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Notebook for Video Capture & Encoding

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owensdj

Golden Member
What specs would a notebook need to be able to capture video using its Firewire(i.Link) port from a digital camcorder and encode it in real-time for a 320x240 resolution 300Kbps Windows Media Video 9 broadcast using Windows Media Encoder? Thanks.
 
Hmm so nobody has any ideas on what specs a notebook would need to be able to do this? For example, could a 1.6GHz 400MHz FSB Pentium M processor handle the CPU load of the encoding?
 
We did some multimedia benchmarking on both Pentium M & Turion 64 platforms, so that might give you an idea:
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/articles/42/1/1/

Overall Dothan & Turion will perform comparably in video encoding, with Turion holding a slight lead.

Do you need something portable or is it going to sit at a desk all day?

For portability, I'd go with Turion+1GB RAM+7200RPM hard drive.
No portability: get an A64 4000+ (2.6GHz)+1GB RAM+7200RPM hard drive.

Go for more RAM if you can 😉 Particularly CL2.5 DDR 400 (OCZ makes some)
 
I think you'd get a better response if you were to use a real format instead of some Microsoft contraption, totally incompatble with existing DVD players and OSs.

I loathe WMV. At that resolution, no matter how well you encode, the image will still be crappy. Better make some VCDs, while you're at it.
 
A good video editing/encoding laptop is the Gateway 7426/7510GX. It has an A64 3700 and 1GB of ram, making it one of the most powerful laptops available for such purposes.

If 1200 is a little cheap for you, I'd upgrade it with a 7200RM hard drive and you'll have a multimedia powerhouse.

Video rendering (saving your videos for DVD burning) takes less time than my 3.6GHz desktop.

 
AnitaPeterson, what "real format" would you suggest? As far as I know, this notebook will have to use Windows Media Encoder 9 to do the live broadcasts, so it's a bit of a moot point. It won't be doing higher quality encoding for DVDs. It just needs to be able to capture from a digital camcorder and encode a 320x240 resolution, 275Kbps video stream for live broadcast to a push server. It will probably also connect to the Internet using wireless.

fbrdphreak, it won't need to be highly portable. It will just be used in various rooms of a house. The battery will need to last for 2 hours during encoding a live video stream.
 
2 hours is a lot to ask of an Athlon 64 under load. You might be better of getting a Turion CPU, but that might run you more.

You could get an Acer 5000 with integrated GPU for like $1200, has a Turion CPU.

Otherwise the Gateway Mike01 suggested is AWESOME, but only like 2.5 hours max battery.
 
OK, since you get into these kind of debacles, let me ask you this:

What on Earth are you actually doing?

-Are you using this as a security camera video cache?
-Are you broadcasting porn?
-Why are you sending the signal all over, using wireless?

What I was saying in my first post is this: your encoding format is quite unusual, and I doubt many people here will know what are you talking about, or how powerful a computer will have to be to do this "on the fly"... most of use, however, will be able to advise you on MPEG1, MPEG4, MPEG2 and so on... Except that you're adding an extra layer of complexity, since you want to be streaming this thing ([resumably "live"), over God know what sort of connection... etc.
 
AnitaPeterson, the notebook is going to be used by someone to do live streaming video chats from their home with their site members. It's not for porn or anything like that.

The signal isn't being sent "all over" using wireless. The notebook will have Internet access using wireless and a wireless router connected to their cable modem so the person can use the notebook in different areas of their house. In other words the notebook will use Windows Media Encoder and connect to a push server using wireless to connect to a wireless broadband router.

Why do you think Windows Media Video is an unusual encoding format? Most web sites use WMV for their live video streams. If not WMV, then maybe Quicktime or Real Media, but certainly not MPEG1 or MPEG2. Like I've said before, it's a moot point. The streaming server only supports WMV. Also, I don't think it matters to my original question what the encoding format is. :roll:
 
In that case, the real answer to your quesiton is an 800MHz PIII with 256MB RAM running XP.

The quality/bandwitdth of video that can be uploaded by a conventional broadband connection while being simultaneously downloaded on the same connection will not strain even a super budged modern laptop.

Just about anything with a firewire port will do what you want. And you would not be capturing from a camcorder unless you're doing porn...you would be capturing from a webcam.

Just go to Best Buy and get the cheapest thing with Firewire.
 
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