Does a dual core run faster for DVD to iPod converison?

Is there any video software that will use multi-tasking, so converting DVD to iPod MP4 will run faster?

 

On one level or another, a Dual-Core will always be using both cores even if its just for one program. I'm sure there are certain programs that take advantage of a dual-core configuration than others, but I know of none designed specifically for them.

 

It's a price/performance tradeoff...

I read a review that indicated a dual-core will give you LESS bang-for-the-buck, unless the software you run is specially coded for multi-tasking.

i.e. a 3GHz uniprocessor beat a 2GHz dual-core, or something like that. Both cost about the same.

Sorry, I don't have the link to that report...

So, the question is, what gives better price/performance?

Anyone know of a published benchmark?

 

Nah, thats not quite right.

Dual core will run single applications slower, but running many applications will trounce all over that single core CPU. The reason a single app runs slower is due to dual cores consisting of two, slower single cores unless you go with an FX-60, which is a monster. The new Toledo cores with 1mb l2 cache x2 have helped some with that. Overclocking can fill that gap, of course.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=237&chart=75&model2=245

Games do run slower, but usually doesn't matter, because

1. Games are usually video card limited.
2. Games are usually video card limited.

Now that games are starting to come out multithreaded (TES IV: Oblivion is one), single core is starting to fall behind.

As for DVD conversions, if you are doing a ton of things at once, it will be faster. If your application is multithreaded, it will be faster. If neither of the above, it will probably be a little slower.

Also, if you like getting your hands dirty, you can assign applications to specific cores, increasing your multitasking performance. So, IMO, its mostly a win-win situation.

If you aren't a multitasker, dual core is not for you.

 

I made sure my new laptop was duo core. Haven't really noticed any difference as yet. I'm not a multitasker but I will run Spybot S&D, Pest Patrol, Adaware all at once and see what difference that makes. That's about the limit of my multitasking. Bazza

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So, let's see if this makes sense...

Let's say, now it takes over an hour to compress a DVD for iPod (QVGA) video conversion -- with a 2GHz CPU... and it's both I/O and CPU intensive.

With a 2GHz dual core, it may not run any faster, but you could run another app concurrently, and it would not run any slower for the compression, yes?

Any benchmarks out there?

When the video compression algorithms start doing multithreading, like compressing two frames on two different CPUs in parallel, then it could run 2x faster?

 

Yes, on all accounts. Although, performance is never 2x, no matter if its dual core, or dual cpu. Its a considerable performance increase though.

For example, using DVD shrink to encode on a dual core cpu shaves minutes off of the time vs. a single core.

 

Thanks, Adrynalyne!

Now, I'm wondering how those minutes would be expressed as a ratio, or percent improvement?

Searching for benchmarks, found this -- (but still looking for more comparisons... single 3GHz vs. dual core 2GHz...)

Video and audio performance...

With the exception of Nero Recode, the AMD processors come out top in all of the video tests. In fact, the entry-level Athlon 64 X2 3800 beats the substantially more expensive Pentium EE 840 in the majority of these tests.

http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/processorsmemory/0,39024015,39233885-5,00.htm

 

Adrynalyne has it pretty much on the money.

Multi-tasking dual is the only way to go.

I think any dualcore from 4400+ and up can do what mine can just a little slower.

I can encode 2 dvd's to mp4 & rip one to avi.
And play HL2, Doom3, tombraider at the same time.
All the games settings on best picture.
And I never have a slow down.

It even makes it easier to be ripping in the back ground while your....working,
doing email, surfing the net. No slow downs

And ripping or encoding you will see the best speed jump with having very fast drives. My raptor raid has burst I think around 387mb/s avg 127mb/s in HD3.0

I really think the fast drives do it for video & sound