i3 vs i5 vs i7?

i3 will be plenty.

why does the 'lowly' i3 get so little respect?
it is probably the most perfect current HTPC uP
it is actually a really good server uP (depending on what you need the server to do)
it is an adequate to really good desktop uP (depending on what you need the desktop to do)
it is even an ok'ish gaming rig uP (not going to be a monster/killer gaming rig, but most people could get by with it...)
it really is an all around good up...

why does everyone always dis the poor little i3? what did it ever do to you?

I agree, i3 is plenty. But there is no reason why an i5 or even an i7 system has to be $1000+ if it's an HTPC. Even if you wanted to play the latest games maxed out, you should be able to build an i5 system, for around $500, capable of doing so.

an i5/i7 would be more ideal if you are going to have a number extenders around the house, are going to be compressing h264 videos, running real time channel skipping software, or are going to use a program like tversity or ps3 media server to transcode in real time to other digital media players in the house.

if none of those things apply then the processor is just going to sit using more electricity.

I don't think you'll find a lot of people dissing the i3 on AVS Forum. Indeed, there are plenty who make do with its lower end brethren (Pentium G840, Pentium G620, Celeron G530).


True. No reason why it has to cost $1000+. My tentative i5-2500K gaming build is just around $800 and that already includes a mid-range GPU and SSD (granted, OS and TV tuner not included - already have HDHomeRuns for the latter).

Heck, I regularly see i5-2300 pre-builts for $600 or so.


On this point, not really a whole lot more (maybe 5~10W assuming the rest of the parts are the same). Sandy Bridge is much more power efficient compared to older models. I wouldn't be surprised if a quad-core SNB idled at less than a dual-core Wolfdale.

my Sage server is running on an i3, I can run 2 comskip's in real time while recording 4 ATSC and 2 QAM feeds while feeding 2 sage extenders and 1 sage client PC...
it may even be able to run 3 or 4 comskip's... I never actually tried...

but my sage server is a 'headless' server so maybe that makes a difference?

Getting an i5 or i7 is just a tiny bit more "future proof."

Inevitably, they are going to want to do more with their systems like transcoding, supporting multiple xbox 360s as extenders, playing with newer software like SVP, etc.

No reason for an i5. The i3 is an absolute beast for HTPC and will run at less than 10-20% CPU use for what you are using it for.

The future proofing is already built in.

Yep, ATX is generally more expensive than microATX. For a quad-core i5, it would be difficult to squeeze it in a $500 budget. However, $650~800 should give you an HTPC with good quality components.

This one's a pretty decent combo to get:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.809430

What all would you need in the build? I'll assume CPU, MOBO, PSU, GPU, RAM, HDD, and case. Were you wanting to add a DVD or BD drive? Wireless card? Any other components you had in mind?

I just built a quick i5 system and it comes out to around $630. It's not $500 but still under $1000+. But, as others have said, this would be overkill considering an i3 system is more than adequate and should be future proof for years.

Yep - i3 should be more than fine unless you are doing heavy transcoding (re-encoding Blu-ray content for instance)

I have a DVB-S/S2 HTPC based around a Sandy Bridge Pentium G620 (using on-chip graphics) and it doesn't break a sweat recording and replaying dual streams of H264 1080i stuff. (Replaced a Fusion E350 build which was a little underpowered)

The cost of an i5-2400 is only about $50 more than an i3-2100, and the rest of the system would generally be the same, so I don't see why the difference between the two would be more than that $50. A i5-2500K is about $80 more than an i3-2100. I agree with you completely and don't know why either needs to be anwhere close to $1000.

That said, the i3 should be plenty. While much of the focus on the Sandy Bridge processors has been on the graphics capability, it should be recognized that the new architecture also provided a significant performance boost over the first generation "i" series processors. I think in general you can consider an i3 Sandy Bridge to be essentially equal in computing power to an i5 Lynnfield/Clarkdale. If you thought an i5-750 was fine for your purposes a year ago, then an i3 Sandy Bridge will be fine today. The i3-2100 is in no sense an "econo" processor. It's actually a very capable cpu.

Prices tend to fluctuate. Last I checked, you can get the i3-2100 for $115, the i5-2400 for $190 and the i5-2500K for $220 from Newegg. As you said, though, you can keep all other parts the same and the only difference is the cost of the CPU so going from i3 to i5 would only be around $50~120 extra depending on what i5 model you choose.

The i3-2100 Sandy Bridge, while considerably faster core for core, clock for clock compared to the older Clarkdale/Lynnfield architecture, doesn't quite match up to Lynnfield performance in heavily threaded tasks. It does come pretty close though and should decimate older Core 2 Quad Q6000 and Q8000 CPU's in most tasks while consuming much less power.

I buy my processors at Micro Center where the prices are 2100 - $99, 2125 - $119, 2400 - $149, 2500k - $179. You can buy a G530 for $39 at Micro Center.

Lucky you, however, I wouldn't consider those prices standard. Not everyone has a MicroCenter nearby. Alas, the savings isn't really worth it for me to drive 200 miles to get to the nearest MicroCenter.

The quick system I built included the MOBO, CPU, RAM, GPU, PSU, BD reader, case, keyboard, and mouse. It came to roughtly $630, so add on your tuner card and that's how much it would be. Of course I was using an i5-2400 and an HD-6770 on a micro ATX board. You could easily get cheaper parts, considering you wouldn't need as powerful a system as I priced out.

