# Have Core CPUs improved much over the years. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2014, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537 "2014-07-19T16:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537/21 "2014-07-21T19:15:04Z")
For home theatre stuff, almost anything will handle it just fine. The fastest internet connection any home user has can be easily outrun by even the most humble of atom chips. Something like this > **[Amazon.com: ASRock Intel Atom D2550/Intel NM10/DDR3/A&V&L/Mini-ITX...](https://www.amazon.com/ASRock-Intel-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-AD2550B-ITX/dp/B008N7T9RC)** > > Buy ASRock Intel Atom D2550/Intel NM10/DDR3/A&V&L/Mini-ITX Motherboard AD2550B-ITX: Motherboards - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases toss in a stick of ram, a power supply, case, and HDD of your choice. You could have one of these running win 7 with the rest of the hardware/OS for around $400. we have built a couple media center type units now for folks using these cases > **[Amazon.com: Cooler Master RC-130-KKN1 Elite 130 - Mini-ITX Computer Case with...](https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-130-KKN1-Elite-130/dp/B00DJ6A88G)** > > Amazon.com: Cooler Master RC-130-KKN1 Elite 130 - Mini-ITX Computer Case with Mesh Front Panel and Water Cooling Support : Everything Else > **[Amazon.com: Cooler Master RC-130-KKN1 Elite 130 - Mini-ITX Computer Case with...](https://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-RC-130-KKN1-Elite-130/dp/B00DJ6A88G)** > > Amazon.com: Cooler Master RC-130-KKN1 Elite 130 - Mini-ITX Computer Case with Mesh Front Panel and Water Cooling Support : Everything Else They are some sexy looking little boxes that would easily blend in nicely with other entertainment center hardware. ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537/22 "2014-07-22T01:13:51Z")
The only requirements for the setup are 1. Looks like a computer (as opposed to a TV, phone, or tablet) to internet content. 2. HDMI and S/PDIF out and able to plug a keyboard in. That eliminates Apple TV and Roku, but it does seem there’s a lot of “less than full-sized, full priced computer” stuff out there. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537/23 "2014-07-23T20:54:53Z")
> [@Palooka](#): > > It should be fine, since decoding video is a CPU-based task. On most modern computers, I don’t believe it is. I think even newer integrated chips have hardware h.264 decoders. Still, pretty anything with a dual core\* can handle CPU-based decoding at 1080p, so I guess that means you can use even older integrated GPUs. \*My single core Atom netbook definitely could not handle full HD. It could handle 720p in outside programs and 480p in flash-based stuff, although both would drop frames. 1080p was a slideshow.) ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537/24 "2014-07-25T02:37:59Z")
Go for an AMD APU - quad core, cheaper, better graphics. AM1 socket ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-core-cpus-improved-much-over-the-years/693537.md?page=1)