Encoding speeds

[Illusionist]

My system is a AMD 2x 2.5 Ghz, video card is EVGA 8400 GS - 512 MB,. I use Dr.Divx to encode movies, the program encodes 39-40 fps,.

Would upgrading to a Phenom 9550 2.2 Ghz quad processor improve encoding speeds ??
Thanks

[poisondeathray]

There are many review sites out there, this may help

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/cpu-charts-2007/divx-6-6-1,376.html?p=1271%2C1306%2...%2C1283%2C1310

Video card has no bearing on encoding right now (unless you use CUDA based apps which are still in beta stage). FYI, Phenoms have very little overclocking headroom - Intel quads have much more headroom and are faster in general.

[steptoe]

I've used AMD for years and my next system is going to be running Intel Q6600 quad core, which is much cheaper than the AMD equivalents and runs much cooler and is much faster is terms of raw processing power


I avoided Intel in the first place quite a few years ago as they had major problems with heat and running very hot, but now its AMD that runs hotter and the new quad cores are just no real match in terms of brute processing power which is what people are interested in

The fact that AMD has a more efficient way of accessing the memory between cores doesn't matter to most people when it comes down to sheer speed in comparison reviews


The faster the processor the more you can do, its really that simple. More and more software is finally taking advantage of multiple cores, including games

[Illusionist]

Thanks for replies. Why is there a major price difference between the Intel core 2 duo & core 2 extreme ?

[TBoneit]

The Extreme edition has among other things more cache and will always be the higher price

[poisondeathray]

Unlocked multiplier, which means easier overclocking

and Higher default clock speed

You probably want to go for the core 2 quads instead of the core 2 duo, of course this would be a whole new system instead of an upgrade...($)

[Abbadon]

I bought several months ago a Pentium D Dual core running at 3.2 Gigahertz, with the correct Heatsink and fan it is working really smooth. I do not use Dr. DivX, but with other tools I have reached 80 frames per second encoding movies.

Maybe it is an old technology, but it is pretty fast for what I do, including games, the price difference is huge when you compare it to the Intel Core 2 duo.

[Illusionist]

My system is way faster then my Athlon 1800, Lol,. Athlon 1800 was encoding at 18 fps,.

So now I'm just assuming Phenom would encode faster then AM x2 4800,. Render speed was 50% faster on 3D Stuido max a program I use, from a review site.

I haven't done much research on the Intel systems, always owned AMD systems. Never had one malfunction, reason I am an AMD fanatic.

A friend of mine has a Pentium 4 system, that he needed to get repaired quite often.

Thanks for all your help.

[RabidDog]

MeGa thermionic heat shields inplace!
Hyper Ceramic Tiles Loaded!
I would suggest that, at present, Intels do better at encoding than equivalent AMD.

But, inevitably, newer, Faster chip in same range will be generally faster than older chip, otherwise why bother

CPus never really go wrong, motherboards however are a different matter...

[redwudz]

One thing to consider, if you have a AM2, or better a AM2+ capabable motherboard than can run a Phenom CPU, you would only have to change out the CPU. That will likely be cheaper than buying a new Intel MB and CPU.

[Illusionist]

Hi Redwudz,
I called AMD this morning, and asked if my M3A board will handle the Phenom processor. The only difference is the chipset, mine is 770 and the M3A deluxe is 790FX,. Don't know how much of a difference it would make chipset wise. The rep said, with the M3A board I have now, I would have to update the bios. Think I'll just go ahead and slap a Phenom on my board and see what happens.

[redwudz]

That would work. The difference with the AM2 and the AM2+ motherboards is they can use a faster memory and a different instruction set to get more out of a Phenom CPU. But a AM2 motherboard will perform very well with a Phenom as long as it has a updated BIOS for the Phenom.

One tip, put in the new BIOS update before you install the Phenom, then shut down without booting to the OS. Install the new CPU and it should work first time. If you try to update the BIOS with the Phenom in place, you likely won't be able to get into BIOS and nothing will work.

I did that and had to pull the Phenom and install the old CPU, then update, then install the Phenom again. And you may have to install the new BIOS from a floppy drive as the OS BIOS update program won't let you install the Phenom BIOS with the old CPU in place. It's not as complicated as it sounds.

[Illusionist]

Thanks Redwudz. You already answered my next question on the bios, Lol,.

I need to update my power supply and add additional fans to the case, should be alright. Also have to upgrade the ram to 1066, but think 800 Mhz will work fine. Only one way to find out

Let me get this processor ordered.

[TBoneit]

Before you order the memory make sure your motherboard will support the faster ram speed.

You may not have to update your power supply. Why not try it first. You would be surprised how little power many of todays parts use.