[Arkitket]

It all depends on what you want your HTPC to do snowboarder33. If you don't plan on doing any CPU intensive tasks (madVR, encoding/transcoding, etc) and don't plan on gaming; but still would like an IB, go with the Pentium G2120. It is only $100 opposed to $150 for the i3-3225.

You don't need an i3-3225 or anything close to it to run madVR.

It was my understanding that madVR is GPU assisted, making the HD 4000 a larger benefit than lower Intel iGPU's, But if I am wrong then I apologize

[Palmer]

It all depends on what you want your HTPC to do snowboarder33. If you don't plan on doing any CPU intensive tasks (madVR, encoding/transcoding, etc) and don't plan on gaming; but still would like an IB, go with the Pentium G2120. It is only $100 opposed to $150 for the i3-3225.

You don't need an i3-3225 or anything close to it to run madVR.

It was my understanding that madVR is GPU assisted, making the HD 4000 a larger benefit than lower Intel iGPU's, But if I am wrong then I apologize

Why not just go with lower end CPU and video card over an i3-3225? Save a lot of cash. You would have all the capabilities for an htpc plus the video card will still give you better video then the integrated HD4000 CPU right?

[ecopsorn]

Since I'm also shortly before clicking the "buy" button with the relatively expensive 3225, I wonder what G-Cards people are using with the G540? Am I right that the G540 integrated GPU is not sufficient for 1080p high bitrate playback and that a discrete GPU is required? If so, I would get pretty close to the price of a 3225 anyway, so what's the better option guys?

Also, If I only see the small fan on the lower end GPU cards, it freaks me out, aren't they noisy as hell?

[beetlesnack]

It all depends on what you want your HTPC to do snowboarder33. If you don't plan on doing any CPU intensive tasks (madVR, encoding/transcoding, etc) and don't plan on gaming; but still would like an IB, go with the Pentium G2120. It is only $100 opposed to $150 for the i3-3225.

You don't need an i3-3225 or anything close to it to run madVR.

It was my understanding that madVR is GPU assisted, making the HD 4000 a larger benefit than lower Intel iGPU's, But if I am wrong then I apologize

I see what you are saying, fair point, I just meant the CPU part. The idea is that you might as well get a cheap discrete GPU or something from AMD like the A6-3500.

[Palmer]

You don't need an i3-3225 or anything close to it to run madVR.

It was my understanding that madVR is GPU assisted, making the HD 4000 a larger benefit than lower Intel iGPU's, But if I am wrong then I apologize

I see what you are saying, fair point, I just meant the CPU part. The idea is that you might as well get a cheap discrete GPU or something from AMD like the A6-3500.

There is so many ways you can go to get basically the same outcome in HTPC function. Whatever suits your budget, upgrade ability etc. Only reason I went intel 1155 build with H77 mobo was that in 4 years I can potentially throw a new CPU in there if I need different capabilities. The only reason I didn't go AMD FM1 is that the mobo is at the end of its cycle, so no new cpus in future. Also the Intel build was cheaper for me to put together, which budget was pretty tight for this. Everyone has there reasons.

[Arkitket]

You don't need an i3-3225 or anything close to it to run madVR.

It was my understanding that madVR is GPU assisted, making the HD 4000 a larger benefit than lower Intel iGPU's, But if I am wrong then I apologize

I see what you are saying, fair point, I just meant the CPU part. The idea is that you might as well get a cheap discrete GPU or something from AMD like the A6-3500.

Yeah, I was more referring to those people that would be doing transcoding/encoding as well as using madVR. The i3-3225 definitely has a selected group of people that it would be useful for, at least while the price is where it is.

[Dougie Fresh]

i3-3225 would make sense in a mini-ITX build where you can't add a GPU, where you want 3D and you either favor Intel, want more horsepower than A6-3500, are looking to minimize heat/power consumption, simply want the latest and greatest, hate AMD Catalyst, etc. and think it's worth the $20 marginal cost over the i3-2105/2125 which has the last generation's top GPU.

