how to improve dvd encoding or video processing performance?

[vrbaba]

so i was creaitng a dvd from divx last night, and my cpu was at full throtle...and still took over 2 hours for about a 2 hour movie.
my rig is below... basically, on a IS7, P4 2.4 Oced to about 2.9Ghz. two separate 512 sticks of ram (samsung, and value select[i think]).
i just want dvd santa to do better...will any upgrades improve performance considerably??

Dual channel ram overclocked? (dont think more ram will do any good, right)
better cpu?
or crank up my current cpu more using better ram?
or dual channel ram @3200 (currently both sticks are 2700).

basically will do the upgrade only if its worth anything... the current configuration serves my gaming purposes (xbox rules, and only play a few pc games).

 

[theMan]

just upgrade the proc.

 

[fatty4ksu]

INtel/High CPU clock speed.

 

[TankGuys]

Yes, processor is your main bottleneck for things like this.

Secondarily, you'd want to make sure you have good memory and a good motherboard.

Typically the Pentium 4 processors are better suited to Video encoding (last time I checked anyway) so if this is your primary concern, I'd go that route.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: TankGuys
Yes, processor is your main bottleneck for things like this.

Secondarily, you'd want to make sure you have good memory and a good motherboard.

Typically the Pentium 4 processors are better suited to Video encoding (last time I checked anyway) so if this is your primary concern, I'd go that route.

yeah, i do have an intel p4. its 2.4 with 533 bus speed. I guess I can upgrade it to a HT w/ 800 bus speed. but what kinda of performance improvement am i looking for? say for the example i gave, a 2hr divx (i think over a Gb in actual size) takes about 2 hours to encode with dvd santa.
IS7 was one of the top mobos for overclocking when i bought it..abt 3 yrs ago. I dont think i will upgrade it. my next major upgrade will probably be to a 64bit system when they common enough for everyday life.

What kind of processor am i looking for? last time I checked IS7 supported 2.8Ghz HT. Its 865e chipset, so whts the max I can go...anyone know?
Then again, i need a good enough performace margin to make that upgrade. anyone who has done any encoding with an HT processor can probably help me give some benchmarks??

thanks

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: fatty4ksu
INtel/High CPU clock speed.

:thumbsup:

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

One minute per minute (real time) encoding sounds about right. I used to have a P4 2.4B overclocked to 2.93 GHz, and I didn't get much better. The new Athlon 64 CPUs encode a bit faster. You might get a 3400+ to encode at 30 seconds per minute of video, or half-time.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
One minute per minute (real time) encoding sounds about right. I used to have a P4 2.4B overclocked to 2.93 GHz, and I didn't get much better. The new Athlon 64 CPUs encode a bit faster. You might get a 3400+ to encode at 30 seconds per minute of video, or half-time.

that would be nice..but im only looking to upgrade my cpu, so intel p4(socket 478) it has to be. does anyone have the 3.0 or 3.2 ghz overclocked to 4.0 or higher... wonder if that would give me the same performance as u mentioned with the 3400+...

 

[Markfw]

I don;t think they make a 533 fsb clocked much higher than 2.4 (could be wrong) with your OC at 2.9 I think you are about maxed out. A dual-core X2 and motherboard would really make a BIG difference, but then again $$$$$

 

[bluedeviltron]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
One minute per minute (real time) encoding sounds about right. I used to have a P4 2.4B overclocked to 2.93 GHz, and I didn't get much better. The new Athlon 64 CPUs encode a bit faster. You might get a 3400+ to encode at 30 seconds per minute of video, or half-time.

So are you saying that AMD processors encode/render video better than P4 processors?

 

[fatty4ksu]

You can get a 570j for cheap these days. The offer GREAT all-around performance w/the best non-dual core Enocoding performance.

 

[Markfw]

He has a 533 fsb motherboard. If he was going to buy a new motherboard, it should probably be for an X2. For his mobo, the best he can get is a 3.06.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
One minute per minute (real time) encoding sounds about right. I used to have a P4 2.4B overclocked to 2.93 GHz, and I didn't get much better. The new Athlon 64 CPUs encode a bit faster. You might get a 3400+ to encode at 30 seconds per minute of video, or half-time.

So are you saying that AMD processors encode/render video better than P4 processors?

That depends on how you look at it. If you're buying components to assemble, yourself, benchmarks have shown that AMD processors encode video faster than similarly-priced Intel CPUs, with the exception of the new Pentium D 820 and 830. But those are much more expensive than the Athlon 64 3400+ I mentioned.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
He has a 533 fsb motherboard. If he was going to buy a new motherboard, it should probably be for an X2. For his mobo, the best he can get is a 3.06.

...which is not much faster than his P4 2.4B. But, then, it might not cost a lot of money, either. It all depends on what he wants.

But the point is, it's the CPU holding him back. More or faster memory, or a better hard disk, or anything else other than a new CPU will not significantly improve his system's video encoding performance.

 

[airfoil]

Since you have 2 different sticks of RAM, make sure you're getting dual channel performance out of that rig first. If not, thats a simple thing to fix and bump up performance.

 

[firefaux]

buy a dual core processor. athlon 4800+ x2 (whatever the name is) should kick ass.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: airfoil
Since you have 2 different sticks of RAM, make sure you're getting dual channel performance out of that rig first. If not, thats a simple thing to fix and bump up performance.

It's only a simple thing to fix if his motherboard supports it. Otherwise, it's a big hassle, and will cost money.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
He has a 533 fsb motherboard. If he was going to buy a new motherboard, it should probably be for an X2. For his mobo, the best he can get is a 3.06.

i have 800fsb mobo...just a 533fsb processor in there currently. and changing the mobo is not an option currently. i may go all out in a year or two, but not now.

 

[TGS]

Are you making a digital dvd library? If that is the case why don't you just use DVD shrink, and cut out the DIVX encoding? If you have to have it CD size and stereo sound that could be a valid reason for using DIVX. At least in my usage of DIVX...

A DVD burner and some good cheap medium or a hard drive, might be the cheapest upgrade to solve your problem.

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: TGS
Are you making a digital dvd library? If that is the case why don't you just use DVD shrink, and cut out the DIVX encoding? If you have to have it CD size and stereo sound that could be a valid reason for using DIVX. At least in my usage of DIVX...

A DVD burner and some good cheap medium or a hard drive, might be the cheapest upgrade to solve your problem.

no..i have divx, need to convert it to dvd..so thats my issue, not the other way around. I have a burner and all to burn, just the process takes too painfully long to convert divx to dvd.

anyhow, im now decided and just on the lookout for a faster cpu, maybe grab some dual channel ram along to better overclock. If i can get those around 200-225 total i'll just buy it. otherwise ill have to get used to waits and live with it till my next upgrade.

 

[tiap]

Been thu all this many times. It will cost you a LOT to gain significant performance.
Most people just create a very stable machine and let it run overnite.
Different software encoding engines will speed you up too.
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