Benchmark Results: Audio And Video Encoding
Apple iTunes is both poorly threaded and well-optimized for Intel's architecture, putting the $1000 system in the lead.
Hand it to the open-source community to optimize for AMD and multiple cores, with HandBrake handing the $2000 six-core build its rightful place in the performance curve.
DivX appears to take threading a little more seriously than Xvid, and the $1000 system comes out better, on average.
Scaling up to a truly professional encoder, MainConcept uses the $2000 system’s six cores effectively. Unlocking the $400 system’s fourth core makes it a true contender against the mid-priced PC.