On the scale of things, even the marginal cost between an A6-3500 and i3-3225 is not crazy -- $70-80 -- if that buys happiness in having the latest and greatest. It makes even more sense compared to i3-3220, i3-2105/2125 at only $20 difference.

Like everything, it all depends on what you want to do with it and what you feel is a good value.

[bznotins]

Since I'm also shortly before clicking the "buy" button with the relatively expensive 3225, I wonder what G-Cards people are using with the G540? Am I right that the G540 integrated GPU is not sufficient for 1080p high bitrate playback and that a discrete GPU is required? If so, I would get pretty close to the price of a 3225 anyway, so what's the better option guys?

Also, If I only see the small fan on the lower end GPU cards, it freaks me out, aren't they noisy as hell?

The G540 Integrated GPU can handle high-bitrate 1080p content just fine. These forums are littered with people that have CPUs way more powerful than their needs require.

I'm actually one of them, and were it not for the i3 2300 being the same cost as the Celerons at my local Microcenter (after combo discount) I would have got the latter and been just as happy.

On my HTPC, I get 5% cpu utilization playing back BD content right from ISOs.

[Dougie Fresh]

Yeah, if you think about it, even the "lowly" G540 is still a 2.5GHz dual-core SandyBridge CPU with Intel HD graphics (what was in the Clarkdale CPUs). A $45 price tag and the name "Celeron" (though the LGA775 E3300 was my go-to office PC chip) are VERY misleading.

[Michael.F]

Isn't the socket 1155 also in it's end of life?
of course that doesn't matter for an htpc, but i read that intel will introduce socket 1156(?) in q2 2013 for haswell.

Edit: sorry for confusing LGA 1156 with LGA 1150.
Anyways: The things that intel demonstrated at idf seem pretty nice, although it's pure overkill for a dedicated xbmc machine.

[Arkitket]

Isn't the socket 1155 also in it's end of life?
of course that doesn't matter for an htpc, but i read that intel will introduce socket 1156(?) in q2 2013 for haswell.

LGA 1155 replaced LGA 1156. But yes, Haswell will introduce LGA 1150; which will last through Haswell & Broadwell until Skylake. Intel apparently intends to introduce Skylake in ~2018

[Goodbyemoff]

I was actually looking at the AMD E-450 for my XBMC pc. But when it comes to 3D Blu-ray, would the i3-3225 be best? Or could I still get away with something with HD2000/HD2500 intergrated graphics?

[g725s]

Since I'm also shortly before clicking the "buy" button with the relatively expensive 3225, I wonder what G-Cards people are using with the G540? Am I right that the G540 integrated GPU is not sufficient for 1080p high bitrate playback and that a discrete GPU is required? If so, I would get pretty close to the price of a 3225 anyway, so what's the better option guys?

Also, If I only see the small fan on the lower end GPU cards, it freaks me out, aren't they noisy as hell?

The G540 Integrated GPU can handle high-bitrate 1080p content just fine. These forums are littered with people that have CPUs way more powerful than their needs require.

I'm actually one of them, and were it not for the i3 2300 being the same cost as the Celerons at my local Microcenter (after combo discount) I would have got the latter and been just as happy.

On my HTPC, I get 5% cpu utilization playing back BD content right from ISOs.

Or how about spending $48 bucks on a G530 bundled with 4gb of 1333 memory. And throw in a good graphics card with passive cooling that would handle 3D.
http://www.frys.com/product/7311824

At what level of GPU do you equal or surpass the HD4000? Meaning what card could you put in a system and have better GPU performance than the HD4000 ? And specifically a low profile card.

[Arkitket]

Or how about spending $48 bucks on a G530 bundled with 4gb of 1333 memory. And throw in a good graphics card with passive cooling that would handle 3D.
http://www.frys.com/product/7311824

At what level of GPU do you equal or surpass the HD4000? Meaning what card could you put in a system and have better GPU performance than the HD4000 ? And specifically a low profile card.

Well, judging from this: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/graphic...html#sect2

I would say that the HD 4000 fits somewhere in between the HD 6530D and the HD 6550D

[bluray]

I wouldn't worry too much about what is better. As long as it fit your budget and meet your needs, that is all it matter......enjoy it!