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General => Users => Topic started by: rchamp on March 27, 2011, 12:32:47 am

Title: good core.
Post by: rchamp on March 27, 2011, 12:32:47 am
I'm debating building either a new core, or building a new work pc.

Cucurrently, here is what my core is.
Abit ab 9 pro (dual gb nics,  9 SATA ports, 7.1 audio with optical out)
Quad. Core2.4gHz processor
4gb of RAM
Dvd writer
8600its 512mbps dual DVI card
1x 160gb. Hdd (for os)
1x 640gb Hdd for media.
I also have an extra 1tb. Drive and an extra 500gb external drive


I want to recommission this as my dev / production pc now that I've got more dev side work coming in..

My question, I have an extra p4 2.4ghz processor laying around.  Can I build a solid core?  Or should I look for an inexpensive barebone setup to build?

Title: Re: good core.
Post by: Aviator on March 28, 2011, 07:02:32 pm
I have a P4 2.8 2G Ram and a 512MB Geforce 6200 as my core and it is performing great. You should be able to build a solid core on the P4 2.4.  Orbiter regens might be a little slow.
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: rchamp on March 29, 2011, 06:33:18 pm
ok cool. Glad to hear someone else running that kind of setup. i can build a dedicated rig cheap for that chip.

Soo, on that note, I just recommissioned my dev rig!!

overclocked the Q6600  sucker to 2.9GHz running smooooth. upgrading ot 8GB ram and dual booth win7 ultimate and Bodhi linux (ubuntu/enlightenment)! :-D

-Ryan
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: totallymaxed on March 29, 2011, 08:09:01 pm
ok cool. Glad to hear someone else running that kind of setup. i can build a dedicated rig cheap for that chip.

Soo, on that note, I just recommissioned my dev rig!!

overclocked the Q6600  sucker to 2.9GHz running smooooth. upgrading ot 8GB ram and dual booth win7 ultimate and Bodhi linux (ubuntu/enlightenment)! :-D

-Ryan

Just for comparison my home Core is a Asus Atom 330 Dual 1.6Ghz with an intel 945 chipset (I dont have a physical screen attached as its at the end of the garden in a shed...I vnc into it for maintenance/setup). I run a MythTV backend with an HDHomerun and have an DLink 2Tb NAS. I have 2x Acer Revo's and a WD Live all being driven using UPnP.

My point is that a wide range of hardware specs are possible with LinuxMCE (My system is currently running Dianemo 10.10 of course...but the lineage is the same of course) and have differing advantages/disadvantages. There is no right or wrong in absolute terms(unless your hardware is incompatible in some way ;-) )...just whats right for your needs.

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: Gangsingen on March 30, 2011, 12:03:22 am
I´m thinking of installing the core onto a SSD to increase performance and lifetime. Wich component does impact orbiter regen most; RAM, CPU or storage?! Any rule of thumb in this issue?!

All media storage is on a NAS so a 60-80GB SSD wold be ok, right?!
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: totallymaxed on March 30, 2011, 01:22:33 am
I´m thinking of installing the core onto a SSD to increase performance and lifetime. Wich component does impact orbiter regen most; RAM, CPU or storage?! Any rule of thumb in this issue?!

All media storage is on a NAS so a 60-80GB SSD wold be ok, right?!

Well the concensus here is that more CPU Cores and some re factoring of OrbiterGen to use them would be the best way forwards...without that we'd go with a faster processor as being the best way to improve Regen performance.

Andrew
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: tkmedia on March 30, 2011, 05:20:51 pm
I have used an ssd with an atom 330 as a core. Even with the ssd regens are very painful taking around 15 minutes per MD.



HTH


Tim
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: bongowongo on March 30, 2011, 06:35:33 pm
when regenning doesn't it write a lot to the SSD, while writing is something to avoid for an ssd?
And can you trim your ssd in linux?
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: totallymaxed on March 30, 2011, 08:31:47 pm
I have used an ssd with an atom 330 as a core. Even with the ssd regens are very painful taking around 15 minutes per MD.

