Any suggestions for an encoding build?

X

Xee

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 18, 2004
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While my current computer is a pinnacle of 2004 technology, it's starting to show it's age when dealing with the more demanding of tasks. Well, who am I kidding, it's being showing its age for quite some time. Now that I'm really getting into encoding (HD to x264 mostly, some Xvid) and editing, it's high time I built a system dedicated to doing just that.

While my budget is nowhere near the lines of an 8-core rig, I'm in the market for something around half that price ($1,000-$1,400 although cheaper is better), so I figure a good quad-core system would fit the bill. That being said, does anyone have any suggestions for the following:

***Processor***
While I've always been an AMD man, from what I've read, Intels are far better for this application. That being said, after looking at the results of various processors encoding an HD file into x264, I'm thinking of going with the Q6700.

***Motherboard***
I'm a little of unsure of what route to go with this. If the price is right, it would be nice to get a dual-cpu motherboard in the event I ever want to add another CPU. However, if the price for such a board is noticeably more expensive than just a single-cpu board, I'll just stay with the latter. In either event, I'd like for it to have the capability of being overclocked as I'd like to experiment with that.

***Video Card***
Again, I'm not really sure where to go with this. Think I read somewhere ATI's are better suited for x264 playback; not sure what would be adequate and what would be overkill though.

***Memory***
What type of memory I'll be getting (DDR2 or DDR3) will of course be dependent on the motherboard I decide on but that aside, how much is required for getting the best performance from my processor? (2GB, 4GB, etc)

***Storage***
I'll most likely going with a 1TB+ RAID setup for this machine but am not sure if I should also get a smaller, faster drive (10,000 or 15,000 RPM) to aid in encoding. Is the price difference really worth what you get out of it?

***Power Supply***
Again, this is dependent on all of the above, but any guesstimates on how many watts would be required for this?

***OS***
I'm thinking of staying with XP till Windows 7 comes out; would 32-bit or 64-bit be better?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions or tips.
 
Go with a Q6600 instead. $70 for 266Mhz isn't worth it, IMO.

Danny Bui said:
Some mobo recommendations:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96
MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Motherboard - $114
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Intel P45 Motherboard - $146
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $150
DFI Lanparty DK X38-T2R Intel X38 Motherboard - $185
Abit IX38 Quad GT Intel X38 Motherboard - $210
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel X38 Motherboard - $225


Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 6 SATA ports and only need semi-decent overclocking, check out the DS3L. If you need 8 SATA ports, RAID, 4 PCI slots, and legacy ports, then get the Neo3-Fr. If you don't need more than 6 SATA ports but want RAID, firewire, a second PCI-E x16 port, a second Gigabite port, support for 16GB of RAM, optional eSATA, and high overclocks, then get the DS3R. If you need 8 SATAs and like the DS3R but don't need support for 16GB of RAM , get the Asus P5Q Pro. If you want Crossfire with full x16/x16 bandwidth, get the Lanparty DK X38.
Click to expand...

If you're not gaming, an HD3650 should do just fine.

Avoid DDR3 for now. Get DDR2:
$85 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-1000 F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ

No, the price difference on 10k RPM drives isn't worth it, IMO. BTW, the newer drives that use 320+GB platters are as fast as the old Raptors. So, get a Samsung F1 1TB. BTW, the 750GB F1 is on sale for $99 at Fry's.

A Corsair 450W, 550W, or 520W (modular) would be all you need for this build. However, the Corsair 750W from buy.com is a GREAT deal.

64-bit XP doesn't have very good support. So, if you want to use all 4GB, or more, of your RAM, you should definitely get Vista 64-bit Home Premium.
 
I recommend ditching that OCZ GameXStream PSU. It's based off the FSP Episilon PSU design which has out of spec ripple, or voltage fluctuations, at high loads that can damage or kill your system. Granted, you may not reach such high loads but why pay for a PSU that can kill your system?

I recommend getting this PSU:
Corsair 750TX 750W PSU - $99

Drop the RAM. It's a bit overpriced. I recommend this set instead:
OCZ Platinum Edition OCZ2P10004GK 2 x 2GB DDR2 1000 RAM - $87

Drop the AC7 Pro as well. It's not good enough for a quad-core CPU. I recommend this HSF:
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37 & Retention Bracket - $7

Drop the P35 motherboard as well and go with a P45 motherboard instead. The P45 chipset comes with PCI-E 2.0 which might give better upgrade options in the future. I recommend these motherboards:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96
MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Intel P45 Motherboard - $146
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $150
DFI Lanparty DK X38-T2R Intel X38 Motherboard - $185
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel X48 Motherboard - $225

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 6 SATA ports and only need semi-decent overclocking, check out the DS3L. If you need 8 SATA ports, RAID, 4 PCI slots, and legacy ports, then get the Neo3-Fr. If you don't need more than 6 SATA ports but want RAID, firewire, a second PCI-E x16 port, a second gigabit port, support for 16GB of RAM, optional eSATA, and high overclocks, then get the DS3R. If you like the DS3R but need 8 SATA ports, want an onboard pre-installed fast booting Linux setup or don't need a second gigabit port, get the Asus P5Q Pro. If you want Crossfire with full x16/x16 bandwidth, get the Lanparty DK X38.

