HTPC/Gaming Rig

[mfenn]

I understand the concept of racing to idle, but this wouldn't apply to an straight 8 hour gaming run as the processor would always be under load. Tomshardware did a test and the T processor used around 10 W less energy when under load for the same workload. Of course they also concluded that this saving is always mood because the processor has to run longer.
I just doubt I will feel the difference between both processors when gaming (though round turn times might take longer on Civ 5, but 10 sec is not going to make a big difference in the long run). So my question still remains: wouldn't a T processor be more energy efficient when I really don't look at finishing a workload but rather have it run under full load for the same amount of time? The question seems to be yes. What has to been seen though, if a T processor is powerful enough for gaming purpose.

Oh, I think I see the misunderstanding here. You've got to think about what happens on a very short timescale and apply it to the longer one. The race to idle principle applies over very short time scales (fractions of a second) just as it does for longer ones. Assuming that you are running at a constant framerate, the CPU will actually spend good chunk of its time between frames waiting idling (waiting on the GPU). The faster CPU will spend relatively more time idling, thus saving more power.

Also I'm not trying to run a 1,35V stick on 1,5V. I'm trying to figure out if a mainboard that says it supports 1,5V RAM modules can run a 1,35V at 1,35V.

I can't guarantee for a specific board, but every motherboard I've worked with will allow that.

 

[Pedroc1999]

Think of it as a car engine, you can have a big 3liter that does 100mph@3000rpm. And you can get a 1.6litre that does 100mph@ 5400rpm. The latter will be using more revs and problably kore fuwl

 

[Galatian]

Then I see no reason to wait for Haswell. Bigger energy saving will probably come with Broadwell 2014, especially with the switch to DDR4. Does is matter which SSD I use? I saw that Anandtech energy consumption benchmark looks outdated, but is doubt that there really is a big difference on energy consumption.

 

[mfenn]

I think the Ivy Bridge parts are perfectly good for what you want to do. IMHO, there is no reason to wait on Haswell, especially not since it's at least 3 months out, probably more like 4-5.

Also, you're right that the SSD doesn't really make a difference in power consumption. You should still get a quality one though like a Crucial m4 or M500, or a Samsung 830 or 840.

 

[Galatian]

Ok I did some more research: I decided that I don't want a SFF case but rather have a desktop enclosure, as it will fit just fine in my TV rack. Is there any desktop case that is actually big enough to hold a custom water loop (preferably both CPU and GPU)? I've been looking for those closed water coolers and as interesting as those 120x240 mm radiators look, I have found no desktop case jock actually has two 120 mm next to each other.

 

[mfenn]

By "desktop case" do you mean a case that somebody would normally use for a desktop (i.e. a tower) or an old-school laying-on-its-side desktop case?

 

[Sleepingforest]

I was under the impression that the old school "lying on their side" computers had some design flaws that make them run hot. I suppose with a Dremel and a custom cooling loop that it would be possible to fix some of those issues, but I don't know if I personally would have the patience or expertise to do so.

 

[Galatian]

By "desktop case" do you mean a case that somebody would normally use for a desktop (i.e. a tower) or an old-school laying-on-its-side desktop case?

The later one. I have enough space under my television to go wide, so I really don't need an SFF case. This has the advantage of a normal efficient PSU and possibly even better cooling solutions.

I was under the impression that the old school "lying on their side" computers had some design flaws that make them run hot. I suppose with a Dremel and a custom cooling loop that it would be possible to fix some of those issues, but I don't know if I personally would have the patience or expertise to do so.

Yeah I wouldn't want to Dremel as well, but I certainly have some friends, who could do it for me. Still the question remains: are those cases to small for a custom cooling loop?

 

[Sleepingforest]

My old high school had a bunch of these, and I went back and asked to open a broken one up. There is room, but it's a pretty tight fit for the tubes (and the radiator is pretty sketchy as well.) If you cut a slot and some mounting holes, it should work. You'll need a Dremel, a drill to create a starting cut, and probably some rubber washers and screws.

Space will be tight. Consider routing the pipes on the outside of the case (so the intermediate tubing will come out and go back in right where the cooling block is). It may actually look very cool. You'll need to drill extra holes and line them with spray-on rubber or something (drill wide and use a Dremel to even it out).

 

[mfenn]

OK, plenty of HTPC cases exist that use the desktop form factor. The GD06B has two 120mm fans next to each other on one side. You could stick a big radiator there if you removed the optical drive mounting tray.

 

[Galatian]

OK, plenty of HTPC cases exist that use the desktop form factor. The GD06B has two 120mm fans next to each other on one side. You could stick a big radiator there if you removed the optical drive mounting tray.

That's the one thing I didn't want to do! I need a Bluray drive so I can get rid of my separate discrete Bluray player. But those two 120 intakes at least look like I might fit an AIO water cooling solution like the H100i in there.

 

[mfenn]

Honestly though, I don't really see the point of putting a big radiator in an HTPC. Fans are fans, no matter if they're attached to a radiator or to a HSF. Just getting a normal quiet top-down HSF like the Noctua C12P will give you good performance in an HTPC case and really opens up your options.
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16835608019&user=u00000687

 

[Galatian]

Honestly though, I don't really see the point of putting a big radiator in an HTPC. Fans are fans, no matter if they're attached to a radiator or to a HSF. Just getting a normal quiet top-down HSF like the Noctua C12P will give you good performance in an HTPC case and really opens up your options.
http://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16835608019&user=u00000687

I see your point but since I want a good graphic card in their as well cooling such a tiny case does become an issue. I was actually looking at external solutions. You could even get passive ones an they do look nice.

 

[lehtv]

Any single GPU graphics card is adequately cooled in mini-ITX form factor, provided the case isn't completely sealed. Overclockability may suffer a bit and the cooler may make a bit more noise than in microATX or ATX, but it'll work just fine

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Yes I think I have finally wrapped my head around this issue...I so wanted to believe Intel I can save energy with those processors...marketing...

I think you should read this article:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core-i5-2500t-2390t-i3-2100t-pentium-g620t.html

Its about the older Sandy Bridge-based T-series, but the general principle is valid for Ivy as well. The article does a good job of explaining the differences between regular an T-series CPUs. Its by no means certain that a T will save you any power...

 

[mfenn]

I see your point but since I want a good graphic card in their as well cooling such a tiny case does become an issue. I was actually looking at external solutions. You could even get passive ones an they do look nice.

A Grandia GD06B is hardly a tiny case. It's basically a smallish ATX tower turned on its side with the front features rotate to match. You do not need any sort of exotic solution to keep things cool.

Overall, I think that you are severely overestimating the cooling requirements of a modern single-GPU machine. You'll looking at ~200-250 watts fully loaded. That is just not that hard to keep cool.

 

[VirtualLarry]

haf-xb?