Their is no "best" way to build a HTPC, so it's tough to make suggestions. All I can say is determine your budget first, then build the best possible system you can for that much.

Hmm, no HDD (or SSD if that's your preference)? Curious, what parts exactly?

I love how the folks on here sing the praises of the i3. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting it's not a very capable HTPC base... but a lot of people on here were singing the praises of the Core2Duos as the bee's knees 2-3 years ago.

I look at it this way... spend an extra $100 to get a nice processor now, or spend a couple or few hundred (CPU and motherboard at minimum) to get the latest and greatest "just enough" or "more than enough" (depends on who you ask) processor in a year or so.

I've fallen for the "just good enough" trap for several builds in a row after building my first HTPC a decade ago, and I won't do it anymore. My first HTPC, I invested in really good parts, and it lasted me for 5+ years. I'm still using the same case from that first build... cost me $300 at the time. I just now retired the power supply that I bought a decade ago because I needed to scavenge some connectors and the fan from it.

We all want the best bang for the buck, and the i3 is good bang for the buck compared to older platforms... but software needs change and it will not be looking so hot sooner than later.

Huh?

Even a Core2Duo is a completely acceptable HTPC *today* with the appropriate $20-$40 discrete card.

I have no idea where you are coming from.

The OP says it's just for basic HTPC duty. We all know where that leads to. I dare say HTPCs stay in their original form for long... especially if you get "just good enough" parts.

Getting a "just good enough" video card is one of the traps. I'm just offering some friendly advice... spend just a bit more to get a whole lot more capability.

Zacate and Atom are "just good enough". The i3, as stated, is way beyond that. It uses about 10% CPU for "basic" HTPC uses. That's a pretty good capacity already.

Again my opinion is that there is no reason to get i5 right now for a basic HTPC. Way overkill.

The i7 is mostly for advanced tasks like heavy encoding and rendering...processing stuff that requires heavy duty CPU power. Usually found in workstation-based PC's or those who are into heavy gaming. Even an i5 is overkill in most cases but is suitable for lighter tasks like commercial skipping and such.

i3 is more than capable for decent HTPC duties. The i3 Clarkdale system I built last summer worked great with all of my video material without breaking a sweat. I gave that system to my brother for Christmas to introduce him to the world of HTPC.

For my new m-ITX build I decided to go with the G620T over the i3 SB 2100 because I have no need for 3D features. Ordered my parts yesterday so should get them Tuesday.

I'm on my third HTPC, and still just using them for basic HTPC duty. I'm not even sure what type of additional activity you're referencing. Cataloging and storing files in different formats? I don't do that.

More than enough for sure.

if you want performance and good value try the 2500k CPU.

It's best blend of performance and value.

Of coarse for only HTPC use it's way more than you need.

What this means for me is my next HTPC will probably be a laptop (or smaller). Less space, less noise, almost certainly no sleep issues.

Yet another person chiming in here...Yep, for HTPC duties, the i3 is 150% strong enough. I've got a few different PCs in my setup at home, running 2 HDPVRs off my main rig, distributing all content, including live TV via DVBLogic's Server Network Pack as well as a 2 tuner HDHR and here are my observations:

Main HTPC Rig:
AMD Phenom II x4 955 Black edition, ATI 6570, 4GB RAM, 32 bit windows (need to stay 32 bit to accomodate Firewire channel changing.)
Lightning fast for everything. Processes commercial skip without missing a beat, all BDs play great (Cyberlink 10) and .mkv files are flawless (Shark007 codec pack). Also, distributes live TV and all recorded TV without even noticing!

Primary Client PC:
Intel G620 Sandy Bridge, H61 mobo, Intel HD 2000 graphics, 4GB RAM.
Great responsiveness within WMC menus, handles h.264 video from the HD-PVRs easily, all .mkv files play beautifully. Just an awesome client HTPC.

Secondary Client PC:
AMD Zacate, integrated graphics, 4GB RAM.
WMC menus are very very slow to load and navigate. While watching an H.264 video stream form the HD-PVRs, the thing lags when trying to change channels and navigate menus. Can handle .mkv files, but don't ask it to do anything else when playing video back. Very unsatisfactory performance.

Transcoding and basic monster rig:
Core i5 2500k, overclocked to 4.2Ghz, 14 GB RAM, z68 Asus Maximus Gene3 mobo, integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics.
Holy crap, what a beast! Transcodes BD to h.264 nearly as fast as it can rip it off the disk. Generally, I'll have WMC running in windowed mode, watching ESPN HD or something while doing some work on it, and maybe even transcoding a BD, and the thing never even hiccups. WAY overkill for a HTPC, but an absolutely amazing processor! (And, thanks assassin, for recommeding that I get that puppy instead of a AMD FX series. This thing is amazing!)

Somebody needs to tell MicroCenter about the Information Superhighway. I don't even go to their website anymore because it seems like almost every deal is "in store" only. Just think how much more business they could get if they dropped that policy.

I realize they want to get traffic into their stores to sell other items, but it could work the same way with online traffic only on a much greater scale.

Go with the i3-2100, it is an amazing cpu. I think this little cpu gets underestimated sometimes. It beats the Athlon quad core cpu in most benchmarks & even some multithreaded ones. Runs cool as a cucumber, sips power & is extremely responsive. It seems like programs open while I'm still clicking on them.