DVD ripping/encoding machine

[Vaulter]

Hello. I'm wondering what kind of computer would suit my needs for ripping dvds with Handbrake into .m4v containers with h.264. Its multithreaded, so a quad core, and does the GHz of the processor make a difference? I was going to go with an amd 955 black, but then i3 came out with dual core with HT support. Then theres also i5, but im trying to keep the price down quite a bit. Also, does amount of ram and video card make a difference? Thanks all in advance. I have over 600 dvds in my collection that i want to rip then put on a media server, but my current comp is rather old and takes about 5 hours per dvd.

 

[Slugbait]

First, Handbrake isn't a ripper, it's a converter. You'll need to use a ripper like DVDFab, then use Handbrake to convert the rip to m4v.

Clock cycle makes a difference between procs of the same family, but not between procs of a different family. For example, a Galatin core Pentium 4 running at 3.2GHz will convert your video files faster than a Prescott core Pentium 4 running at 3.6GHz. Clock cycle speeds are even more differential between procs from AMD compared to procs from Intel.

Amount of RAM makes a little difference. Video card makes zero difference, unless you are using BadaBoom (or similar product) that leverages the GPU's processing power.

Depending on your playback devices, you may not even want to use m4v. Personally, I would use mp4 for compatibility with other devices. If using a standard MCE machine to fetch the movies from your media server, you might just want to use DVD Shrink to remove additional languages and audio formats and compress the files to DVD5 (to save drive space) and utilize Deep Analysis...if a lot of compression is needed to achieve DVD5 size, also utilize Adaptive Error Compensation (which will increase transcoding time significantly, but can be worth it on the big screen).

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

On a Vista machine, what do I use to play mp4 format?

 

[WaitingForNehalem]

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3704&p=8

Core i5 661 performs similarly to the Athlon II 630 for video encoding but is more than double the price. If you can afford it, go with an i5 750 or an i7.

 

[Slugbait]

On a Vista machine, what do I use to play mp4 format?

link

 

[Vaulter]

Responses:

Slugbait -Okay, converter, sorry. All i know is that i press some buttons and it does its magic. As for proc. clock cycles, I dont know which core is better, so unless you have more input thats a no go. As for ram and GPU, thanks, i wasnt sure if it was going to use it or not. I stream all my videos through xbox 360s, i managed to put one in every room with a tv through fixing broken cheap ones, so it works rather nicely, and the m4v files are going just fine, so ima stick with it. dvd5 is still around 5 gigs, so converting them saves some space, even though i lose a bit of quality.

btry -Try VLC media player?

WFNehalem - Its a good thing im not using an athlon II 630 then huh? im using a 955, which is .2ghz slower than the 965 listed on those benchmarks, and with barely any overclocking can be matched. I also think i mentioned that i was trying to keep the price down, i figured that ruled out i7, but i guess not. Also, the mobos for i5 are about 30-$40 more for a full sized atx board, so thats out too.

Gracias everybody. Maybe someone knows if the north and south bridges matter for converting? I was gunna use a SB750/790fx, 'cause i understand it to be pretty good, but going to 790gx or a lesser would cut some costs.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

link

Thanks, I'll look into it

 

[0roo0roo]

Hello. I'm wondering what kind of computer would suit my needs for ripping dvds with Handbrake into .m4v containers with h.264. Its multithreaded, so a quad core, and does the GHz of the processor make a difference? I was going to go with an amd 955 black, but then i3 came out with dual core with HT support. Then theres also i5, but im trying to keep the price down quite a bit. Also, does amount of ram and video card make a difference? Thanks all in advance. I have over 600 dvds in my collection that i want to rip then put on a media server, but my current comp is rather old and takes about 5 hours per dvd.

omg...
the only thing that matters is cpu speed and cores.
i mean if u are ridiculously serious about this you'd get 8 cores or more. its about 100% increase per core. video cards do jack squat. any gpu encoding that does exist doesn't compete with massive multicore pc. and gpu encoding is inferior in quality.
but seriously dude.. 600 dvds? just forget it. you can probably watch dozens and dozens of films in the time you waste encoding and ripping that lot.

the only way its worthwhile at all is if ur rich and can pay someone to do it for you.

 

[Vaulter]

Well, thats the beauty of having both a tv and a computer, i can watch those dozens of movies while im ripping them too. I usually save a bunch of them as iso on my comp, then leave handbrake running until its finished with all of them, rinse, repeat. I go to a pawn shop down the street and buy movies for 2 bucks a pop, thats why i have so many. I have one more year of living at my house to deal with, then im out, and not having to bring my dvds along would be a huge help. A computer is a lot easier to carry. Im building it as a graduation present to myself as a computer for general use, but for several months im betting its main purpose is going to be these movies, so thats my main focus for the start of the build. Im going for a sub $700 computer, so eight cores is probably out. If i wait to add a video card till after the summer is over it will be cheaper and ill have more money, and i can focus what i do have on the parts i will be needing the most right away.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea well thats the thing. if a films actually worth rewatching in the future, you are better off renting it in bluray or hd. so much less trouble.