CPU choice for video editing only?

[Tio]

I am preparing to build yet another comp but this one will be for post capture/rip video editing only (i.e. captures/rips -> PC-XviD, DVD & HD-Recodes, etc.). I'm set on AMD but not sure (especially after doing research) which would be the most bang for the buck. I was leaning toward an Athlon 64 3000/3200 90nm (Venice) but am begining to wonder if one of the others (Sempron/XP/etc) may be more appropriate considering my single use intent. $150 or less was my target but rational reasoning could make me stretch that budget. ;-)

Any personal insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Sirber]

$150... :(

I would go P4 3Ghz HT Prescott or Extreme... but it's way more than $150 :o

[unskinnyboy]

Not sure if you meant USD or Canadian when you said $, but when I searched Newegg.com (probably the best, if you are building your own PC - I got my parts from there and built my newest PC myself just 2 days ago), the best I could find <=$150 was this Intel Pentium IV Prescott 2.66GHz (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116193) one. I went for an Intel Pentium IV Prescott 3.2GHz (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116197) and paid USD $279.99 excluding S&H. It has been good so far - only thing is that the damn heatsink fan didn't fit on the mobo properly and so I had to buy a standalone heatsink fan. So never buy the Retail CPU, always go for the OEM one - since the fan will be crap most of the times.

As Sirber said, if you are serious about video encoding/editing, then you should shoot a bit higher and loosen your grip on your wallet a bit more.

And yes, currently Intel is the best for encoding until the Dual core AMDs come along.

[edurm]

For Xvid Encoding Athlon 64 is the best

For Divx and MPEG2 Chosse P4


For general Use Athlon 64 is the best Choice


Plz, check this excelent review: http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2249&p=8

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/athlon%2064%20fx55_10180471040/5069.png

[dvd_maniac]

Which Vendor is better for encoding with Nero AVC, Intel or AMD?

[edurm]

Which Vendor is better for encoding with Nero AVC, Intel or AMD?
I don't know, you must find What kind of encoding it will use. Particularly I would take AMD because its electric-consume is half of a Pentium4 and also dissipate much less hot

[zilog jones]

I'm sure edurm means "power consumption" ^_^
Yeah, if you care about heat and power, the Athlon 64's are definately the way to go. I know P4s are better in a lot of encoding situations, but you can by a faster AMD processor for the same price as an Intel one!

[Tio]

Everyone, thanks for the replies! I had to scram out of town for 10 days thus just getting a chance to reply.

As I noted in my initial query I was leaning towards Athlon64's. That was mainly due to the reviews such as those on Anandtech and other sites regarding it's encoding prowess. What also looked interesting is what seems to be a definite go-situation in being able to squeeze additional stable Mhz's out of that chip. 2.2-2.4 seems to be the norm with little to no effect in the way of heat and none on stability. The tests on the easily clocked chips (with proper MB) equaled or surpassed much beefier CPU's (not including the dual-cores).

Pentiums scare me a bit as I'm in Maryland (USA) where it gets quite warm and often times the ambient temp in the room will reach 85-90 degrees during summer months. :-( 62-65 deg. is my normal high temp for the current lot of Athlon/Athlon XP's I have operating on full load. Lots of fans = noisy room! ;-)

Appreciate the insight from all. Will definitely use it (and anything else offered ;) when making my final decision later this week.

Regards!