Intel 4500MHD or ATI 4530

[gryphon333]

Hi. I know, easy question right? I should obviously get the ATI 4530. However, it's $200 more and I'm not a gamer. The most graphics intensive things I do are streaming Hulu at 480p full screen and playing ripped DVDs with Quicktime. Occasionally, I might breakout Win Movie Maker and do a little editing of vids of my kid.

The card will be in a laptop that I will have connected to my 720p plasma via either a VGA cable or HDMI. I'll be using the laptop as an HTPC until I work up the cash to build/buy a dedicated living room unit. However, I'm really only interested in surfing the internet (streaming Hulu, Metacafe, YouTube, etc.), watching ripped DVDs, using my webcam, and playing ripped CDs/MP3s. I'm not going to be capturing or converting any TV or using it as an DVR/PVR.

Can someone out there give me a straight answer at to whether the Intel 4500MHD (even thought I know it's not a great card) will do the job for me?

Thanks in advance.

~Adam

 

[Dekasav]

Hulu and YouTube run only using the CPU, so that's a non-issue. And I think the Intel 4500 can run DVDs and such, so you should be fine with the cheaper option.

 

[gryphon333]

Really?!? I currently have an Compaq Evo n800c P4 2.4G and the video is choppy when I put Hulu into full screen mode. Why would that be if they only use the CPU?

 

[edeawillrule]

The reason why is P4s are ***.

 

[megamanx00]

The 4530 will be better if you use Blu Ray or are watching HD video with any GPU accelerated codecs. Otherwise, since you're not gaming, stick with the crappy onboard Intel video .

 

[gryphon333]

Yeah, when I get the permanent unit in the living room I'll start worrying about Blu-Ray and HD vids on the HTPC. But I've lived without them this long that another year or so won't kill me.

 

[daedalus685]

The reason why is P4s are ***.

One day all the P4's will be gone and the posts about them will stop

But hey, at least I haven't seen any first gen cerlerons around here lately..

 

[edeawillrule]

One day all the P4's will be gone and the posts about them will stop

But hey, at least I haven't seen any first gen celerons around here lately..

I can't wait til that day gets here lol. I hate P4s with a passion.

 

[frozenlead]

Just to be sure...you can't put a 4530 into a notebook. I hope you meant build a PC with one in it or use a notebook.

As for the P4 discussion - I just refurbished an HP notebook with a P4. Owner complained that it got too hot, and started smoking. Turns out the heatsinks were clogged with dust and the heatpipes ran right next to the power jack on the motherboard - melted the sucker down. Replaced the jack and such, but the machine still smells a bit burnt. P4 loads at 53C. Not bad for two fans in a notebook and some good TIM.

 

[gryphon333]

Just to be sure...you can't put a 4530 into a notebook.

Tell that to HP. They offer it as an option for the Pavilion dv6t series:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_can_series.do?storeName=computer_store&category=notebooks&a1=Category&v1=Performance+and+entertainment&series_name=dv6t_series

 

[frozenlead]

Tell that to HP. They offer it as an option for the Pavilion dv6t series:

Well, yes, but you're not just adding a card in. You'll be replacing the motherboard.

 

[rewindlabs]

I can't wait til that day gets here lol. I hate P4s with a passion.

Added a psu and graphics card to a P4 system i had lying around....runs L4D just fine....which is why i set it up....if everyone just weren't morons and expected a perfect gaming time with the p4 then we would be ok....but people look at the P4s clock rate and think its a powerful setup

 

[edeawillrule]

Added a psu and graphics card to a P4 system i had lying around....runs L4D just fine....which is why i set it up....if everyone just weren't morons and expected a perfect gaming time with the p4 then we would be ok....but people look at the P4s clock rate and think its a powerful setup

Like I said P4s are ***.
They consume more power than an entire modern pc.
They deliver less than half the performance clock for clock when compared to a C2D (Conroe) not counting multi-threaded applications where the performance difference would be even larger.
They produce enough heat to keep the whole friggin planet warm.
And they are pretty much useless.

Gotta just love the remnants of Intel's megahertz myth marketing campaign that is still believed by so many *sigh*

 

[rewindlabs]

Yeahp thats all right...but if you have one lying around and know what to expect/can make use of it there is not reason not to use it

And it keeps me warm during the winter...

 

[cjl]

They consume more power than an entire modern pc.

Tell that to my 4870x2 quadfire rig with an overclocked i7


(Yes, I know that's not a fair comparison)

 

[rickzor]

One day all the P4's will be gone and the posts about them will stop

But hey, at least I haven't seen any first gen cerlerons around here lately..

I own a pentium III 1.32ghz on a slot1 board and a sata hdd and i love it

 

[witcherx]

4530.. blue ray and future...

 

[edeawillrule]

I own a pentium III 1.32ghz on a slot1 board and a sata hdd and i love it

Pentium IIIs have a special place in my heart (the first pc I ever used had one ) so they're fine lol.