*Update* Got new pc parts,need advice*

[nick101181]

Hello,

I was just wondering what's everyone's opinion of the new AMD Phenom X4 9850 quad core cpu? I'm thinking I could keep my current harddrives and maybe my memory,case and just upgrade the mobo,video card,and cpu. What kinda benchmark does the cpu do for encoding to or from x264 HD files? I basically want to be able to shrink down blu-ray discs that I rip to fit on dual layer discs. Trying to convert any HD material on my current setup says it will take 2 days. I currently have an amd 3000+ 64, with 1.5 gigs of memory. Also if I do get this new cpu would it be mor beneficial to run windows xp 64 bit?

thanks

[budz]

You'll definitely need to buy new DDR2 memory if you want to upgrade to AMD Phenom Quad Core cpu or even to a INTEL Quad cpu. I'd suggest getting a INTEL Q6600 Kentsfield Quad cpu, $199.99 or the INTEL Q9300 Yorkfield cpu, $269.99. The difference between those two cpu's is the Q9300 is a 45nm cpu which is has better cooling temps than the 65nm cpu's such as the Kentsfield's cpu's. Intel has the edge at this time as far as processors go.

Intel Q6600 Kentsfield cpu, $199.99 at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

Intel Q9300 Yorkfield cpu, $269.99 at Newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115043

I don't own a Intel Quad core cpu just yet but from what I've been told with video encoding the Quads are the best for that task. Although I was given that info I still bought a Intel Wolfdale E8400 cpu because I have other computers to use while I do video encoding. Prices have come down on the Wolfdale processors as well. My E8400 is overclocked to 3.6ghz on air with temp of 25c with windows loaded. While video encoding cpu temp goes up to 34c-35c.

Most newer motherboards only have one ide connection so getting a SATA hard drive is the better option and you could get a PCI CONTROLLER CARD for PATA hard drives. Get a smaller hard drive just for your operating system like a 40gb then get (2) 500gb SATA hard drives for your storage/video encoding needs. Get a good quality power supply and case that has good airflow. I buy all my Yate Loon & Scythe case fans from Petra's Tech Shop and SVC.com. If you're planning on overclocking your quad core cpu buy a aftermarket heatsink fan. Preferably one that is bolted to the motherboard. Just my 2 cents!

[johns0]

Runs great for me in games and encoding,i can multitask all i want,for myself i'll never get pentium.(in regards to AMD Phenom X4 9850).

[redwudz]

I'd agree Intel has the edge for quad core performance at present. But you could check out my Phenom for H.264 encodes here: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic347859.html#1825901 It holds up fairly well against some of the Intel quad CPUs.

[rallynavvie]

I basically want to be able to shrink down blu-ray discs that I rip to fit on dual layer discs.

Buy DVDs instead?

The 9850 is a great chip but Intel is still holding the lead on it by a bit with their 45nm chips and the much lower thermal spec on them (the 9850 is one of the 125W chips isn't it?). That isn't to say the Phenom X4 is a bad choice, it's still going to be a great platform.

The one thing you may need to upgrade with all of this is your PSU. Check the specs on it to see if you'll have enough to run the newer power-hungry machine.

[nick101181]

redwudz,

how long would you say it takes to do a 2pass encode on your h264 material?

rallynavvie,

I basically want to rip blu-rays to make avchd's that fit on dual layer media. I have a couple of these and they look amazing. It's just temporary until blu-ray media comes down in price.

[redwudz]

This is from graysky's benchmark page for my Phenom computer:

Estimated time to encode 43 min running 1280x720 @ 23.976 fps based on your result: 1:41:29.

I have the computer apart for service (Converting it to a HTPC) at the moment, so I can't verify that. A one hour video would give you about a 2 hour encode for the same H.264 1280x720 @ 23.976 fps type file. But I rarely encode at that framesize.

I've been using FairUse Wizard lately to experiment with H.264 encoding from ripped DVD files. But I haven't kept track of the encoding time.

You can see some encoding comparisons with different CPUs, such as the above at: http://www.techarp.com/x264_Benchmark/hd//results-1.htm

For H.264 encoding times, it can vary quite a bit as to the source material and the settings used. A benchmark like graysky's, while not all that representative, is about as close as you will get to a even comparison. Way too many variables in real life encodes for the encoding time of a particular file to mean much of anything.

[nick101181]

just an update on this, what do you guys think of these mobos?


AMD 790FX Asus M3A32-MVP deluxe 1.02G ATX AM2+
AMD 790FX MSI K9A2 Platinum (MS-7376) 1 ATX AM2+
AMD 790FX Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DQ6 1 ATX AM2+
NVIDIA nForce® 570 SLI™ Asus M2N-SLI Deluxe 1.01G ATX AM2
NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLI™ Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe 1.02G ATX AM2
NVIDIA nForce® 780a SLITM MSI K9N2 Diamond (MS-7375) 1.1 ATX AM2+
NVIDIA nForce® 750a SLI(TM) MSI K9N2 SLI Platinum (MS-7374) 1.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Asus M3A78-T 1.01G ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX MSI DKA790GX Platinum (MS-7550) 1.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H 0.2 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Foxconn A7DA-S 1.1 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX ECS A790GXM-A (RS780DM-A) 1.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Biostar TA790GX3 A2+ 5.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Asus M3A78-T 1.01G ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX MSI DKA790GX Platinum (MS-7550) 1.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Gigabyte GA-MA790GP-DS4H 0.2 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Foxconn A7DA-S 1.1 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX ECS A790GXM-A (RS780DM-A) 1.0 ATX AM2+
AMD 790GX Biostar TA790GX3 A2+ 5.0 ATX AM2+


these are the compatible ones according to amd's website.
Also do you really need more than 1 pci-express slot? I'm thinking I might get a blu-ray burner but of course most the components must be hdcp before that will even work right? I guess I will need to upgrade my 2004 lcd monitor as well.

[nick101181]

*UPDATE*

I got the amd phenom 9950 125w black edition and a asus m3a78-em mobo. I still need some ram, but I might have to wait a few days. I think I will try living with the onboard video for a little while. This mobo has only one ide but my harddrive with windows is a 120gb (of course I gotta reinstall windows when putting this together). I have a 250 gb and a 500 gb sata drive I use for storage. I'm wondering which operating system I should install for encoding and gaming. I think my mobo is upgradeable to 8gb ram but windows xp only sees 3gb I've read. Is vista 64 worth install if I'm gonna be encoding HD video? I just hope there are enough drivers for all my stuff with vista 64.


thanks

[johns0]

Im running vista 64 with 8gb of ram and it plays games and encodes at the same time with no slow down,lot better than winxp for me.

[nick101181]

are a lot of the encoding programs compatible with vista 64? like CCE or TMPGenc ?

[rallynavvie]

They will run but they run in 32-bit emulation like all the other 32-bit applications do in Vista 64. I haven't seen a 64-bit native encoder yet, though there could be one coming later this year with the new Adobe suite that is rumored to have 64-bit support.