AM3 CPU with spare parts I have for NAS or start over?

[Lord_Radford]

Hi there. 

 

I am making a DIY NAS/media server for file storage and a squeezebox multi-room media system.

 

I have a full spare PC with an AM3+ CPU socket board, just minus a processor. Should I get the lowest power AM3 CPU and underclock if needed or is it worth it to start over again? 

 

What kind of cost difference per-annum are we talking between power consumption on an underclocked FX-4100 and a more suitable low power server CPU/APU? 

 

Many thanks everyone.

 

[PCGuy_5960]

If all you need is low power... Pick up an AM1 CPU... They are dirt cheap and consume very little power... Otherwise, buy the cheapest AM3+ CPU you can find...

[PCGuy_5960]

An Athlon 5350 for example has a TDP of just 25W! And it has a CPU/GPU/Chipset on board!

[Flavortown2k16]

you can try finding used fx 4xxx cpu, or get one from store, but they are way overpriced in there

[PCGuy_5960]

2 minutes ago, Flavortown2k16 said:

you can try finding used fx 4xxx cpu, or get one from store, but they are way overpriced in there

On ebay, I found an FX-6100 for just $40!

[Lord_Radford]

1 hour ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

If all you need is low power... Pick up an AM1 CPU... They are dirt cheap and consume very little power... Otherwise, buy the cheapest AM3+ CPU you can find...

Unfortunately earlier processors cannot be used in newer sockets  if im going to get a new board think i will just research more on the specific low power NAS type CPU's.

 

1 hour ago, Flavortown2k16 said:

you can try finding used fx 4xxx cpu, or get one from store, but they are way overpriced in there

That's what I was originally thinking but I'm wondering if in price terms going for a different setup would be worth the money for the savings in power?

[Tom Hanks]

1 hour ago, PCGuy_5960 said:

On ebay, I found an FX-6100 for just $40!

Get this.

[Lord_Radford]

3 minutes ago, Tom Hanks said:

Get this.

Its quite high power though. I used to have one and even underclocked idle they draw a lot. This PC will be running 24/7 all year round on a USP too.

[LeStringMan]

3 minutes ago, Lord_Radford said:

Its quite high power though. I used to have one and even underclocked idle they draw a lot. This PC will be running 24/7 all year round on a USP too.

What about something like this? the A6-5200 is the laptop version of the Athlon 5350, but it is soldered instead of socketed, so no upgrading cpu, its a quad core at 2 ghz with 25w tdp.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138426&cm_re=a6_5200-_-13-138-426-_-Product

[PCGuy_5960]

1 hour ago, Lord_Radford said:

Unfortunately earlier processors cannot be used in newer sockets  if im going to get a new board think i will just research more on the specific low power NAS type CPU's

A. I am well aware that you can't fit an AM1 Cpu into an Am3+ socket 

b. FYI, AM1 is NEWER than Am3+

[PCGuy_5960]

1 hour ago, LeStringMan said:

What about something like this? the A6-5200 is the laptop version of the Athlon 5350, but it is soldered instead of socketed, so no upgrading cpu, its a quad core at 2 ghz with 25w tdp.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138426&cm_re=a6_5200-_-13-138-426-_-Product

An Athlon 5350 costs $30 and an AM1 motherboard costs $40-$50... It's super cheap! (and you still have some degree of upgradability and customization...)