Buy 780G mobo now, or wait for 790GX (or something else)?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:50 pm
Hello,
I'm building a low power computer. I'm not going to the low extreme, I'd just like it to be under 50W or so when idle (in Windows XP).
My needs:
* using Windows XP (no need to switch to Vista just yet)
* Web surfing mostly
* Occasional gaming (*old* 3D games only, so a good IGP is sufficient)
* Light Photoshopping
...so, I don't need a power rig. Basically, I need low power (idle wattage) with enough 3D performance for older 3D games (e.g. Thief, Dungeon Siege, Ultima V: Lazarus). I'm a retro gamer so most games I play are 2D anyway.
Currently I have an AMD X2 3800+ with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (3DMark06 score: 800), and 3D performance-wise it fits my bill perfectly. I'd still like to "upgrade" to an IGP solution.
Here's what I have in mind for the new setup:
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4450E
* Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
* some 2 x 2GB DDR2-800 kit (one that doesn't require higher voltages to operate)
* one HDD (going for WD GP most likely)
* a DVD+-RW drive
* one or two fans (120mm)
The setup above would have a 3DMark06 score of about 1500 (I assume), so it would be quite sufficient for my gaming needs.
I assume that such a setup would work quite OK with a PicoPSU 120w. I am not going to overclock, but I might undervolt if I get it working with RMClock or CrystalCPUthingy. Low(ish) idle voltage/power is a MUST though.
I'm contemplating whether to get a motherboard with the AMD 780G chipset or wait for the 790GX chipset... or something else(?)
Is there any reason *not* to buy an AMD 780G-based motherboard now? Does the 790GX have some significant new features? Or is there something else interesting on the horizon? I've tried Googling, but information seems scarce...(?) What about upcoming Intel chipsets?
I'd go for a NVIDIA HybridPower solution (for the "switch-the-discrete-gfx-card-off-completely"-feature so I could buy a gfx card later if needed) but the HybridPower only supports high-end NVIDIA cards --- and I'm not going to buy a 9800GTX just to play several years old 3D games... Otherwise, the HybridPower is a very interesting concept, I'm wondering if AMD has something similar coming up?
Any insight would be most welcome
EDIT: I'm thinking of an AMD setup --- but I have nothing against Intel, it's just that I have the impression that Intel CPUs are not an option if I want a low power setup with decent IGP performance (i.e. 780G or similar) ???
Thanks,
Andru
I'm building a low power computer. I'm not going to the low extreme, I'd just like it to be under 50W or so when idle (in Windows XP).
My needs:
* using Windows XP (no need to switch to Vista just yet)
* Web surfing mostly
* Occasional gaming (*old* 3D games only, so a good IGP is sufficient)
* Light Photoshopping
...so, I don't need a power rig. Basically, I need low power (idle wattage) with enough 3D performance for older 3D games (e.g. Thief, Dungeon Siege, Ultima V: Lazarus). I'm a retro gamer so most games I play are 2D anyway.
Currently I have an AMD X2 3800+ with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (3DMark06 score: 800), and 3D performance-wise it fits my bill perfectly. I'd still like to "upgrade" to an IGP solution.
Here's what I have in mind for the new setup:
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4450E
* Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
* some 2 x 2GB DDR2-800 kit (one that doesn't require higher voltages to operate)
* one HDD (going for WD GP most likely)
* a DVD+-RW drive
* one or two fans (120mm)
The setup above would have a 3DMark06 score of about 1500 (I assume), so it would be quite sufficient for my gaming needs.
I assume that such a setup would work quite OK with a PicoPSU 120w. I am not going to overclock, but I might undervolt if I get it working with RMClock or CrystalCPUthingy. Low(ish) idle voltage/power is a MUST though.
I'm contemplating whether to get a motherboard with the AMD 780G chipset or wait for the 790GX chipset... or something else(?)
Is there any reason *not* to buy an AMD 780G-based motherboard now? Does the 790GX have some significant new features? Or is there something else interesting on the horizon? I've tried Googling, but information seems scarce...(?) What about upcoming Intel chipsets?
I'd go for a NVIDIA HybridPower solution (for the "switch-the-discrete-gfx-card-off-completely"-feature so I could buy a gfx card later if needed) but the HybridPower only supports high-end NVIDIA cards --- and I'm not going to buy a 9800GTX just to play several years old 3D games... Otherwise, the HybridPower is a very interesting concept, I'm wondering if AMD has something similar coming up?
Any insight would be most welcome
EDIT: I'm thinking of an AMD setup --- but I have nothing against Intel, it's just that I have the impression that Intel CPUs are not an option if I want a low power setup with decent IGP performance (i.e. 780G or similar) ???
Thanks,
Andru