TMPGEnc Encoding Times: Athlon 750, 1.8, Dual 1.8 GHz

[jtoops]

There are quite a few posts requesting some idea on processor speed versus encoding times. I just upgraded from an Athlon 750 Mhz to Dual 1.8 Athlon MP System, so here is some information:

DV Input: 720 x 480 - around 42 minutes
TMPGEnc Plus DVD Encoding: 2 pass VBR, 6000 average bitrate

750 Mhz Athlon: 442 minutes
1.8 Ghz Single: 155 minutes (2.8 increase over 750 Mhz)
Dual 1.8 Ghz: 102 minutes (1.5 increase over single 1.8 Ghz)

John

[mrtristan]

Thanks. I've been researching and debating whether to build a dual CPU system.

[bbb]

Couldn't you build 2 XP systems which combined would be faster, cheaper, more flexible (setup a network)?

MP processors are pretty expensive (unless your comfortable with XP CPU surgury) and dual CPU MoBo (e.g., Tyans) are very expensive.

[mrtristan]

Can you set up programs to work across two independant computers? Even so, building two separate XP systems would be more flexible, but it would also be almost twice the cost.

Couldn't you build 2 XP systems which combined would be faster, cheaper, more flexible (setup a network)?

MP processors are pretty expensive (unless your comfortable with XP CPU surgury) and dual CPU MoBo (e.g., Tyans) are very expensive.

[bbb]

2 XP systems: $880.5 (with networking, 2 DVDROMs and 2 40 Gig HDs)
1 MP system: $879 (no networking, 1 DVDROM and 1 40 Gig HD)
*Details below

Not "twice the cost," more like $1.50. This is hardly justifiable to get a MP system.

Think about it, with 2 XP systems, you can do half the movie with 1 system and the other half with the other system. Or you can do 1 movie with system 1 and another movie with system 2. Also, you can use 1 system to encode while leaving the other system to edit, test other encoding settings, or do other types of processor intensive work.

Frankly, having 1 MP system does not reach the processing and productivity power of 2 XP systems. It's mainly for bragging rights. People who are practical can see that it is better to go with 2 XP systems. On the other hand, if you just won the lottery/powerball, then go for broke with MP systems.

---------------------------------
Details (From Newegg.com):

I. 2 XP Systems (Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Capture card can be salvaged from current system and shared between the 2 systems with a space/cost saving KVM switch):

A. Asus A7N266-VM NVIDIA nFORCE 220 (Supports Socket A AMD Duron, Athlon, and Athlon XP up to 1900+ and beyond, built in graphics card, built in sound card, built in network card) $73x2 ($146)

B. AMD Athlon XP 1800+/266 FSB PROCESSOR CPU - RETAIL $111x2 ($222)

C. CRUCIAL MICRON 256MB 32x64 PC 2100 DDR RAM $40x2 ($80)

D. ENLIGHT MEDIUM ATX TOWER CASE MODEL # EN-72370X3C4 (includes power supply) $44x2 ($88 )

E. WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 40GB 7200RPM MODEL # WD400BB $68x2 ($136)

F. PIONEER INTERNAL ATAPI 16X DVD-ROM MODEL 106S/2 $45x2 ($90)

G. Lite On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S Full OEM $63 (use crossover network cable to transfer data from 1 system to the other for burning)

H. 25 Ft. CROSSOVER Cable, Cat. 5e $5.5

I. SAMSUNG 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE $6x2 ($12)

J. KVM Manual Data Switch. 2-Way and KVM cables $14+8+8+8 ($38 )

TOTAL: $880.5
-----------------

II. 1 MP System (Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Capture card can be salvaged from current system):

A. TYAN Tiger MP S2460 (cheapest Tyan MP MoBo) (supports Athlon MP 1GHz to 1.2GHz and 1500+ to 1900+) $169

B. ATHLON MP 1800+ 1.53 GHz RTL DUAL CAPABLE SERVER CHIP
$180x2 ($360)

C. ATI OEM RADEON 7500 64MB DDR AGP $68

D. Pine Technology 6-Channel Sound Card $16

E. CRUCIAL MICRON 256MB PC 2100 DDR RAM $40

F. ENLIGHT MEDIUM ATX TOWER CASE MODEL # EN-72370X3C4 (includes power supply) $44

G. WD WESTERN DIGITAL EIDE HARD DRIVE 40GB 7200RPM $68

H. PIONEER INTERNAL ATAPI 16X DVD-ROM MODEL 106S/2 $45

I. Lite On 32x12x40 CDRW Model LTR-32123S Full OEM $63

J. SAMSUNG 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE $6

TOTAL: $879
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