CPU for Encoding Blu-Ray to x264

[jfpannone]

I'm looking to get into Blu-Ray ripping and encoding to x264, but am a bit confused as to what I should do with my current setup.

I currently have a core i7 rig (specs in profile) and a Pentium D rig (2.8 Ghz, 4GB DDR2). The latter is my old machine and I still use it for some work related tasks. I have almost fully migrated over to the the core i7 and would like to use the Pentium D rig as a torrent and perhaps encoding machine (obviously would have to upgrade mobo and cpu for encoding). Encoding upgrades would be a new motherboard that can accomodate a 64-bit setup, core 2 quad and double memory to 4GB (luckily have some laying around). Nothing too expensive; about $200-$300 upgrade.

I understand encoding to x264 (especially if the result is 1080p) can take a very long time (up to 24 hrs and over, depending on machine). Having said that, I lean towards upgrading the pentium D rig because I use the core i7 often. Mainly for work, but also entertainment (Movies/Games).

What I would like to know is

1- will my core i7 rig be able to handle the encoding while I'm working, watching hd movies, or gaming?
2- will a core 2 quad 2.5 Ghz with 8GB DDR2 be sufficient for 1080p encoding? and how long would it take?
**this machine would only be encoding and managing torrent uploads/downloads.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

JP

 

[WR2]

would like to use the Pentium D rig as a torrent and perhaps encoding machine (obviously would have to upgrade mobo and cpu for encoding)

You might not need as much on an upgrade as you think for the torrent/encoding system.
Besides the Pentium D 2.8 Ghz (820?) what is the rest of the hardware you have in that older system. I'm most interested in what video card you might have.

 

[Wisecracker]

Buy one of these and this motherboard ---- reuse your 4gb DDR2 (if it's anywhere close to compatible), moving to 8gb will not gain you much (maybe another 1-2 fps)

Download HandBrake and start cranking.

Results/Comparison

 

[narwen]

i agree with wisecracker

 

[WR2]

Badaboom GPU accelerated video encoding $30

 

[narwen]

you need a cuba enabled gpu for badaboom. is unlikely in such an old pc.

 

[WR2]

Like one of those $60 GT 240s?

 

[WR2]

Of course we don't know what card he's using now. For all we know it could be a nice Cuda 9800GT.
Badaboom 1.2 & GT 240 (an older, slower version of Badaboom
851MB AVI to a 2500kbps 1.4GB MP4 iPod conversion in about 10min.

 

[jfpannone]

You might not need as much on an upgrade as you think for the torrent/encoding system.
Besides the Pentium D 2.8 Ghz (820?) what is the rest of the hardware you have in that older system. I'm most interested in what video card you might have.

yup, it's an 820. the video card is an Nvidia Geforce 9500 GT; 1GB.

 

[jfpannone]

is badaboom & cuda GPU a better route to take than new mobo/cpu and handbrake? are there disadvantages to using badaboom?

 

[narwen]

you can download a trial version to try from http://badaboomit.com/node/380.

 

[WR2]

narwen is right. Try Badaboom and your 9500GT. Give it a test ride.
It will offload your CPU so it can continue torrenting.
And I suspect the encoding will be fast enough to keep up with the torrent downloads.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2586/5

 

[WR2]

What motherboard do you have?

 

[jfpannone]

motherboard is an Intel D945GBI. I couldnt find specs on intel site, but it came in a pre-built gateway. I found this on gatway site

It looks like it maxes out at core 2 duo FSB 1066.

 

[ElMoIsEviL]

Badaboom GPU accelerated video encoding $30

eek.. the quality of encoding by badadboom and other GPU accelerated x264 encoders is subpar imho (you can tell the difference).

CPU-only encoding is still the way to go.

So if the author is looking for good quality trans-codes of his bluray material.. best to stay clear of badaboom.

 

[ElMoIsEviL]

I'm looking to get into Blu-Ray ripping and encoding to x264, but am a bit confused as to what I should do with my current setup.

I currently have a core i7 rig (specs in profile) and a Pentium D rig (2.8 Ghz, 4GB DDR2). The latter is my old machine and I still use it for some work related tasks. I have almost fully migrated over to the the core i7 and would like to use the Pentium D rig as a torrent and perhaps encoding machine (obviously would have to upgrade mobo and cpu for encoding). Encoding upgrades would be a new motherboard that can accomodate a 64-bit setup, core 2 quad and double memory to 4GB (luckily have some laying around). Nothing too expensive; about $200-$300 upgrade.

I understand encoding to x264 (especially if the result is 1080p) can take a very long time (up to 24 hrs and over, depending on machine). Having said that, I lean towards upgrading the pentium D rig because I use the core i7 often. Mainly for work, but also entertainment (Movies/Games).

What I would like to know is

1- will my core i7 rig be able to handle the encoding while I'm working, watching hd movies, or gaming?
2- will a core 2 quad 2.5 Ghz with 8GB DDR2 be sufficient for 1080p encoding? and how long would it take?
**this machine would only be encoding and managing torrent uploads/downloads.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

JP

1. Yes it could handle such a task but why do such a thing when you have a second rig sitting there doing nothing.

2. Yes... more than sufficient. The length of time is relative to the encoder being used and the quality settings/filters being used. If you want to know the amount of time relative to the Pentium D system... I'd say around 6-8x less time working on the same material (from experience).

You could always (for ~$300) look towards a Phenom II X6 1055T + motherboard for that task though. Just a suggestion. 6 Cores and very cheap.

 

[jfpannone]

1. Yes it could handle such a task but why do such a thing when you have a second rig sitting there doing nothing.

2. Yes... more than sufficient. The length of time is relative to the encoder being used and the quality settings/filters being used. If you want to know the amount of time relative to the Pentium D system... I'd say around 6-8x less time working on the same material (from experience).

You could always (for ~$300) look towards a Phenom II X6 1055T + motherboard for that task though. Just a suggestion. 6 Cores and very cheap.

Agreed. I always was leaning toward a new Motherboard & CPU. I only wanted to cultivate all possibilities before moving forward Elmo, As you have suggested, in addition to wisecracker above, I think I will pursue the AMD 6 core route. I can re-use my 4GB and add another 4GB that's laying around. Luckily all 8GB's are supported by mobo wisecracker recommended.


Thanks for all the help everyone. next step --- Newegg!

 

[jfpannone]

Best answer selected by jfpannone.

 

[Diana004]

http://www.bluraytoh264.com/de.htm really deserves your high attention.