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Which CPU for HTPC?

Which CPU for HTPC?

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LissieBear
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01-11-2026, 10:03 AM
#1
I am trying to figure out which CPU I want for a HTPC build I am planning, and I need your help. My chosen case is the In Win Chopin, and my top priority is to have the system run as cool and quiet as possible. The CPUs I have narrowed my search down to are the i3-8100T and the i5-8400T, both of which are 35W TDP chips. The i3 has two less cores to cool down, and the i5 comes with turbo boost technology and runs at a lower clock speed when not under load. But which one generates the least heat? And would the performance difference between the chips matter in a HTPC use case? Also, I know that 9th generation counterparts for these chips exists, but those are nowhere to be found. Do you think that they would be worth waiting for?
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L
LissieBear
01-11-2026, 10:03 AM #1

I am trying to figure out which CPU I want for a HTPC build I am planning, and I need your help. My chosen case is the In Win Chopin, and my top priority is to have the system run as cool and quiet as possible. The CPUs I have narrowed my search down to are the i3-8100T and the i5-8400T, both of which are 35W TDP chips. The i3 has two less cores to cool down, and the i5 comes with turbo boost technology and runs at a lower clock speed when not under load. But which one generates the least heat? And would the performance difference between the chips matter in a HTPC use case? Also, I know that 9th generation counterparts for these chips exists, but those are nowhere to be found. Do you think that they would be worth waiting for?

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iLwRo
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01-28-2026, 08:08 PM
#2
You don't require an i5 processor, and the i3 model will perform better in this setup. Ensure your motherboard features a 300 series chipset (such as H310, B360, Z390), since 100- or 200 series boards won't support 8th and 9th generation CPUs.
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iLwRo
01-28-2026, 08:08 PM #2

You don't require an i5 processor, and the i3 model will perform better in this setup. Ensure your motherboard features a 300 series chipset (such as H310, B360, Z390), since 100- or 200 series boards won't support 8th and 9th generation CPUs.

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