Core i3 43XX for 4K Video and Windows 8.1?

[ryan5609]

I am finalizing my 4K HTPC build. My only concern is the processor. As of right now, I plan on picking up the Core i3 4370. From the little info I can gather on it, it seems like this i3 is up to the task of navigating Windows 8.1 and playing 4K video.

I don't plan on gaming directly from my HTPC (I plan on Steam in Home Streaming), so I don't want to spring for a GPU right now because

A. Most GPU's do not not fit my case
B. I would like to wait (maybe a long time) until someone makes a low profile GPU with HDMI 2.0.

Does anyone have experience with a Haswell Core i3 and a 4K monitor? Is it smooth? How does it handle 4K video?

Thanks

 

[AppleGeek911]

For an HTPC build with 4K in mind, you'd be better off going for a low-end i5 (possibly the 4430.) Personally, I think the i3 would struggle with 4K.

 

[palladin9479]

Have you already committed to an Intel LGA1150 platform? I ask that because your situation seems to hit exactly where an APU works best, especially since your streaming it from a much more powerful machine. Something like a A8-7600 or A10-7700 would probably be better in this situation, the onboard iGPU is powerful enough to do real time decoding of the 4K signal, watch all the media and play any kind of low-end game. If you've already committed to LGA1150 then I'm not sure how good the HD4600 is going to be.

 

[CTurbo]

I also think an A8 or A10 would be better suited for your purposes. I would like to point out that the i3 4370 and i5 4430 would perform identically in video performance as they both use the same exact igpu.