CCE different speeds at different bitrate

[markrb]

This is not a complaint or an asking for advice post, but more a post asking for the nuts of why this happens.

If I make an encode at my normal settings of Max 2600, Avg. 2450, Min 1300 I get an average CCE encode speed of about 1.5 on my Althon 1700+.
However on the exact same video if I set my bitrate to Max 2500, Avg. 2250 Min to 1000 I get a CCE encode speed of 1.17.

Why the lower speed at the lower bitrate settings?

I have noticed these speed differences on every video I had to adjust the bitrate for size reasons after the first encode.

Not a problem just a question.

Thanks,
Mark

[Fastolfe]

From my little experience with mp3, the more you compresses (ie goes with lower birate) the longer it takes to process the task (especially in vbr) because the compressor needs to process the same amount of data but needs to squeeze them in less space which means more calculations.
Here, I think it is the same, the 'what count factor' is the max avg birate you choose, choosing a low bitrate with the same equipment, requires more resources which means a longer time to encode.
Does it makes sense to you?

FF