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older AMD 5050e laying around - worth it for HTPC?

post #1 of 11
6/26/10 at 8:34pm
Thread Starter 
So, I've got this old, unused AMD 5050e sitting in my closet collecting dust, and I am thinking of using it as the CPU in a new HTPC build (based on Win7MC). It's AM2, so that severely limits me in terms of motherboards, but is there a consensus best AM2 motherboard out there? I am looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-394-_-Product

Any thoughts? The cool thing is I could throw a system together for real cheap, and I know it could handle all the video I threw at it, but would I be bummed I didn't spring for something a bit more powerful or speedier?
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post #2 of 11
6/26/10 at 8:38pm
HD audio or no HD audio?
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post #3 of 11
6/27/10 at 5:46am
My main htpc is running an AMD X2 5000 AM2 (the same thing as the 5050e, but your is the energy efficient model). With a 5670 it plays everything I throw at it including blu-ray. That is with win7 32bit by the way. Plus, correct me if I'm wrong, but you can put an am2 processor in any am3 motherboard with no problems.
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post #4 of 11
6/27/10 at 5:49am
The 5050e should make a great HTPC CPU (it's not that old either). Dual core, 45W is a very good start. Mobo seems fine as well. The integrated HD4200 graphics should be fine for everything inc 1080P.

Stick a couple of gig of ram in there, and you should be good to go.
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post #5 of 11
6/27/10 at 7:12am
I use a 4850e for my HTPC; works just fine.
Get any older AMD board, a 5000 card and you will be fine with the 5050e.
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post #6 of 11
6/27/10 at 8:42am
4850e works fine for the most part but you will need a card for graphics. The 4850e doesn't do well with IGP.
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post #7 of 11
6/27/10 at 9:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Servicetech571 View Post

4850e works fine for the most part but you will need a card for graphics. The 4850e doesn't do well with IGP.

that's what I found as well, especially with my ECS mobo.
using a GT220 now
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post #8 of 11
6/27/10 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all the great advice! Agreed the 5050e is not terribly old, but bleeding edge, it is not!

To answer the HD audio question: No, I won't need HD audio capability . . . at least not at first, my receiver is an older HK that doesn't handle 7ch HDMI. In the event that I wanted to upgrade to full HD audio, a 5000 series Radeon card would enable that, right?
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post #9 of 11
6/27/10 at 3:12pm
Yup, a cheap HD5450 will get you HD audio. For the moment, the 785G is fine for bitstreaming DTS/DD and decoding H.264 / VC-1 video.
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post #10 of 11
6/27/10 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Servicetech571 View Post

4850e works fine for the most part but you will need a card for graphics. The 4850e doesn't do well with IGP.

hmm....don't know about that.
Mine is plugged into a M3A78-EM w/ a 780G chipset. It works just fine with the integrated HD3200. Never had a problem with the IGP.
I use a 5750 now for HD audio with the same board.
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post #11 of 11
6/27/10 at 7:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by hirent View Post

hmm....don't know about that.
Mine is plugged into a M3A78-EM w/ a 780G chipset. It works just fine with the integrated HD3200. Never had a problem with the IGP.
I use a 5750 now for HD audio with the same board.

Might be an Nvidia thing, Couldn't get my 8200 or 8300 boards to work w/o stuttering with the 4850e. Works fine with a 7750.
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