Help understanding AMD Cpu: perf vs heat for htpc

[365nice]

Hello there - its been a long time since I looked at motherboards and cpu's for an htpc (mine just kept working for the last 4 years).

The time has come to get a new HD tv and build a better htpc box (probably linux mythtv - but this is off topic).

So I recall the last time around that I need to get a good balance between performance and heat (my last build was ok, but you could hear a fan kick on when it was doing heaver work).

I'm looking at the Asus M3N78-VM motherboard (I saw some writeups on using it for mythtv - its a bit old but looks good for job).

But what CPU to put in it? I'm confused about all the different cpu's available. The article I read suggested an AMD Athlon 64 5200+ - however I'm ordering from ebuyer and they don't have one of those - and looking at their cpu's I see a lot of options. For example which of the following might be a good choice (the 64x 6000 looks good value but will it be too hot?)

AMD Athlon X2 5000+ 2.2GHz Socket AM2 1MB L2 Cache
£47.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ (3GHz) Socket AM2 L2 2MB (2 x 1MB) Cache
£49.64inc vat

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.9GHz Socket AM2 512KBx2 L2 Cache
£50 inc vat

Or should I look at Phenom processors (they cost more - are they better?)

Any tips/help greatly appreciated.

Tim

Note: someone pointed me towards the AMD Athlon X2 240 2.8GHz Socket AM3 2MB which is about the same price and 65w so it may be better

 

[eng33]

Hello there - its been a long time since I looked at motherboards and cpu's for an htpc (mine just kept working for the last 4 years).

The time has come to get a new HD tv and build a better htpc box (probably linux mythtv - but this is off topic).

So I recall the last time around that I need to get a good balance between performance and heat (my last build was ok, but you could hear a fan kick on when it was doing heaver work).

I'm looking at the Asus M3N78-VM motherboard (I saw some writeups on using it for mythtv - its a bit old but looks good for job).

But what CPU to put in it? I'm confused about all the different cpu's available. The article I read suggested an AMD Athlon 64 5200+ - however I'm ordering from ebuyer and they don't have one of those - and looking at their cpu's I see a lot of options. For example which of the following might be a good choice (the 64x 6000 looks good value but will it be too hot?)

AMD Athlon X2 5000+ 2.2GHz Socket AM2 1MB L2 Cache
£47.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ (3GHz) Socket AM2 L2 2MB (2 x 1MB) Cache
£49.64inc vat

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ 2.9GHz Socket AM2 512KBx2 L2 Cache
£50 inc vat

Or should I look at Phenom processors (they cost more - are they better?)

Any tips/help greatly appreciated.

Tim

Note: someone pointed me towards the AMD Athlon X2 240 2.8GHz Socket AM3 2MB which is about the same price and 65w so it may be better

Have a look at the 'X2 240e' - still 2.8GHz but only 45W.