ clocked to 2.6Ghz per core and it works fine for HD-DVD and Blu-ray, and this is with a Geforce 7950GT video card that I don't believe has H/A.

It was a little choppy at stock 2.4Ghz.

I am looking at swapping it out for a Phenom quad core, but that would be for the encoding I do, not playback.
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bbfarmht



Joined: 27 May 2006
Posts: 1273
Location: Where the Mississippi runs east to west!!

Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:42 am    Post subject:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3476411&CatId=3496

I just realized that it might not be the same socket!!

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akajester



Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 934
Location: Wisconsin

Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 9:17 pm    Post subject:

I did both a dual core and quad core amd. I believe the quad core was a 9600. Both were $99 or less and worked great. I saw no difference in performance. running 1080p video with no dxva was 50% cpu and with dxva it was 10% cpu or less. Video card was an ati 3450 @ $30 from newegg.

Oh, and the 2400 will do dxva, although I believe you may need to run a regestry hack to get it to work properly. The 3000 series and higher works without the hack.

here's a link with more info;
http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/ati-hd2x00/
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daves123



Joined: 16 Jan 2009
Posts: 126


Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:31 pm    Post subject:

Thanks for the input. I'm gonna try out the registry tweaks. I think i'll be safe and upgrade to the 6000+ 3.10ghz processor.
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Elaine Benes



Joined: 25 Apr 2006
Posts: 1416


Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:55 pm    Post subject:

daves123 wrote:
Thanks for the input. I'm gonna try out the registry tweaks. I think i'll be safe and upgrade to the 6000+ 3.10ghz processor.


I've used the 6000+ Black Edition cpu, and it was the fastest AMD cpu I've ever had, worked really well IMHO. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I replaced it with a Phenom, and for every day stuff, I think I preferred the 6000+ Black Edition...
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akajester



Joined: 09 Jul 2008
Posts: 934
Location: Wisconsin

Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:40 pm    Post subject:

Elaine Benes wrote:
daves123 wrote:
Thanks for the input. I'm gonna try out the registry tweaks. I think i'll be safe and upgrade to the 6000+ 3.10ghz processor.


I've used the 6000+ Black Edition cpu, and it was the fastest AMD cpu I've ever had, worked really well IMHO. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. I replaced it with a Phenom, and for every day stuff, I think I preferred the 6000+ Black Edition...


I had that same processor and could swear it was faster than the quadcore phenom I'm running now. either are good though.
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