Also, I recommend looking at these other better quality cases IMO:
Cooler Master RC-590-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $60
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $70
Cooler Master Mystique RC-632S-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $75
Antec Solo - $78
Lian Li PC-7B Plus II Silver ATX Case - $80
Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case - $80
 
Normally, I would suggest dropping the Q9450 because the Q6600 is so much cheaper. However, since you plan to use this as an encoding rig, the SSE4 instructions would probably help out tremendously in the future when whatever software you use is optimized for SSE4 instructions.

The ATI card is probably a good choice as I've heard it is definitely better than nVidia with regards to encoding and decoding. However, I've never actually looked up anything on it.

As for the hard drive, you're better off with more storage than anything for encoding tasks. The hard drive will not be a bottleneck for that task. Video editing might be a different story, but if you aren't going to be doing that a lot, something like a Raptor would be a waste of money. I have a couple Seagate 7200.11 drives and they are damn fast as well as the WD640AAKS. Anything bigger I have no experience with.

A large amount of RAM probably isn't needed for encoding. I haven't been doing HD rips and encoding but with regular DVD rips and x264 encoding, RAM doesn't really play much of a part. I personally wouldn't go with anything less than 4 gig if you plan on keeping the system for a couple years.

If you wish to use all of your RAM, you will need to snag a 64 bit OS. For the most part, I haven't had much trouble with XP64 but support for it will lessen. If you don't mind Vista, then Vista64 is probably your best bet. I've run into a number of programs that don't work or don't work properly on Vista32 or Vista64, but support will get better for this.

Most others seem to have the rest pretty much covered.

 
Stick with the Q9450. Runs cooler than the Q6600 and has SSE4 which honestly isn't a big deal for x264 but just the lower power draw is enough for me to recommend it.
 
Danny Bui said:
I recommend ditching that OCZ GameXStream PSU. It's based off the FSP Episilon PSU design which has out of spec ripple, or voltage fluctuations, at high loads that can damage or kill your system. Granted, you may not reach such high loads but why pay for a PSU that can kill your system?

I recommend getting this PSU:
Corsair 750TX 750W PSU - $99
Click to expand...

Done.

Danny Bui said:
Drop the RAM. It's a bit overpriced. I recommend this set instead:
OCZ Platinum Edition OCZ2P10004GK 2 x 2GB DDR2 1000 RAM - $87
Click to expand...

Hmm. When I priced it last night it was almost the same price as the Platinum. Guess I should have jumped on it.

Danny Bui said:
Drop the AC7 Pro as well. It's not good enough for a quad-core CPU. I recommend this HSF:
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37 & Retention Bracket - $7
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. It's changed.

Danny Bui said:
Drop the P35 motherboard as well and go with a P45 motherboard instead. The P45 chipset comes with PCI-E 2.0 which might give better upgrade options in the future. I recommend these motherboards:
Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L Intel P43 Motherboard - $96
MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Motherboard - $120
Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R Intel P45 Motherboard - $146
Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45 Motherboard - $150
DFI Lanparty DK X38-T2R Intel X38 Motherboard - $185
Gigabyte GA-X48-DS4 Intel X48 Motherboard - $225

Just to help you out: If you don't need RAID, more than 6 SATA ports and only need semi-decent overclocking, check out the DS3L. If you need 8 SATA ports, RAID, 4 PCI slots, and legacy ports, then get the Neo3-Fr. If you don't need more than 6 SATA ports but want RAID, firewire, a second PCI-E x16 port, a second gigabit port, support for 16GB of RAM, optional eSATA, and high overclocks, then get the DS3R. If you like the DS3R but need 8 SATA ports, want an onboard pre-installed fast booting Linux setup or don't need a second gigabit port, get the Asus P5Q Pro. If you want Crossfire with full x16/x16 bandwidth, get the Lanparty DK X38.
Click to expand...

What do you think of the ASUS P5Q Deluxe? It seems to have gotten better reviews than the Pro.

Danny Bui said:
Also, I recommend looking at these other better quality cases IMO:
Cooler Master RC-590-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $60
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $70
Cooler Master Mystique RC-632S-KKN1-GP ATX Case - $75
Antec Solo - $78
Lian Li PC-7B Plus II Silver ATX Case - $80
Lian Li Lancool PC-K7B ATX Case - $80
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up on the 900; while it got great reviews for cooling I just noticed that it had no filters whatsoever. Since my current case *with* filters already is a dust magnet, I can't imagine how the 900 would be. Still, it's extremely hard to choose between any of the above. While there are positive reviews to be found on all of them, there always seems to be a reviewer that finds some flaw that can't be excused.

