RE: Kitchen PC & Processing power

["Andy Laurence" <andy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Simon McCaughey [mailto:simonmcc@xxxxxxx]
> I have installed a "proof of concept" PC in the kitchen,
using a nice 12" TFT and an old K6-2-500 PC running WinXP.

What are you using for input?  Are you using a keyboard/mouse?

> It is *almost* silent, and SWMBO has given a big thumbs up to having
online banking, weather, internet radio, and
> kiddy pics screen saver - so all is great on that front!

Silence from that machine is pretty good going.  It's not like you can
remove the processor fan (without a BIG heatsink).

> I want to upgrade the machine (or buy a new one) The current machine
strains playing mp3s, and don't even ask it do
> decode video - I want to know what processor people are using for
kiosk type applications - what is the minimum I could
> get away with?

Err, what?  Struggling to play MP3s?  Are you sure?  I'd get down to some
troubleshooting.  I've used a P200 for a home radio station in the past,
and played MP3s on a P75 laptop.  I've also had DivX playing happily on a
PII 333, although I'd not recommend it!  If you want to play DivX video,
I'd go for something around the PIII 800 mark as it'll easily cope with
playing DivX, and you should be able to dissipate the heat quite well to
keep noise down.  If you're looking at MPEG2 instead, I'd say what you're
using is pretty much ideal, although IIRC, the Pentium chips around that
speed are slightly more efficient (and therefore easier to silence).

> I'm thinking either go ITX, with one of the epia boards, or else small
form factor PIII

ITX is another good option, but I'd expect a reduction in processing power
with the C3 800.

Cheers,
Andy
--
http://www.andylaurence.co.uk