HW recommendations

[ram1979]

Hi,

I'm planning to build my own desktop/HTPC and was hoping to get some HW recommendations. I'm debating on whether to go with an AMD or intel processor. The main purpose of the desktop will be to serve as my media center; planning on installing win 7 ultimate or home and of course setting up WMC. So its got to support HDMI and be able to stream HD videos to my 42" Sony Bravia. 3D is not a necessity, my TV doesn't support it and I'm not interested in that at this point. Also I'm not a gamer so won't be playing any games on it but I will be using it for standard functions such as email, browsing, and office 2010 work (excel, word, etc). Ofcourse casing wise I'd like it to be able to fit in a under my TV so horizontal casing where it looks like a media center.

So far it sounds simple right? Now it gets harder, I was thinking of setting up a private lab on the desktop to practice some of the certification tests such as A+ (which is why I decided to build), Microsoft and VCP. I want to install a virtual software such as VMware workstation 8.0 and run a few VMs. I know the requirements are that the cpu needs to support virtualization technology, min 1.9 Ghz and its going to need lots of RAM (so I'm thinking of starting with 8 GB). I want that part to run at a decent speed where I don't have to click a button and go for coffee every time I turn on my VMs.

Budget wise I think I'd like to spend anywhere between $500 and $600 on the whole thing.

Any CPU, Motherboard, fan, power supply, casing, and tv tuner card recommendations would greatly help.

Thank you in advance

 

[Nim Chimpsky]

You want to wait for Bulldozer. Fusion will be perfect for HTPCs, and they generally deliver more cores for less, and the more cores the better for VMs.

 

[ram1979]

Alright convinced AMD it is. I'm still debating between these two processors http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007670&IsNodeId=1&page=3&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&CompareItemList=343|19-103-808^19-103-808-TS%2C19-103-943^19-103-943-TS

Comparing them on anandtech I see the phenom outperforms the fusions http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/403?vs=88.

Also here's a newbie question if I do get the phenom do I have to invest in a graphics cards? Or would what ever comes on the motherboard be good?
I'm thinking of this one http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128440&Tpk=GIGABYTE%20GA-880GM-USB3%20Micro%20ATX%20AMD%20Motherboard

Thanks

 

[ps3hacker12]

why not just get an Pentium G620, for your needs its more than enough, and performs similarly to a phenom 955, using half the power, and giving off less heat:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=406

oh and its cheaper/queiter too (and i still think its a bit of an overkill for your needs!):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116399

or even a Pentium G840:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116398

comaprison:
http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=404

if you want your VMs to load faster, you should look into SSDs or hybrid SSDs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706

or:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148591

 

[ram1979]

thank you guys for your replies ... I guess ps3hacker12 is correct ... and here is a nice article that goes through the different AMd and intel processores http://www.anandtech.com/show/4524/the-sandy-bridge-pentium-review-pentium-g850-g840-g620-g620t-tested/6

My main concern though and I have to look further into it is that the pentium g840 doesn't support vt-d, i'm not sure if I need that to create my virtual lab. I want to install ESXi inside workstation and be able to install 64-bit OS on the ESXi.

 

[ram1979]

This is even more confusing that I thought. I went into Canada Computer and was talking to one of the guys at the desk and he is recommending not to even consider anything below an i5. He is saying that I will need the vt-d functionality and all the cores I can get if I want to run a virtual lab. Is he just trying to make the commission of me? Not sure if they even work based on commission.

The lab will run a few servers AD, DNS, DHCP, maybe SCCM, ESXi. I VMotion things around on daily basis at work so not very interested in that one, although I'd like to try the FT if I can. Do I need all that power?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

have you looked at Llano? Perfect for HTPC, 4 cores for virtualzation, low heat and solid performance.

 

[ram1979]

Yeah actually that is one of my choices A6-3650 or A8-3850. I might go with this option, or I'm thinking of going with a phenom and add a graphics card but that I guess will disipate more heat.

 

[cutebeans]

have you looked at Llano? Perfect for HTPC, 4 cores for virtualzation, low heat and solid performance.

+1.