Core 2 Mobile vs Desktop. Performance/Watt

[weEvil]

The Core 2 Mobile is supposed to only suck down 44 Watts. The performance Mobile one. X7900. 800mhz FSB & 2.8GHz core clock.

How would this compare to a low end Core 2 Duo (or even a low power AMD one). Something like an E4xxx series or E2xxx series.

The mobile one looks beefy, but then it also has a cut down FSB.

Also, I've heard good things about the low power AMD processors. Mostly because the chipset sucks down less power compared to the Intel ones.

This is for an HTPC system I would like to put together. Fanless, silent & cool.

[puntoMX]

I would go for a AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core, Model 3800+, ADD3800IAA5CU/ADD3800CUBOX; 35 Watt.

That in combination with a AMD 694x chipset...

[weEvil]

I would go for a AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core, Model 3800+, ADD3800IAA5CU/ADD3800CUBOX; 35 Watt.

That in combination with a AMD 694x chipset...

Is that the 65nm one?

[puntoMX]

Nope, just 90nm, but it seems they are hard to get, and also called X2 3800+ EE SFF.

So, it would be better if you look for a AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core, Model BE-2350, ADH2350IAA5DD/ADH2350DDBOX, just 45watts and WAY cheaper then a mobile CPU.

[weEvil]

Nope, just 90nm, but it seems they are hard to get, and also called X2 3800+ EE SFF.

So, it would be better if you look for a AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core, Model BE-2350, ADH2350IAA5DD/ADH2350DDBOX, just 45watts and WAY cheaper then a mobile CPU.

Seems a little underpowered.

What about the Intel E2xxx series?

[puntoMX]

Underpowered for a HTPC?

Hum, any way... Pentium E2180 @ 65W.

[weEvil]

Underpowered for a HTPC?

I'm building so in the future I can put in a HDDVD/Blu-Ray combo drive.

[puntoMX]

So, what you need then is *:

Pentium 4 2.0GHz or faster CPU and 512MB or higher RAM are required> 30GB HDD available capacity

For High Definition BD Playback & Authoring: ( Only Windows XP SP2 ) (*2)

Pentium D 3.4GHz or faster CPU and 1GB or higher RAM are required

HDCP capable graphics card with 256MB RAM, PCI Express x16, 1920x1200 resolution, 32bit color

GPU : nVidia GeForce 6600GT / 7600GT / 7800GTX512 / 7900GX2 / 7900GTX / 7950GX2

and ATI X1600 / X1800 / X1900 series are recommended

> 60GB HDD available capacity

HDCP capable Monitor or TV for High Definition digital output

Not really underpowered

* Taken from LiteON.

[weEvil]

Nope, just 90nm, but it seems they are hard to get, and also called X2 3800+ EE SFF.

So, it would be better if you look for a AMD Athlon™ X2 Dual-Core, Model BE-2350, ADH2350IAA5DD/ADH2350DDBOX, just 45watts and WAY cheaper then a mobile CPU.

What I don't get is: Why does it consume so little when its 90nm? And why does an E2xxx consume much more when its smaller at 65nm?

[puntoMX]

It is the voltage, the 90nm chip we are talking about works on 1.025V/1.075V while the 65nm chip works on 1.25V. This is why people under-volt there CPUs the lower the power it drains. Also, smaller in this case are more voltage leaks .

Something to read: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4351...eaky-chips.html

[nmX.Memnoch]

Also keep in mind that the rated power draw is with the processor under FULL load (not just showing 100% in Task Manager, but all of the L2 cache being actively used at once).

Generally speaking, the mobile version of a given CPU will usually use less power than it's desktop counterpart. Battery life is important in laptops.

If power and cooling are important to you, then I would suggest focusing on laptop/mobile based parts. AOpen has a lineup of Socket M based motherboards that even use SO-DIMMs (laptop memory), but still have PCIe x16 slots on the motherboard so you can get decent graphics.

http://usa.aopen.com/Products.aspx?id=52

You would just have to make sure that you get the Socket M variant of the mobile Core 2 because there are a few that are Socket P.

[puntoMX]

But still, 30 watts less at the maximum for a much higher price...

And when I see the price of a T2500.... auch

[weEvil]

Turns out this 'leak' problem is being fixed.

High K material in the new Penryn 45nm parts. Supposed to slash the power consumption. I think I'll wait a bit and buy one of the low end processors. Its coming out very soon, no?

Also, what's up with Intel boards consuming more power than the AMD ones? And how big is the difference?

[nmX.Memnoch]

And when I see the price of a T2500.... auch

Mobile parts are always more expensive.