Pentium vs AMD

[jeffeatworld]

Hope this is the right forum.

Whats better for encoding/ripping DVD's (that I already own) a Pentium or and AMD processor. i'm looking at maybe 512mb DDR RAM also.

[wulf109]

My expeirence encoding a 45 file with Tmpeg

Athlon XP1600 - 1 hour
Duron 1Ghz - 1.5 hours
Celeron 1.3 Ghz - 2 hours

[jeffeatworld]

What do you mean by a 45 file, please explain. Using DVDRip it was taking me about 15 hours to encode a film!

What is the relation between the Ram AND the processor?

[eazeaz]

Ram is not the bottle neck. One frame in, one frame out.

As much as i did not like AMD ever since the k5/k6 fiasco, I dont like single processor systems, and cant afford XEON, so I went with AMD MP's.

Cuts my encoding times into less than half of what they were with a p4 1.8, AND I can still ACTUALLY use the machine while it is working. With the single processor systems if you got too much going, it would just bog down and be useless.

[Spicuzza]

My money is with AMD. Every time I'm at a friends house with a comparable processor to mine the Pentium machine always seems sluggish.

You simply get use to the overall speed of the machine you use most often and notice an immediate difference in performance on another machine.

Quite frankly I doubt I'd ever buy an Intel processor.

Also, I find it interesting that Canopus' StormRack turnkey system is powered by dual AMD 1.2 gig processors.

http://www.canopus.com/us/products/stormrack/pt_stormrack.asp#technical_specifications

MSRP > USD $7599.00......So my question would be....Why do they install AMD processors in systems that carry over a $7,000 price tag?

Certainly the difference in price between Intel vs. AMD is a drop in the bucket when spending that kind of money! Could it be that AMD is the better, more reliable and faster of the two chips?

[wulf109]

Sorry for the poor typing. That's a 45 minute video. Was ripped with Smartripper,4-5 minutes. Encoded to SVD with Tmpeg took about an hour using Constant BitRate. Takes 3 hours if 2-pass VBR. Athlon XP1600,DMA on for the HD and CD. 256MB of ram but that really doesn't mattter.

[jeffeatworld]

So what should I look for in a good setup then, what sort of spec would give me the best results. Is a dual Processor a good option?

[kayfam]

A dual processor is the way to go if you looking for a way to cut down the encoding time, but you'll have to chuck Win 98. Only Windows 2000 Professional or XP Pro support dual processors.

[MadPAt]

The combination of processor and mainboard is very important.
Your mainboard is controlling the processor.
Regarding the speed of processors, see some site with tests on it.

I've a Intel P4-2 Ghz an an intel mainboard, and havevery little problems.
I've used over the years a couple intel board and processors, and had never a problem with software or hardware. I'd once a AMD processor and hade severall problems with software and hardware.

The choice you make must be a personal choice based on your experience and confedence

[Olli]

First thing to remember is that the encoding time is not only dependant on the processor. You would need to specify for instance if you are using CBR encoding or 2 pass VBR.

My system

Athlon XP2100
512 DDR ram

A 120 min film using CQ method of encoding takes around 3hrs

Never had any problems... my mobo is an MSI KT3 Ultra

[jeffeatworld]

Thanks all you people.

Olli - your set up is exactly the one I plan on getting so the example of 3hrs gives me a really good idea thanks.

[drewson99]

is there something about the new xeon processors that is better for encoding? I thought they were for web hosting/serving.

Andy

Are they supposed to be better than the athlon XP (I always heard they were the best for encoding)

[edo]

Personally (and it is always a personal thing) I would go with Intel CPU's.
I've seen far too many unexplained 'glitches' with AMD kit. I think the basic problem is that Intel will never make chipsets for AMD processors

I agree with some of the other comments about using a dual CPU system. TMPGenc for instance, makes good use of them.
The fact that Intel didn't make the P4 SMP aware is the reason I'm still using a dual P3 system.

Cheers....

[sterno]

is there something about the new xeon processors that is better for encoding? I thought they were for web hosting/serving.

Xeons are good for the server market because they are certified for SMP (P3s could go dual, but if you wanted more than 2 you had to go with Xeons - and I think P4s can't even do dual-CPU). They are also good because they have historically (all the way back to the classic Pentium and PPro) had larger, faster on-chip cache than the non-Xeon processors. The cache affects overall system performance, but I'm not sure if it has a great effect on video encoding or not.

Are they supposed to be better than the athlon XP (I always heard they were the best for encoding)

I'd heard that Athlons were faster than P3s, but P4s with fast memory were faster than Athlons for A/V encoding. Of course, P4s have no multiprocessor option right now and if you want the best performance you'll have to cough up the big bucks for PC1066 RDRAM. A top-end P4 machine will also probably cost about the same as a better-performing dual-Athlon machine.

[gf]

I've been following the Intel/AMD debate for a while. When the first P4's came out a 1.5 Ghz P4 had equal performance to a 1Ghz P3. The Athlon @ 1 Ghz was faster than a 1 Ghz P3. Now with the Athlon XP vrs. the newest P4 the XP rating is very close to the P4 in performance. The P4 has a SLIGHT edge if the software SSE2 encoding. And every time the P4 goes up 100 Mhz in speed AMD only has to go up 66 Mhz to equal performance. There is one thing to remember when it comes to problems with software is it a true problem with the processor not being compatible,buggy or is really a chipset problem! I had a Realmagic DVR for over 1 year with 2 different AMD/VIA motherboards and they modified the capture board because it had a problem with VIA's chipset. And maybe Canopus likes the performance with the Athlon XP and the AMD chipset . Got to be alot less buggy then VIA.