Thread: AMD AM2 CPU Low Wattage

Bump!

Looks like it's coming, I just read this:

Mini-ITX 64

"Albatron says that a Socket-AM2 version is in the works and should be out by the end of this year. Coupled with an Energy Efficient Small Form Factor Athlon 64 or X2 processor, the Socket-AM2 version of this motherboard should be a very attractive option for a HTPC among other things. Kudos to Albatron on doing something different."

This will be my next Carputer.......

After a few test rats try it first

I have been waiting for this, and it will be my first carputer. Looks like I am going to have a few more months to plan it out.

Thanks for the information Vihila , now I am going to try to be patient and make it to the end of the year!!!

Plenty of time to start on my audio install I suppose!!!

After doing some research, I have found that the Core-Duo T2600 performs just as well, if not better, than an Athlon 64 X2 3800+. It also only consumes about 25-30 Watts. This is a good alternative to the energy efficient X2 that is already available in mini-itx format. I can't decide what to do...

LOL vihila beat me to it, I didn't mention Core Duo based processors as there was only one dual core AM2 35 watt processor.

Note that AMD has had low power processors for a while. They were/are Opterons noted as HE&EE series. The HE runs at 55 watts while the EE is available running at 30watts, but only come at 1.4Ghz. Of course they are expensive anything aimed at the server market tends to be expensive.

I would be weary to jump on the AM2 wagon too soon. New platforms usually have bugs and performance issues. I would let the motherboard makers get a couple revisions under their belt before stepping over to AM2.

Found this snippet over at HardOCP:
"Better still, AMD is offering a line of Energy Efficient processors available on Socket AM2 for the desktop that have maximum wattage specifications of 65 watts and even 35 watts for a small premium over the regular model numbers. Energy efficient processors deliver the same performance (frequency, cache, etc.) with lower heat and power.

AM2 PRICING (ENERGY EFFICIENT MODELS):

65 WATTS:
X2 4800+ $671
X2 4600+ $601
X2 4400+ $514
X2 4200+ $417
X2 4000+ $353
X2 3800+ $323
35 WATTS:
X2 3800+ $364
Athlon 64 3500+ $231
Sempron 3400+ $145
Sempron 3200+ $119
Sempron 3000+ $101"

Code:

Energy-Efficient Processors 
Model A (Normal) O D 
FX-62 125 W     
X2 5000+ 89 W     
X2 4800+ 89 W 65 W   
X2 4600+ 89 W 65 W   
X2 4400+ 89 W 65 W   
X2 4200+ 89 W 65 W   
X2 4000+ 89 W 65 W   
X2 3800+ 89 W 65 W 35 W 
Athlon 64 3800+ 62 W     
Athlon 64 3500+ 62 W   35 W 
Athlon 64 3200+ 62 W     
Athlon 64 3000+ 62 W     
Sempron 3600+ 62 W     
Sempron 3500+ 62 W     
Sempron 3400+ 62 W   35 W 
Sempron 3200+ 62 W   35 W 
Sempron 3000+ 62 W   35 W 
Sempron 2800+ 62 W

It appears as though there will be one X2 availlable at 35watts. Also of note the regular non EE AM2 Sempron 3000+ cost $77. Are you looking for 64bit ability? If it were me and I needed a fairly powerful setup I would use Pentium M processors, less watts and can be found very cheap on ebay. The only place where the older Pentium M comes up short is with encoding task with audio and video. Core Processors aren't cheap so you have to ask yourself if you need that processing power vs the cost. Will you be ripping DVDs, editing video, and playing BF2. Well, even in games the Core processors still come up short to AMDs offering, that can't be said with Intel's Conroe.

Article on Dothan vs netburst/P4 vs AMD single core, haven't even gotten to Yonah based processors:
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/05/...st/page10.html

In case anybody is wondering I haven't owned an Intel chip since the celeron 300 so don't take this as me being an Intel fanboy.

