Intel 'Viiv' Processors

NewApproach

While 'building' on the Dell website, I came across the Viiv range of processors. They appear to share the same specs as their non viiv counterparts! And they are the same price.

Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core Q6600 Processor (2.4GHz,1066MHz,8MB cache)
Intel® Viiv™ Core™ 2 Quad-Core Q6600 Processor (2.4GHz,1066MHz,8MB cache) add € 0.00

To cut a long question short, what is the difference, if any?

And is this processor reccommended?

Thanks in advance

AlmightyCushion

As far as I know it's a marketing thing. No difference between them.

mathias

Intel ViiV is not a processor , ViiV is a platform , or a name given to a collection of parts that together qualify for the term.

This is similar to the way Centrino was used for laptops that had certain components , here is the list that a pc needs to have to qualify for the Viiv logo ,

http://www.intel.com/products/viiv/requirements.htm

so to have the Viiv logo , a pc must have one of the processors listed on the that page.

Viiv is basically a pc that can be used as a media center for the home ,it should have at least WinXP media centre edition or Vista home premium as an OS ( only winXP MCE and some versions of Vista have Media centre software) and its intention is that such a pc would sit under your HDTV , and be used as a Music , photo , DVD , and video player and recorder , they usually have the ability to act as a PVR ( personal video recorder ) much like sky plus , and should also come with all the connectors to hook up to your stereo and TV.

Needless to say , the PC should also be whisper quiet.
These are the main differences between a standard pc for the office and a Viiv PC

By the way , when a company advertises a PC as having an Intel Viiv processor , that is a misleading term , it should say Intel Viiv technology , there is no processor called an Intel Viiv processor ( there are only processors that qualify to be part of a Viiv PC ) and this is a misleading ad.

NewApproach

Thanks.

So basically this is a CPU that has the Viiv required specs?

If I am getting this machine, would you reccommend to get the 'Viiv ' one or the normal one?

Thanks again

DemonOfTheFall

If there's no difference in price, choose the ViiV one, because some retarded software will only run if you have the Viiv one. Basically just licencing deals between intel and the software makers, rather than any hardware reason. So you'd might as well keep all your options open with the Viiv.

mathias

" because some retarded software will only run if you have the Viiv one "

Examples please ?

Ive never heard of any software that actually needs a Viiv PC to run. Viiv is just a logo describing a particular spec , you can put said spec together yourself , it wont have the Viiv logo , but will be equivalent nevertheless , how on earth can there be any software that needs it !

Ive heard of some content ( videos , music , not from software makers ) that is made available ( but not exclusive ) to media center , but that is more specific to Media Center as opposed to intel. Ive built two htpcs , I got the parts myself , they are the same as Viiv spec , but dont have the Viiv logo , I have never come across anything , on the net or anywhere else that wouldn't run because I didnt have Viiv.

If you know different , please let me know ?

mathias

Sorry forgot to answer this question ,

If I am getting this machine, would you reccommend to get the 'Viiv ' one or the normal one?

The answer is that Viiv adds nothing to the machine , so get the cheaper one ( all else being the same ) .

It is Intels attempt to add phantom value to a machine , they are doing this because the Centrino platform attempt was so successful , that added nothing of real value to the machine either. It is just a level of technology logo.

As an example , a Centrino laptop had to have an internal wireless connection. You could get laptops without an internal wireless connection , and hence no centrino logo ..for upwards of 200 euro cheaper , a wireless laptop card could be had for 30-40 euro , hence 160 euro of phantom value added to the machine.

In the case of Viiv , there is no tangible value add to the machine , in the specs that were posted at the top , the only real difference in the machines was one would have had media centre .

In the case of XP , only Win MCE had media centre , it cannot be added to any other version of XP. With Vista home premium and ultra , media centre is installed , with all the rest its not , and that would mean they dont qualify for the Viiv logo. There is not one iota of difference in the hardware.

In any case Viivs days as the marketing tactic it is may be numbered , intel are strongly ( and wisely in my opinion ) considering dropping it ,

http://news.com.com/Intel+losing+its+joie+de+Viiv/2100-1006_3-6197911.html