Intel Pentium 4 CPU over Athlon CPU for video editing?

[iKwak]

I am using an old AMD Athlon 1200 CPU and I can upgrade to about 2600 Athlon CPU.

But before I do that, are Athlon cpu recommended for video editing (and the softwares)?
Or would I have no problem with Athlon CPU?


Or would it be better to invest in a new motherboard and a Pentium 4 CPU?

[indolikaa]

I am using an old AMD Athlon 1200 CPU and I can upgrade to about 2600 Athlon CPU.

But before I do that, are Athlon cpu recommended for video editing (and the softwares)?
Or would I have no problem with Athlon CPU?


Or would it be better to invest in a new motherboard and a Pentium 4 CPU?

I authored the better part of 2,000 DVDs using computers based on Athlon 1200 Thunderbirds. I am currently using a trio of Athlon XP 2400+ processors to continue the tradition. And I have been buying AMD processors since the K5 days without regret.

I don't have any problems or complaints with the Athlon's ability to handle video editing. Even on finicky chipsets like the VIA KT133A. And I don't use massive cooling systems, either. My Athlons are all retail edition units with their own fan and heatsinks included, and maybe one case fan per computer to help dissipate the heat.

I guess the short is: AMD is fine for video editing.

[sacajaweeda]

If you just like spending your money for the hell of it, go ahead and buy a Pentium. AMD gets it done down & dirty and on the cheap. About the only difference I ever really notice is the extra fan noise. The AMD chips run a little hotter so just keep them cool & they won't give you any problems.

[xxiangg]

Bought a 2400XP Althon arround end of last year. It worked frawlessly
for almost 6 months. Then, it suddently started crashing when I used
BeSweet for audio processing a few months ago. (It still was fine for
all other programs). I tried reflash BIOS, reinstall OS, under clocking
the motherboard. Nothing worked. It just kept crashing randomly. Then,
I did a web search for the problem. Appearently, it was due to that
BeSweet is a CPU intensive application. Some of the processors just
cannot handle it. People suggested to change VCORE voltage and have
the problem solved. But to change VCORE of my motherboard involves
solding and rewriing things. It is just too much for my. So I bought
a 2.4G P4 then. Now, everything is working again.

[sacajaweeda]

You're probably just unlucky and got a dud. I've got a dedicated encoding machine with an Epox 8RDA+ board with the same CPU (XP2400+) and it is running practically 24/7/365 for close to 2 years now doing nothing but non-stop MPEG2 encoding with CCE and AC3 transcoding with BeSweet and I've never had a problem with it. On average that machine's CPU is maxed out probably 20 out of 24 hours a day, easily. Sometimes for days straight, depending on the task. Just keep lots of air moving through the case and blow the dust out regularly and they run just fine.

[vitualis]

Most reviews will show you that the newer P4s are better at things like MPEG encoding and Photoshop than the Athlon processors.

However, for a performance to price ratio, the Athlon processors still definitely come out on top (except perhaps at the high-highest end of the market).

Regards.

[rallynavvie]

What's the high-highest end of the market?

For encoding clock speed is your best friend and AMD has the best clocks for you dollar. For multi-tasking you'll love the HT-abled P4s. For gaming you'll like the quick-and-dirty Athlons. For office and multimedia apps you'll like the big bus speeds of the 800 FSB P4s. It all depends on what you're going to do with it. I personally run games pretty well on my primary workstation but also did pretty well with my old one with 1900 Athlons in it.

[IAIHMB]

I don't know about the whole multitasking thing. When I run a few small programs (usually AIM, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Instant Messenger, Azureus, Norton Internet Security, and Firefox) my computer gets a little laggy. I'm running a Pentium 4 with HT Technology and 1GB of RAM. I think the 512MB of RAM I added may have been shit though, has anyone ever heard of KBytes?

[budz]

has anyone ever heard of KBytes?

It's a no name off brand of memory. They sell it at OFFICE MAX. I use either CRUCIAL or KINGSTON memory.

[vitualis]

What's the high-highest end of the market?

For encoding clock speed is your best friend and AMD has the best clocks for you dollar. For multi-tasking you'll love the HT-abled P4s. For gaming you'll like the quick-and-dirty Athlons. For office and multimedia apps you'll like the big bus speeds of the 800 FSB P4s. It all depends on what you're going to do with it. I personally run games pretty well on my primary workstation but also did pretty well with my old one with 1900 Athlons in it.

This was in reference to the original question which is video editing (and the presumption of video encoding).

The high to highest end of the market are the P4 Extreme Editions/Xeons vs. Athlon FX/Opeterons. Here, an AMD based system will cost probably around the same as an Intel one and I would think for video editing/encoding the Intel system is still better (thus, the performance to price ratio is probably no longer in AMD's favour).

For any PC system in the mid to lower range, you can most likely get better performance from an AMD based system at a given price point.

Regards.

[IAIHMB]

has anyone ever heard of KBytes?

It's a no name off brand of memory. They sell it at OFFICE MAX. I use either CRUCIAL or KINGSTON memory.

Oh damnit, and I take it the off brand in the computer world=shit? Would it make that much of difference if I got a name brand?

[indolikaa]

has anyone ever heard of KBytes?

It's a no name off brand of memory. They sell it at OFFICE MAX. I use either CRUCIAL or KINGSTON memory.

Oh damnit, and I take it the off brand in the computer world=shit? Would it make that much of difference if I got a name brand?

You'd better believe it can!

Unless things have changed in the last few years, memory that didn't pass timing tests at the highest levels was usually resold and rebranded for less money.

[rallynavvie]

BH-5 and BH-6 chip memory = some of the best RAM you can buy

I think Mushkin supplies BH-5 chips still, I got some of their PC3200 BH-6 unknowingly before the RAM price hike in the spring and am greatly pleased with it. Branded memory can make a pretty big difference, but if you go off-brand just make sure it's identical to the other stick you have. Even if you don't have dual-channel that requires it I've heard having different brands can cause some performance/stability issues.

[Treebeard]

Just thought I'd chime in w/ a good deal I found

P4 3ghz E w/ mobo for $204
http://shop.outpost.com/product/4100723

not a great mobo w/ bells and whistles but it would work all the same.

[thayne]

I'll take an Athlon XP over a P4 anyday!

[thayne]

has anyone ever heard of KBytes?

It's a no name off brand of memory. They sell it at OFFICE MAX. I use either CRUCIAL or KINGSTON memory.

Oh damnit, and I take it the off brand in the computer world=shit? Would it make that much of difference if I got a name brand?

You'd better believe it can!

Unless things have changed in the last few years, memory that didn't pass timing tests at the highest levels was usually resold and rebranded for less money.

Crucial rocks. I just ordered 512 Mb of pc2700 ram with free 2 days shipping for $88. Got it today