HTH

Tim

Well obviously your Orbiters will take longer the higher the resolution you choose...but on our Atom 330 based systems we experience about 7-8 mins per Orbiter at 720p. Its certainly good practice to minimise the number of regens on lower powered systems until OrbiterGen can be replaced...;-)

All the best


Andrew
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: tkmedia on March 30, 2011, 08:34:36 pm
Quote
Well obviously your Orbiters will take longer the higher the resolution you choose...but on our Atom 330 based systems we experience about 7-8 mins per Orbiter at 720p. Its certainly good practice to minimise the number of regens on lower powered systems until OrbiterGen can be replaced...;-)

Yes I am running most of my MD's at 1080p


Tim
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: totallymaxed on March 30, 2011, 09:17:53 pm
Yes I am running most of my MD's at 1080p

Tim

Just regenned 3 Orbiters at 1080p and on Dianemo 10.10 they take just under 11mins each with an individual regen.

Andrew
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: rchamp on April 04, 2011, 04:43:42 pm
what's the least expensive core someone has built?

I'm curious to see what the others have been doing....

Title: Re: good core.
Post by: locutus on April 04, 2011, 04:47:22 pm
i believe that some are going to try to make a pandaboard into a core, as soon as they receive one which might be a while
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: Aviator on April 04, 2011, 06:25:30 pm
I've had a core running on a P4 1.8 with 1GB Ram. Video card I used on it was a Geforce 6200 128 MB. It worked okay, but it is better as a MS.  I am now running a P4 2.8 with 2GB RAM as my core and it is performing great.  There is no need to go out and buy the latest and greatest if you have something around that will do the job.
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: rchamp on April 26, 2011, 04:58:22 pm
I finally found a mobo off ebay for my p4 3.0ghz ht chip for about 30bucks. BUT, after buying a dual Gb-NIC for about 100 bucks and some more RAM (unless I can find some laying around) and a case, im looking at close to 300 bucks.

I did find this. What do you guys think would be a better option?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.636018

Title: Re: good core.
Post by: Schmich on April 28, 2011, 01:43:39 am
I have a hard time recommending the P4 build if you need to buy more hardware to complete the system (though a Gb-NIC & case won't go old and can be used in a later system). A P4 might be faster than an Atom but the Atom-ION system you linked should do HD without too much trouble, it is silent and will draw very little power. Then if you later on decide to get a beefy core you can easily use the Atom system as an MD without it being in the way. It is a bit larger than the Acer Revo but you do have a DVD player.

Either way will work fine for a core although if you go for the Atom don't forget to buy a PCI-E NIC as well.
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: rchamp on May 09, 2011, 07:16:20 pm
I've been, VERY patient with this, since I'll be starting a new career path in the coming weeks. I did however come across this little gem.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=56-173-007&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=56-173-007&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=2#scrollFullInfo)

It's a little pricier than the other one i was considering, but worth it to me the Main system, and then downgrade it to just an MD after I move to a larger place. Curious to see how the drivers will work with LMCE. I might just hold off till the 10.04 version comes (workably) stable enough for me to load.


BUT this thing looks like a kick ass MD nonetheless.
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: Schmich on May 10, 2011, 04:29:39 am
There's also this option if you want to save a little bit of money and don't need a DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856173001
As far as I know the ION2 doesn't give much improvements. The D525 is slightly faster and has DDR3 support but I don't think the latter does much. Also don't forget that Bluray and Linux is a no-go.

One thing I'm wondering is how an install works for devices like these when there's only one NIC.
Title: Re: good core.
Post by: rchamp on June 15, 2011, 11:01:07 pm
I've also been looking into the FitPC.

http://www.amazon.com/CompuLab-fit-PC2-Diskless-Atom-Z530/dp/B003KJ3LFY/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&m=A3J2VUK9571N8X&s=generic&qid=1308171571&sr=1-16

if anything def a perfect MD. You can even get a Vesa Mount bracket and mount it behind the TV. AND has dual gigabit NICs plus 802.11b/g/n