Yonah info:
http://www.mobilityguru.com/2006/01/...nse/page2.html

There is reason folks have been using these processors in their desktops.

Code:

Intel 945PM/GM (Yohna Processors) 
Processor Coreclock L2-Cache Frontsidebus Die Power (TDP) 
Core Duo T2600 Dual 2.16 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 31 W 
Core Duo T2500 Dual 2.00 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 31 W 
Core Duo T2400 Dual 1.83 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 31 W 
Core Duo T2300 Dual 1.66 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 31 W 
Core Solo T1300 1.66 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 27 W 
Core Duo LV L2400 Dual 1.66 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 15 W 
Core Duo LV L2300 Dual 1.50 GHz 2 MB 667 MHz 65 nm 15 W 
Intel 915PM/GM (Dothan Processors) 
Pentium M 780 2.26 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 770 2.13 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 760 2.00 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 740 1.73 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 730 1.60 GHz 2 MB 533 MHz 90 nm 27 W 
Pentium M 758 LV 1.50 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 10 W 
Pentium M 753 ULV 1.20 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 5 W 
Celeron M 370 1.50 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Celeron M 373 ULV 1.00 GHz 512 kB 400 MHz 90 nm 5 W 
Intel 855PM/GME (Dothan/Banias Prosessors) 
Pentium M 765 2.10 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 755 2.00 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 745 1.80 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 735 1.70 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 725 1.60 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 715 1.50 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Pentium M 705 1.50 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 130 nm 24.5 W 
Pentium M 738 LV 1.40 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 10 W 
Pentium M 718 LV 1.30 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 130 nm 12 W 
Pentium M 733 ULV 1.10 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 5 W 
Pentium M 723 ULV 1.00 GHz 2 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 5 W 
Pentium M 713 ULV 1.10 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 130 nm 7 W 
Celeron M 360 1.40 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Celeron M 350 1.30 GHz 1 MB 400 MHz 90 nm 21 W 
Celeron M 340 1.50 MHz 512 kB 400 MHz 130 nm 24.5 W 
Celeron M 330 1.40 GHz 512 kB 400 MHz 130 nm 24.5 W 
Celeron M 320 1.30 GHz 512 kB 400 MHz 130 nm 24.5 W 
Celeron M 310 1.20 GHz 512 kB 400 MHz 130 nm 24.5 W 
Celeron M 353 ULV 900 MHz 512 kB 400 MHz 90 nm 5 W 
Celeron M 333 ULV 900 MHz 512 kB 400 MHz 130 nm 7 W

LOL Sorry SilentBob.

Do you know how the VIA EPIA C7 performs related to these processors? I haven't been able to find any "head to head" reviews on them. (I guess because all of these processors are the "latest and greatest" from each of the camps, and it takes a while for these things to get out). I'm sitting at the Subaru dealership while my oil gets changed. I just ordered my first component... a replacement center dashboard hehee I can't wait

Nice. What Suby do you own, WRX?

The C7 won't perform anywhere near the processors discussed nor will it have the memory bandwidth. It is a slower platform in general.

First set up your budget, next decide what you want the system to do, and then pick your components. Some guys play video games and rip DVDs with their car PCs. If you are going that route then I would say Pentium M, Core, or low watt AM2.

If you are sticking with the more traditional stuff; front end, music, GPS, movies, etc. I would say the C7 would work out well or a AMD Geode based sytem if you can find one for a good price. Heck, The system I'm configuring for my brother is the the C3 M10000 and it plays music, movies, etc and the newer C7 doubles the perfomance of the older C3.

I think the best bang for buck is buying a used Pentium M off ebay, but the Mini-ITX board are fairly expensive. Of course you can buy a pretty decent micro-ATX board for less than half the price of a Pentium M Micro-ITX board:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130539

Like configuring any computer system it comes down to budget, usage, space constraints, etc.