[solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

hokasch · 2010-10-29 23:27:57

Pondering about getting an Acer Revo 3600, I wonder if the n230 single core atom would be sufficient for my setup. There is a n330 dual-core variant (3610), but it is nearly 50% more expensive and, apart from the faster CPU, has no additional value for me (wouldn't use wlan or s/pdif anyway).

From what I read on the web, the n230 version is supposed to run xbmc just fine due its Ion GPU. The web server would be lamp + one install of openatrium, and extremely low-traffic (only used for some university online-collaboration stuff).

Apart from that it should provide:

File server/Network
* Samba for home network filesharing
* periodic rsync-backups
* ssh / eventually ftp
* access files via sshfs
* usenet or torrent download (SABnzbd/rtorrent)
* sickeard and couchpotato

Htpc
* mpd (would be stopped when xbmc is running)
* xbmc-standalone (only started when needed)

What do you think, could I get away with the single-core or is this too much to ask?

Last edited by hokasch (2010-11-02 19:40:14)

pyther · 2010-10-30 15:01:02

If I was a betting person, i would bet that the playing HD files will but a large load on the cpu. I'm not 100% sure how the ION and vdpau stuff works, but I can't imagine it taking all the load of the cpu.

hokasch · 2010-10-30 15:19:42

Apparently it works quite well with vdpau if you let the Ion have 512mb of ram. From what I read on the xbmc forums CPU usage normally doesn't go higher than 20% even when playing 1080 HD (and most my files are 720p max).

Last edited by hokasch (2010-10-30 15:20:25)

Gusar · 2010-10-30 15:20:13

pyther wrote:

If I was a betting person, i would bet that the playing HD files will but a large load on the cpu. I'm not 100% sure how the ION and vdpau stuff works, but I can't imagine it taking all the load of the cpu.

Then let me correct you, ION is VDPAU Feature Set B1, which means full hardware decode of mpeg2, vc1 and h264/avc.

pyther · 2010-10-30 15:24:04

Then in that case my home server has a 230 and my cpu is usually under 40%

11:21:49 up 8 days, 14:22,  1 user,  load average: 0.23, 0.24, 0.18

DAEMONS=(syslog-ng acpid apcupsd network iptables netfs crond @ntpd sshd @fail2ban @ddclient mysqld clamav clamsmtp dovecot postgrey postfix rpcbind nfs-server spamd @lighttpd @cups @lighttpd-radio @samba alsa icecast)

So as you can see I have a lot of stuff runnnig (samba, mail stuff, nfs, http/php/mysql, and deluge (torretns))

hokasch · 2010-10-30 21:06:33

Thanks pyther. Looks like the single core should handle my setup.

graysky · 2010-10-31 12:03:01

I have the dual core version (Atom 330) on a Zotac IONITX A-U. Playing back 1080p test clip gives GPU usage of 40 % and CPU usage for xbmc is of 3 % and 4% (two threads). It's not over-the-air HD mind you, but a test clip I d/led and played with xbmc with VDPAU. Be glad to try it with a full biterate clip if you can point me to one to d/l.

Last edited by graysky (2010-10-31 12:08:46)

Bralkein · 2010-11-01 20:06:44

Hi, I have an Arch HTPC on an Atom 230 with nvidia ION (it's a ZOTAC board of some description) and it has no problem playing back 1080p content. I also use it for some mild server duties and have had no problems with that either. So I say go for it.

.:B:. · 2010-11-01 21:23:12

An Ion setup can do Full HD through VDPAU just fine; however, keep in mind the Atom is still a weak CPU. Xbmc will feel slower than on a good - full-blown - CPU, and despite its hyperthreading, you probably don't want to have that thing multitask. The only way to find out is to test it (or find someone who already did for you), but just get a newer Atom (more power efficient, more performance as well), with an Ion2 (or CrystalHD card). That definitely would give you more headroom than just a single-core Atom. Especially torrenting/nzb stuff will tax your CPU. There are a few threads on the Xbmc forums about people renicing their nzb clients (or rescheduling I/O) because it caused Xbmc to get hiccups .

graysky · 2010-11-02 19:19:42

@B - I haven't been able to locate any Ion2 boards. Can you post a link to the threads you mentioned?

hokasch · 2010-11-02 19:39:29

Thanks for sharing your experiences!

I made a good shot on ebay today and got myself a used self-built htpc with an atom 330 (IONITX A). Overall it was cheaper than a single-core Revo - these seem to go for more than the original retail price atm. The case is a bit big, but it will be tucked away somewhere anyway, and the size should help with cooling. Will see how it fares with the torrenting...

@gravsky
there is one from Asus, and I think I seen some zotac prebuilds with Ion2. The GPU difference from ion to ion2 should be neglectable from what I read, but you get it packaged with a better cpu and it draws less power.

graysky · 2010-11-02 19:43:49

@hokasch - hmmm, that link is for an ION, not ION2..?

hokasch · 2010-11-02 19:46:33

yupp, wrong link...
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=iIZKMXSj0jZKiebE

graysky · 2010-11-02 19:54:42

Interesting thanks. Think I'll keep my ION1 system

Arch Linux

#1 2010-10-29 23:27:57

[solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#2 2010-10-30 15:01:02

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#3 2010-10-30 15:19:42

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#4 2010-10-30 15:20:13

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#5 2010-10-30 15:24:04

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#6 2010-10-30 21:06:33

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#7 2010-10-31 12:03:01

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#8 2010-11-01 20:06:44

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#9 2010-11-01 21:23:12

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#10 2010-11-02 19:19:42

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#11 2010-11-02 19:39:29

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#12 2010-11-02 19:43:49

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#13 2010-11-02 19:46:33

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

#14 2010-11-02 19:54:42

Re: [solved] Single core atom enough for small webserver + xbmc?

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