Broadwell Desktop Processors

[watzup_ken]

Well, I intend to build a SFF HTPC without expansion cards. So if there can be a bit of graphics power, just in case, it'd be good. Plus the Broadwell desktop processors are pretty damn powerful (The i5-5675 performs better than an i5-6600k)
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Playing or streaming 1080p movies are a piece of cake. Playing and streaming 4k video at 60fps is not.

Try this at 4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNJdPyoqt8U

and watch the Broadwell mobile choke. Tried that video with an i7-4720HQ and even that choked.

4k .mkv are also tough to decode with hardware only (ie with VLC)

So far, only my i7-4770k has managed to pass these..... It's able to play that youtube video with about 40% processor usage...... and assistance from my GTX 980.

I am not sure if the video is in H.265 format, but its true that the i3 5010U tend to drop frames. But do note that Broadwell only supports hardware decoding for H.265 clips partially, which I believe will result in the GPU and CPU struggling. This should be addressed in Skylake chips as shown in some of the reviews. Even the low power U series should manage well with full hardware decoding.

Anyway, I think the question for you is whether you will be streaming 4K videos all the time? 4K contents are pretty rare at this point, and most of them only run at 24 FPS instead of 60.

 

[Fatfool]

Actually if your purpose is just to use its igpu, might as well go for apu. At a fraction of its cost. On par with the i7-6700 igpu. Just that its processing power is not there.

Just like what hwz reviewed.

I already have an A10-5700. It skips frames on 4k video like crazy.

 

[Fatfool]

I am not sure if the video is in H.265 format, but its true that the i3 5010U tend to drop frames. But do note that Broadwell only supports hardware decoding for H.265 clips partially, which I believe will result in the GPU and CPU struggling. This should be addressed in Skylake chips as shown in some of the reviews. Even the low power U series should manage well with full hardware decoding.

Anyway, I think the question for you is whether you will be streaming 4K videos all the time? 4K contents are pretty rare at this point, and most of them only run at 24 FPS instead of 60.

The rig is to be built with that in the future. Btw VP9 (used by Youtube) is only supported in Skylake and not Broadwell. Hardware decoding is finicky and I try not to rely on it so that when a video needs to be played in Software mode, it can be brute forced anyway.

4K content is rare now but won't be in the future. (4k, 60FPS is already being used by youtube) This machine will actually only be used as a HTPC some years down the road. Now, it will replace my A10-5700 rig which will take the job as the current HTPC.

 

[royfrosty]

I already have an A10-5700. It skips frames on 4k video like crazy.

What program you using to watch 4k?

 

[Entry Level PC]

Maybe he subbing 4k prawn the cpu not powerful enough to play them smoothly and fast forward smoothly.

 

[Fatfool]

What program you using to watch 4k?

VLC. just using software decoding.

 

[royfrosty]

Have you tried Kodi player? If so it should be better.

 

[Fatfool]

Have you tried Kodi player? If so it should be better.

Not tried that yet. But will do so as I intend to use that for my HTPC

 

[Elijahonli]

Well, I intend to build a SFF HTPC without expansion cards. So if there can be a bit of graphics power, just in case, it'd be good. Plus the Broadwell desktop processors are pretty damn powerful (The i5-5675 performs better than an i5-6600k)
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Playing or streaming 1080p movies are a piece of cake. Playing and streaming 4k video at 60fps is not.

Try this at 4k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNJdPyoqt8U

and watch the Broadwell mobile choke. Tried that video with an i7-4720HQ and even that choked.

4k .mkv are also tough to decode with hardware only (ie with VLC)

So far, only my i7-4770k has managed to pass these..... It's able to play that youtube video with about 40% processor usage...... and assistance from my GTX 980.

anw the video seems to be in 4k 30fps only and running quite smoothly, or is there a way to enable 60fps 4k?

 

[Fatfool]

anw the video seems to be in 4k 30fps only and running quite smoothly, or is there a way to enable 60fps 4k?

Hmm seems youtube has changed some stuff. you can try 4k 60fps on this video if you want a real torture test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lYqgWAmrg

Edit: seems like youtube took the 60 fps version leaving just 30 fps!

 

[Elijahonli]

Hmm seems youtube has changed some stuff. you can try 4k 60fps on this video if you want a real torture test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lYqgWAmrg

Edit: seems like youtube took the 60 fps version leaving just 30 fps!

yea the new link is UHD @ 60fps

 

[Fatfool]

yea the new link is UHD @ 60fps

weird. I can't see the 4k version now!