Wanting new Machine for Multimedia.. Help?

[fohfoh]

The optiplex is kinda meh. True, it's a P4 3.2Ghz with HT, but in all honesty, for some odd reason, there's issues with multiple HDDs. Not sure why. You get 1 HDD max if you go with that. I have 2. Not bad for a file server, but it seems slightly lacking for playback. There also seems to be some slight issues with cooling. Bios maybe. 

[Gamerzhell]

If the cpu socket on the board is 775 then you can always pull out the P4 and throw in something more efficient, which will still cost you less than a full new computer.

[theprophet]

The optiplex is kinda meh. True, it's a P4 3.2Ghz with HT, but in all honesty, for some odd reason, there's issues with multiple HDDs. Not sure why. You get 1 HDD max if you go with that. I have 2. Not bad for a file server, but it seems slightly lacking for playback. There also seems to be some slight issues with cooling. Bios maybe. 

Thanks for the info on the Optiplex. I already have one, but I am using it primarily as a back up computer, and it has my MagicJack phone on it. I also use it in burning DVDs and anything I don't want to do on my laptop.

I'm just looking for a cheap way to do this for now I think. I might just upgrade the processor later down the road.. Or I can just keep on Craigslist and keep looking for cheap used computers to get for this.

[fohfoh]

It's not too bad as a stand alone. But if you want to upgrade it... I dunno. I'd rather wait on that.

i3 $550
or
C2D $400

if you can get a new i3 and everything for $550, why not look into buying an "older one" for maybe 300-400 bucks that maybe uses C2D if you can find it? 100 bucks is NOT worth it for the optiplex if it's that weak.

The C2D version is 400 but with the slim factor, you're not jamming 4TB of HDDs into it. So you might as well look into a way to buy a Tower for like $50 bucks that can take on your HDDs, put it to the side and connect to the slimline as extra storage. But not that optiplex.

[theprophet]

I'm looking into cheap computers at this point... I think I am just going to grab something around the 2.0+ghz processor range. I found a couple dual core computers in my price range.. I guess the real question in this thread has become.. What are the minimums I need to make this machine work properly.


What CPU speed minimum to playback of video (mostly 720 or lower.. I only have a few 1080 vids)

What RAM minimum should I use for the playback?

What Video card minimum for this? ( under 1 Gig?)


This way I know what minimums I should keep my search to. Keep in mind the only thing I am going to use this computer for is Video playback. I have backups for the Vids already. I already have the stuff Downloaded just sick of using my laptop to play on my TV, it ties up the reason I bought the laptop.

[fohfoh]

CPU speed? Most C2D running at 2.0 GHz or higher should be fine for everything up to 720 and maybe the occasional 1080. For the price points, you might as well toss in the extra 20-50 bucks here to be able to play 1080. Single core just doesn't cut it.
Ram... I'd suggest about 2-3 is fine as long as you don't have programs running in the background.
Video card (POWERHOUSE NOT REQUIRED) get playback software that relies on your CPU not GPU. Save like 50 bucks and invest it in another component. I mean.. CCCP will probably be good for this, but coreavc is where you should invest some time and resources to tinker around with to get the best cpu usage for flawless playback.

However for a desktop... I don't see C2D running at 2.0Ghz often. Usually only Mobile chips go around that range. Same chips I think run faster in desktops due to better cooling than a laptop.

[Proin Drakenzol]

I'm looking into cheap computers at this point... I think I am just going to grab something around the 2.0+ghz processor range. I found a couple dual core computers in my price range.. I guess the real question in this thread has become.. What are the minimums I need to make this machine work properly.


What CPU speed minimum to playback of video (mostly 720 or lower.. I only have a few 1080 vids)

What RAM minimum should I use for the playback?

What Video card minimum for this? ( under 1 Gig?)


This way I know what minimums I should keep my search to. Keep in mind the only thing I am going to use this computer for is Video playback. I have backups for the Vids already. I already have the stuff Downloaded just sick of using my laptop to play on my TV, it ties up the reason I bought the laptop.

anything in 2.4GHz range (for C2D, iX can be lower) w/ a DX10 graphics card and 3 to 4 gigs (primarily for the OS) should do it.

