Integrated graphics CPU dilemma...

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I'm looking to build a PC that will serve 2 main purposes. HTPC and host a RAID HDD configuration.

Am debating between choosing AMD A8-7600 with Radeon R7 or Intel i3-7100 with HD 630.

Would performances playing HD media be similar between those two or is one significantly better than the other?
 
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USAFRet


It's just software (open source at that)...
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atljsf

atljsf

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the a8 has 4 physical cores, the i3 only has two and two threads

for some apps this is ok and wil work faster on intel, others will prefer the real cores

the integrated gpu, i like more amd, it works well on windows and linux, on most linux is just install and it sets by itself

intel on the other hand, well, it will depends on ram usage and on some circumstances will not be as friendly as one would like

both machines should perform very similar i think, i do prefer amd
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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The i3.

But...in a completely different direction:
How about a NAS box instead. I have a QNAP (to be delivered tomorrow), for exactly this same purpose.
This is replacing my current 6 year old house server/HTPC

4 drive bay, and 4k output directly to the TV.
All the functions of a NAS (backups, storage, RAID), plus HTPC functionality.
 
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herrwizo

herrwizo

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Get Intel - performance in video playback will feel the same, but generally this CPU is much (several orders of magnitude) faster and on a much better platform, can easily be upgraded later to i5/i7 or converted to a different-purpose machine (gaming).
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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An order of magnitude is 10 times, several would imply that an i3 is at least a hundred or one thousand times faster, that is not the case.

 
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That's an intriguing option... I'll go ahead and research it ;) The main goal is to avoid having a desktop AND a NAS by putting both in the same case. The desktop would also serve as the main download/streaming machine as I only have an old Inspiron 1501 laptop at the moment. Works really well but no HDMI connection and battery is dead. So I would keep the laptop for surfing and the desktop would do all the rest...

 
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Well... quick search on Bestbuy and the QNAP you're talking about is 650 CAD at the moment... that's the projected price of my whole system lol ;)

However... reading the QNAP website and my interest is piqued lol ;) Much more efficient power wise... have you checked on the possible obsolescence of the video transcoder? Will that be ugradeable via firmware or other as standards change?
 
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USAFRet

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Unknown about upgrading the transcoder, but I am highly unlikely to need more than 4k any time in the next decade.
I don't have a 4k device now...:)
 
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Me neither and don't plan to... I think mainstream 4K is at least a couple of years away.

Thanks for putting the QNAP option out there, didn't know it existed. I'll research and take my time as the new Ryzen cpu is due shortly and that will mean the A8-7600 I'm considering should drop in price a bit too. It's already half the price of i3-7100 ;)

The question about upgrading the transcoder is because for example, codecs have moved from H.264 to H.265 and I'm wondering if such advances in codecs will mean that the QNAP will not be able to decode these new formats/codecs... If I'm operating from a PC, I can just update VLC or any other media player... how is that dealt with on the QNAP?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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It's just software (open source at that), so I expect a codec upgrade would be available if needed.

I'm still in the process of setting this thing up, and consolidating 8 drives (~ 25TB), but so far, this little QNAP looks to be pretty sweet.
NAS boxes are no longer little boxes with a bunch of drives and a bare commandline interface. This is a whole PC, with a Windows-like GUI, 4k HDMI, Plex server, audio, etc, etc, etc...plus all the functions of a traditional NAS.

I have yet to hook it up to the TV, but HDMI to the 24" monitor looks just fine.
 
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