Intel or AMD for HTPC?

[prod]

I am getting a mobo/cpu combo for my second/HTPC. I need a low power/heat cpu as I have a cramped Antec Aria case. It did have an Athlon XP tbred 1800 until the motherboard died, and I briefly had an A64 3000 in it but even that was a little too hot.
I use it for watching tv, maybe capturing and some light gaming. Any encoding can be done on my main machine I guess and wont be overclocking.
Im looking at these combos, anyone have an opinion on which I should get?

AMD® Athlon™ X2 BE-2350 2.1 GHz (45W) $124.99
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI Socket AM2 AMD 690G (http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=1&model=1585&l1=3&l2=101&l3=496) $89.99

Asus P5B-VM Socket 775 Intel G965 (http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1312&l1=3&l2=11&l3=0&l4=0) $130.99
Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 Socket LGA775, 1.80 GHz $104.99

The AMD combo has better connectivity (HDMI,comonent,SPDIF) which I dont need right now, but may later on, and is slightly cheaper.
The intel has better cpu performance, more modern GPU (shader 3.0).
From what I have seen, the heat output should be about equal for the two systems, correct?

[lincoln]

Either of these two are the best option for you. The DS3 has a slightly better components on it but overall they're very similar.

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD5155&vpn=GA-965P-S3&manufacture=GIGABYTE

http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD3851&vpn=GA-965P-DS3&manufacture=GIGABYTE

The Gigabyte mobo's are better than the asus.

[prod]

Im needing a mATX with integrated video, those are both ATX, but the SPDIF would be a good option. One of my other machines has a gigabyte board, its average but I still like the asus brand more.

[terrybear]

pass on the asus board.

get a biostar or sapphire AMD690G insted. :)

[prod]

pass on the asus board.

get a biostar or sapphire AMD690G insted. :)

Any particular reason for liking those?
I like the asus because of the vga,dvi,hdmi,component,spdif.
Biostar are usually very basic, and i would trust the asus brand more than sapphire.

[George K]

i'd go with your 1st choice

AMD® Athlon™ X2 BE-2350 2.1 GHz (45W) $124.99
ASUS M2A-VM HDMI Socket AM2 AMD 690G $89.99

you can get a 65W cpu for $50 less
http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=10360BD7435
since CPU utilization is low with the 6100/6150 and the 690G power difference will be under 10W

my only problem with 690G (and all ATI cards) is the poor support for Linux and OpenGL

[prod]

Yeah, but i think 65w is too hot for me, looking at 45w or less. Although the intel is also rated for 65w, i have read it runs cooler than that. I run distributed computing programs on all my machines, so cpu usage is always 100%.
It might be worth it to go down from 2.1 to the 1.9 AMD for $25 less, hmm.

[terrybear]

Any particular reason for liking those?
I like the asus because of the vga,dvi,hdmi,component,spdif.
Biostar are usually very basic, and i would trust the asus brand more than sapphire.

Asus is not great for the AMD 690G boards & also there quality & support has gone down the crapper the last 1-2 years.

here are my sugestions on the boards to be lookin at:

Biostar Tforce TA690GAM2 mATX AM2 DDR2 AMD 690G 1PCI-E16 2PCI SATA2 RAID Gbe HDMI VGA Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23754&vpn=TA690GAM2&manufacture=BIOSTAR

Gigabyte GA-MA69GM-S2H 690G mATX AM2 1PCI-E16 1PCI-E4 2PCI HDMI Video Sound GBLAN 1394 Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25184&vpn=GA-MA69GM-S2H&manufacture=Gigabyte

Sapphire Pure Element 690G HDMI mATX AM2 DDR2 PCI-E16 2PCI SATA2 RAID Video Sound GBLAN Motherboard
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24372&vpn=PE-AM2RS690MH&manufacture=SAPPHIRE

Heck if ya want a 2.4 X2 EE I may have mine up for sale at the end of the month :P