ok, i think it's clear for me now...
i made some tests without mencoder and latest x264cli but its really slow on my machine; 160frames need 2,5 minutes (in two pass, Subpixel Ref. 5, and all other "high profile" options on, 3bframes, target bitrat 1500...) while x264 Vfw only need ~50sec with exact the same options (but avi output)... any ideas why it's so much slower?
[I'll do some more tests with longer clips....]
in settings of MeGUI i can't save the default priority to NORMAL, it has to be changed while the encoding process...and autostart queue seems to be always activated...