HTPC face-off: VIA EPIA EX vs. AMD 690G

Written by Richard Swinburne

July 27, 2007 | 12:32

Tags: #690g #atx #avi #bluray #c3 #component #composite #cx700 #ddr2 #definition #dvi #epia #ex #h264 #hddvd #high #htpc #igp #low #power #processor #spdif #usb #xvid

Companies: #amd #via

WMP9HD Playback


WMV9HD 720p Playback

WMP9, 6.8MBit/s trailer

  • EPIA EX 15000G (1.5GHz C7, 1GB DDR2 533MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • MSI K9AGM2 (AMD BE-2350, 1GB DDR2 800MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • 100.0
  • 24.2
0
25
50
75
100
CPU% (lower is better)

WMV9HD 1080p Playback

WMP9, 9.8MBit/s trailer

  • EPIA EX 15000G (1.5GHz C7, 1GB DDR2 533MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • MSI K9AGM2 (AMD BE-2350, 1GB DDR2 800MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • 100.0
  • 33.6
0
25
50
75
100
CPU% (lower is better)

Even though the EPIA EX supports WMV9 playback acceleration, there is no acceleration for WMV9HD. Both 720p and 1080p trailers from the Microsoft website were unplayable on the EPIA, where the AMD system is just a shade over a third in use at 1080p.

h.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) Playback


h264 480p Playback

VLC, 4.1MBit/s trailer

  • EPIA EX 15000G (1.5GHz C7, 1GB DDR2 533MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • MSI K9AGM2 (AMD BE-2350, 1GB DDR2 800MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • 100.0
  • 0.6
0
25
50
75
100
CPU% (lower is better)

h264 720p Playback

VLC, 1.4MBit/s trailer

  • EPIA EX 15000G (1.5GHz C7, 1GB DDR2 533MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • MSI K9AGM2 (AMD BE-2350, 1GB DDR2 800MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • 100.0
  • 15.1
0
25
50
75
100
CPU% (lower is better)

h264 1080p Playback

VLC, 9.7MBit/s trailer

  • EPIA EX 15000G (1.5GHz C7, 1GB DDR2 533MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • MSI K9AGM2 (AMD BE-2350, 1GB DDR2 800MHz, 7200RPM HDD)
  • 100.0
  • 50.5
0
25
50
75
100
CPU% (lower is better)

The EPIA EX offers no specific hardware acceleration support for h.264 either, so it's all down to the CPU. 480p playback and the AMD system is running at 0.6 percent, whereas the EPIA EX is already dropping frames left right and centre making it un-watchable. Inevitably, every other resolution is also un-watchable as well, where the AMD system keeps going from strength to strength and finally tops out at just over 50 percent load at 1080p.
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