PC2100 or PC3500 for DVD2SVCD?

[techietam]

I am still fighting with this systeem to figure out what would be
the better choice for speed difference

I decided not to switch to P4 but still want to get better performance.
Does any1 know what difference memory speed make for video encoding?
I am thinking of replacing my PC2100 with PC3500 but would want to
be sure that it will change the time of the whole process noticeably.

It is KT400 mobo running 2100+@2200+ speed.

The whole process takes about 8-10 hours and I would like to cut it a little
Any experience with that?

 

[AnAndAustin]

It would make more sense to try diff packages and rendering/capturing techniques. An AthlonXP below XP2400+ on a 266FSB isn't going to gain much going above PC2100 so it's unlikely to be worth the outlay, I'd suggest waiting for the T.bred-B or even Barton to drop in price / emerge. Make sure you have at least 512MB, PC2700 should offer a better perf and PC8000 (made up BTW) isn't going to deliver much if any improvement over PC2700 unless you can run that CPU faster AND on a higher FSB. Another thing to look in to is latency timings, although again diffs aren't going to be huge. Have you considered going MP? I wouldn't say they'd be a cost effective upgrade option at the mo, perhaps there's some kind of specialist hw device / card you could look out for? Anyway I'll have a look for some BMs.

Oh ... if it's to SVCD then all you should need is an MPEG2 hw decoder, I don't think they're rare and should come in std PCI form for roughly $50 IIRC.

 

[Dulanic]

I use DVD2SVCD myself and it took 8 hours to do a 2:35 min movie, thats using CCE 2.5 with 4 pass VBR. And I have pretty much the same setup as you... 1600+ at 1.75Ghz which is 2100+ speed.... difference is Im running 166FSB with memory in sync at 166 also. So if your taking 8-10 hours Im guessing most movies you do are 2 hours... so about 35 min shorter then what I did... so Id say if you ran at 166 FSB and got memory to do 166... youd shave an hour or so off your encoding time. Main thing is if your going to upgrade your memory run the CPU at 166FSB... if you dont do that dont upgrade your memory. 133FSB with 166 Memory has no real advantage over 133 with 133 memory.

 

[AnAndAustin]

Anyway do note the systems using diff RAM types and FSB speeds but hopefully this will help you a little, here goes ...

TomsHW

Tech Report
Tech Report 2

AnAndTech

Maybe a review of the KT333 (first with 133+166 FSB+RAM ability) will show it more precisely. I'll keep looking ...

EDIT: Despite what you'd technicly expect an XP2000+ CPU running in sync 166/333 operation with PC2700 is hardly any faster at all than the same kit running at stock 133/266 with PC2100. Here's some links but do notice the actual perf gains are often 3%ish (IIRC).

AnAndTech 166/333 with PC2700 bit

Xbit Labs 166/333 with PC2700

And here's the diff RAM latency timings can make (IIRC often about 1-2%):

TomsHW CL2.0 vs ...

EDIT2: And here's some more stuff on unlocked XP's with diff RAM: HERE (AthlonMB)

 

[AnAndAustin]

Here's another article I've noted but not had chance to read:

Tech Report - 333FSB for AthlonXP

KT333 reviews (hopefully showing at least 133FSB&PC2100 vs 133FSB&PC2700):

AnAndTech

TomsHW KT333 mobos roundup

TomsHW KT266A vs KT333 (presumably 133&2100 vs 133&2700 since KT266A and KT333 are the same speed etc)

Tech Report - KT333

Xbit Labs - KT333

Xbit Labs - KT333 (5 mobos compared and vs SiS)

 

[techietam]

Maaaan!!!!!!!!
Thanks a lot, dude! You did much more homework for me than me myself

I do have Nanya CL2 memory but the motherboard doesn't let me change the latency.
I think, I'll try enabling Top Performance to see if it can handle it

 

[Dulanic]

EDIT: Despite what you'd technicly expect an XP2000+ CPU running in sync 166/333 operation with PC2700 is hardly any faster at all than the same kit running at stock 133/266 with PC2100. Here's some links but do notice the actual perf gains are often 3%ish (IIRC).

Keep in mind hes talking about a SPECIFIC app.. some are much more memory intensive then others... DVD2SVCD is one of them. Not Techietam Im not sure if your running TMPEG or CCE with DVD2SVCD, but if its TMPEG... switch to CCE, its a bit faster (About 10%) and its better quality in SVCD, TMPEG is better quality with VCD. Also with CCE your ram timings are key! You can get a 5% gain just by using Cas 2 over Cas 2.5. Switching to 166FSB/166 Memory would gain you another 5-9%. Overall if you do thoose 3 things you can speed up your encoding by a good 20%.

 

[techietam]

if your running TMPEG or CCE with DVD2SVCD, but if its TMPEG... switch to CCE, its a bit faster (About 10%) and its better quality in SVCD

.

I would've done by now but it leaves the logo on all of the output files, if you use a demo version,
if I am not mistaking. Otherwise I'd be running CCE.

 

[Dulanic]

YGPM

 

[AnAndAustin]

techietam, if you use the Giga-KT400 (7VA, 7VAX, etc) try holding CTRL & pressing F1 (IIRC, maybe CTRL+ALT+F1) as this brings up an otherwise hidden menu including RAM latency settings among other things. There should also be an 'optimum perf' tab in the BIOS which you can try enabling. Otherwise ensure you have the latest BIOS.

It's up to you if you want to mess around unlocking your XP2100+ to run 166/333FSB but don't forget you'll need at least PC2700 as well (512MB roughly $110). The std XP's are the hardest to unlock and although video encoding is among the more RAM intesive things you can do I'd expect after all this you'll gain no more than 5%, and you can gain 3-4% by simply running your RAM at 166/333mhz or 133/266mhz CAS2.0-2-2-5 without having to risk killing your CPU, invalidating your warranty and spending the time and money unlocking it.

I'd say think about the upgrading the RAM to PC2700 but that money would be better spent on an XP2400+ (or up) even keeping the 266FSB (or pref a little o/c). Considering 4 weeks should be enough to see the XP2400+ drop in price significantly I'd be tempted to wait that little bit longer. I think I said earlier there aren't any easy or cost effective ways of upping the speed esp by any remotely significant amount.

Dulanic, I'm not in any way trying to dis what you are saying but simply giving my opinion on it, I just don't see even a 10% improvement after all the cost and hassle.

 

[techietam]

Thanks again, AnAndAustin.
I wasn't even aware of hidden settings in 7VA

I'll think about my choice of upgrades a little deeper this weekend
and find the reasonable way to do it

 

[Slapstick]

The biggest gain I noticed with DVD2SVCD was when I upped my memory to 768 MB from 512 MB. It cut an hour or so off the encode time. Switching from Tmpeg to CCE cut another half hour or so off the times. Now a 2 hour dvd takes an average of 6-7 hours to complete on an XP 1800+ Oc?ed to XP1900+ speeds.