I seem to remember having the exact same headache choosing a case for my last build. Guess I have a lot more research ahead of me.

dandragonrage said:
Stick with the Q9450. Runs cooler than the Q6600 and has SSE4 which honestly isn't a big deal for x264 but just the lower power draw is enough for me to recommend it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input on x264. I went ahead and snagged one on eBay.
 
Xee said:
What do you think of the ASUS P5Q Deluxe? It seems to have gotten better reviews than the Pro.
Click to expand...

Good motherboard but overpriced considering that you can get a X38 (technically the better chipset) motherboard for around the same price. At least with a X38 motherboard you have x16/x16 Crossfire whereas a P45 only gives you x8/x8 Crossfire.

However if Crossfire doesn't matter to you and you want 16GB of RAM, which only the P45 chipset supports, then go for the P5Q Deluxe. Otherwise go with a different motherboard.
 
Danny Bui said:
Good motherboard but overpriced considering that you can get a X38 (technically the better chipset) motherboard for around the same price. At least with a X38 motherboard you have x16/x16 Crossfire whereas a P45 only gives you x8/x8 Crossfire.

However if Crossfire doesn't matter to you and you want 16GB of RAM, which only the P45 chipset supports, then go for the P5Q Deluxe. Otherwise go with a different motherboard.
Click to expand...

Well, I decided to stay away from the X38's due to the fact that I can never see myself getting two vid cards. Also, while I can't see why I'd ever need more than 8GB it'd be nice to have some future-proofing (who knows what will happen in a few years). Well, back to scrounging around the other P45's I guess.
 
Well if I could get an X38 for pretty cheap, then I'd take it over an overpriced P45 board. I'm not sure about you, but I think I can make more use out of that extra PCI-E 16x slot (RAID card) than I could with a higher capacity for RAM (despite having the same number of DIMMs, 4). Also, the price of 4GB RAM modules is too high, IMO; I think DDR3 will drop in price and become a more viable option before 4GB DDR2 RAM modules do, so I don't value the 16GB capacity very highly.
 
I would pay particular attention to the cpu power supply and cooling of any motherboard you are considering. You are gonna place a lot of strain on a mobo by running a quad core at 100% load for hours upon hours every day so you want something that will stay cool and last a long time. Look for something with good power delivery (generally more phases = more power, though 16 phase is completely unnecessary), solid caps for longevity, and good heatpiped cooling for all components. Especially for the mosfets in the CPU power supply (and for all of em, not just half or none as in the cheaper mobos). I think the Asus P5Q-E would work well for you but there are plenty of options to choose from.

Also get a case with a side fan or opening that can provide some fresh air around the CPU socket. Or alternatively skip the tower heatsinks and go with a good top down cooler like the Noctua NH-C12P. That particular unit comes within a few degrees of the Xigmatek and will provide additional airflow to components around the cpu, helping keep your mosfet and NB temps under control.
 
Alright, here's what I've bought so far (prices are with shipping and after rebates/cashback):

Case: Antec 900 - $79.99
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 - $241.94
PSU: PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V - $124.99
Storage: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB x 2 - $158.97
Video Card: Visiontek Radeon HD 4850 - $135.20
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit - $116.50

Total: $857.59

Obviously, the three things left are the motherboard, memory, and heatsink.

Toaster Oven said:
Also get a case with a side fan or opening that can provide some fresh air around the CPU socket. Or alternatively skip the tower heatsinks and go with a good top down cooler like the Noctua NH-C12P. That particular unit comes within a few degrees of the Xigmatek and will provide additional airflow to components around the cpu, helping keep your mosfet and NB temps under control.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Others have suggested a TRUE or Enzotech Extreme X. I'm definitely going to need to do some more research. Thanks for the heads-up on the P5Q-E too; looks like I'll probably go with something from that line.
 
Man, I can't believe this has been dragging on since June.

Anyway, all I've got to get is the memory and mobo. I've pretty much decided on getting the Asus Rampage Formula and all I need to do is have a stiff drink before ordering it (it costs a lot but I hear it's one of the most stable boards out there for OC'ing). This of course leaves just the memory. I was looking at quite a few but I can't really see a difference besides the timings being a little off. That being said, will any of these offer a vast improvement over the others or can I just get the cheapest one?:

Memory Comparison
 
Danny Bui said:
Performance is the same with all of those RAM sticks. In fact, they'll perform roughly the same as this RAM set:
G.Skill F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ 2 x 2GB DDR2 1000 RAM - $75
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I just did a little more research and have read that you won't get any extra performance from 1066 if you're running a quad core since you'd need to boost your FSB over 400. I went ahead and ordered the memory. Thanks again.
 
Well, with all the parts having arrived and a day off yesterday I set out putting everything together around noon. Well, at around 2:00am I finally called it quits for the "day." The end result was the motherboard, cpu, heatsink, PSU, and video card installed. lol I'm going to pick it up again tomorrow morning and hopefully get the rest finished a lot quicker. I was thinking about doing a test boot with what I have right now just to see if it works but think I'll just finish the whole thing first and hope there's no surprises.
 
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