CPU upgrade - video encoding

P

PoweredBySoy

2[H]4U
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Messages
2,243
So I recently purchased a camcorder for home movies and expect to start getting into some video encoding, and I figure now is the time I finally get into a quad-core. My planned software is Adobe Premiere Elements 8.

I'm currently running a Wolfdale E8400 at 3.6Ghz.

What I would like to do is avoid having to upgrade into a new socket and DDR3 and just stick with LGA 775. But are there any benchmarks or info out there that make it painfully obvious that i5 is the way to go? I looked on Anandtech but couldn't find much. All the talk seems to be about AMD these days.

Here are my current thoughts:

Yorkfield 2.83 $280
or
i5 750 $200 + motherboard + DDR3

Any advice appreciated.
 
PoweredBySoy said:
So I recently purchased a camcorder for home movies and expect to start getting into some video encoding, and I figure now is the time I finally get into a quad-core. My planned software is Adobe Premiere Elements 8.

I'm currently running a Wolfdale E8400 at 3.6Ghz.

What I would like to do is avoid having to upgrade into a new socket and DDR3 and just stick with LGA 775. But are there any benchmarks or info out there that make it painfully obvious that i5 is the way to go? I looked on Anandtech but couldn't find much. All the talk seems to be about AMD these days.

Here are my current thoughts:

Yorkfield 2.83 $280
or
i5 750 $200 + motherboard + DDR3

Any advice appreciated.
Click to expand...

I'd go with the newer platform (i5) - if only because Newegg's price for the Q9550 is way too high for a processor that uses a now-dead-end socket. In fact, I would not pay more than $125 for a Socket 775 processor at this time given the fact that it will be phased completely out of production within four months or so.
 
Video encoding is a case where your best bet is to do with the fastest you can afford. At this point, there is no way I would recommend a Core2 based processor for video encoding unless the only thing you could afford is a used Q6600.

I've done a lot of x264 encoding with my Q6600s over the last couple of years and it's been great but I would love to have an i7 system.

I know it's a bit more expensive, but I would suggest the i7 860 over the i5 750 if you can afford it. Video encoding is one of the areas where hyperthreading can make a big difference and you'll still be able to use the cheaper socket 1156 motherboards. I doubt you would regret the extra money for the purchase.

 
SmokeRngs said:
Video encoding is a case where your best bet is to do with the fastest you can afford. At this point, there is no way I would recommend a Core2 based processor for video encoding unless the only thing you could afford is a used Q6600.

I've done a lot of x264 encoding with my Q6600s over the last couple of years and it's been great but I would love to have an i7 system.

I know it's a bit more expensive, but I would suggest the i7 860 over the i5 750 if you can afford it. Video encoding is one of the areas where hyperthreading can make a big difference and you'll still be able to use the cheaper socket 1156 motherboards. I doubt you would regret the extra money for the purchase.
Click to expand...

QFT. In fact, if the OP lives reasonably close to a Microcenter brick-and-mortar store, the i7-860 can be purchased for just $20 more than the i5-750 ($200 versus $180).
 
I know, but I just get sick of upgrading sockets and RAM all the time. Seems like Intel goes through sockets like underwear. I realize the i5 would be better, but is it worth the additional cost of a motherboard (~$140) and DDR3 (~$200)? That's more than doubling my upgrade cost right there. I just did my current build less than a year ago, so my current mb and ram are still really new (at the time i5 and i7 peripherals were way overpriced, and I try to do moderate upgrades).

Although I will agree that the Core 2 Quads are overpriced right now.

What I'd really like to see are some benchmarks, preferably with encoding. That way I could see some sort of tangible evidence on just how much faster i5 really is. I've looked around but can't find anything.
 
Build another machine and use that or the 8400 as a dedicated render machine.
 
E4g1e said:
QFT. In fact, if the OP lives reasonably close to a Microcenter brick-and-mortar store, the i7-860 can be purchased for just $20 more than the i5-750 ($200 versus $180).
Click to expand...

Jesus, I can't believe what I'm seeing. I've always though Newegg was the end-all, be-all lowest price you could find. But you're right, Microcenter has the 860 for $80 cheaper than the Egg. Unbelievable. I've only ever used Microcenter for emergency part runs.
 
Zepher said:
Build another machine and use that or the 8400 as a dedicated render machine.
Click to expand...

lol. Only on [H]ard could I come here asking for cpu upgrade advice and walk away with "build a new rig!". I just had a baby - funds are tight.
 
So 1156 is the socket to get these days?? I mean, it's not going to be abandoned 4 months from now, right? RIGHT??
 
Danny Bui said:
What's your definition of being abandoned?
Click to expand...

My definition of a socket being "abandoned" is one which will see no new CPUs being introduced, and that all existing models will eventually be limited to stock on hand and then disappear completely from the market - all in short order. Right now, Socket 775 is just about at that point.
 
E4g1e said:
My definition of a socket being "abandoned" is one which will see no new CPUs being introduced, and that all existing models will eventually be limited to stock on hand and then disappear completely from the market - all in short order. Right now, Socket 775 is just about at that point.
Click to expand...

My definition is similar but with no new "worthwhile" CPUs being introduced.
 
The Q9550 Yorkfield is $180 at Microcenter - $100 less than Newegg.

I might just go that route just to get me into quad core and squeeze a little more life out of my LGA 775 setup. Thanks Eagle for showing me Microcenters prices.
 
Danny Bui said:
My definition is similar but with no new "worthwhile" CPUs being introduced.
Click to expand...

In the case of 775, the only processors that are planned are of the Pentium and the Celeron lines - both of which would be a downgrade in performance from the OP's current Core 2 Duo processor even with the OP's E8400 running at its stock 3.00GHz speed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top