[fohfoh]

I'm looking into cheap computers at this point... I think I am just going to grab something around the 2.0+ghz processor range. I found a couple dual core computers in my price range.. I guess the real question in this thread has become.. What are the minimums I need to make this machine work properly.


What CPU speed minimum to playback of video (mostly 720 or lower.. I only have a few 1080 vids)

What RAM minimum should I use for the playback?

What Video card minimum for this? ( under 1 Gig?)


This way I know what minimums I should keep my search to. Keep in mind the only thing I am going to use this computer for is Video playback. I have backups for the Vids already. I already have the stuff Downloaded just sick of using my laptop to play on my TV, it ties up the reason I bought the laptop.

anything in 2.4GHz range (for C2D, iX can be lower) w/ a DX10 graphics card and 3 to 4 gigs (primarily for the OS) should do it.

Is the graphics really necessary? I play 1080p fine on a 2.0Ghz C2D mobile chip with an intel 945 integrated graphics card which I think is like 128MB to 381MB max or something shared memory.

[vuzedome]

I do 1080p with 15mbps video streams on a 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core.
How do I do this?
Strip and cut down everything else you don't need.

[fohfoh]

I do 1080p with 15mbps video streams on a 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core .
How do I do this?
Strip and cut down everything else you don't need.

Fixed for accuracy.

[bcr123]

I do 1080p with 15mbps video streams on a 1.6GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core.
How do I do this?
Strip and cut down everything else you don't need.

There's a huge difference between a 3.4ghz P4 (that's what's in a GX280) and a pentium dual core or Core2Duo.

[vuzedome]

Better than running DXVA on those IONs.

[theprophet]

Thought I would give an update on what I offically settled with.


I bought a used custom PC.

Processor Pentium 4 HT 3.33ghz
Ram: 512mb ( I know it sucks but going to upgrade by 1 gig)
HDMI pci-express ATI card 512mb
all SATA with 4 sata jacks.
550watt power source

All for $150


now just going to dump 3 1.5 TB western digital drives on the machine and I will be done. The Drives are $100 each so for $450 I am getting the computer done. I don't think I did too bad on this? You guys think I will be fine with the 512mb ram? Most of the processing power will be in the processor or the Vid card right?

[a10112]

is that p4 even dual core? it's been a while since i had a p4 so i don't remember.

[fohfoh]

Thought I would give an update on what I offically settled with.


I bought a used custom PC.

Processor Pentium 4 HT 3.33ghz
Ram: 512mb ( I know it sucks but going to upgrade by 1 gig)
HDMI pci-express ATI card 512mb
all SATA with 4 sata jacks.
550watt power source

All for $150


now just going to dump 3 1.5 TB western digital drives on the machine and I will be done. The Drives are $100 each so for $450 I am getting the computer done. I don't think I did too bad on this? You guys think I will be fine with the 512mb ram? Most of the processing power will be in the processor or the Vid card right?

The processing will be on the processor. Not the vid card. So you might get away with a bit of 720, but don't bother with 1080.

The vid card seems like it's only useful for connecting to the TV, other than that, the excess power seems... useless.

[theprophet]

Yeah I think its just a solid HT 3.33 ghz processor.. but for the price I think it is ok. It is a nice computer and if I really start to have a problem it is easy to upgrade the processor down the road. Most of my vids are 720 or under to save space.

[fohfoh]

Yeah I think its just a solid HT 3.33 ghz processor.. but for the price I think it is ok. It is a nice computer and if I really start to have a problem it is easy to replace the whole thing down the road. Most of my vids are 720 or under to save space.

You're not going to replace the thing to be able to play 1080p, you're going to upgrade the whole thing in like 5-10 years and use the current one as a file server if possible.

PS: It's a P4 Processor at 3.33 Ghz w/ Hyper threading. It's not a HT 3.33 GHz.