Intel Sandy Bridge

[Recursion]

If your doing just a playback HTPC, atoms can playback 1080p (from a file not a BD) fine.

*dual core

Although if I was going for a HTPC I'd go for something with Nvidia ION for the 1080p playback.

[N!ck]

*dual core

Although if I was going for a HTPC I'd go for something with Nvidia ION for the 1080p playback.

No, you'd just put a C2D in there and save lots of hassle.

[Recursion]

No, you'd just put a C2D in there and save lots of hassle.

Until you're looking for something that runs quietly on an mITX board in an mITX case

[Jam]

*dual core

The Atom does not need be Dual Core.

[Recursion]

The Atom does not need be Dual Core.

Since when did single core Atoms handle 1080p without a decent video card to off load it onto?

[Stephen!]

Since when did single core Atoms handle 1080p without a decent video card to off load it onto?

This. From a simple google search this is obvious.

[N!ck]

Until you're looking for something that runs quietly on an mITX board in an mITX case

It can run quietly. Just not the mITX case...

I'd much rather have a slightly bigger C2D HTPC than a smaller atom based one.