Encoding with Handbrake 2017 iMac?

[dpriest]

Hey guys,

I'm finally going to switch to an iMac from my desktop PC and have been a MacBook Pro user for years. Needless to say I am thrilled because I am not a PC fan at all. I don't have it yet and am planning to get the new 2017 27" iMac with the 4.2 GHZ i7-7700k processor, 32GB Ram, 1TB SSD. One thing I would like to do on this new iMac that I do on my PC is to use Handbrake to render H.264 1080P mp4 from mkv files using high quality custom settings and H.265 4K once the future AppleTV's support. My current PC is running windows 7 64 bit, has the i7-4770K (Not overclocked) processor, 16GB Ram and the Corsair H80i cpu cooler with 2 SSD drives. When loading the Handbrake que with several video files on my PC all four cores are running at 100% and do not go over 57° Celcius which I am very happy with. I am holding on to this PC for that purpose if the iMac has problems.


My main concern is the cooling. Running a processor at 80° or higher for extensive times can damage the computer and shorten the life of the processor and I want to avoid that. Is this something that I am going to want to avoid with this iMac or are there ways to sufficiently cool it?

 

[niteflyr]

I've got the same spec iMac as you. Handbrake encodes run the temps up to 95C-100C almost instantly along with maxing out the fan speed on my machine. Apple says this is fine and within tolerances. You decide.

 

[dpriest]

I've got the same spec iMac as you. Handbrake encodes run the temps up to 95C-100C almost instantly along with maxing out the fan speed on my machine. Apple says this is fine and within tolerances. You decide.

I've heard the fan noise is an issue for many people at full throttle. How long have you had your iMac and how much handbrake encoding do you do?

 

[BrettApple]

What he said. Though I've been using MacBooks to encode for years, even game on. My previous model was a Late 2008 MacBook (yes encoding with a Core 2 Duo is slow, but it was quick back then) and it would run up to 210 Fahrenheit, or close to 100 C when encoding with Handbrake for hours at a time in some cases, or when gaming under Boot Camp. It is now 2017 and it's still running so I'm guessing it didn't damage it after doing that for 6 years when it was my primary Mac. I now use a Late 2013 13" rMBP and it does much the same, though doesn't seem to have to fight quite as hard as the '08 did but it's used daily as well and hasn't shortened it's life either.

How comfortable should we be with this? Eh, probably not too comfortable but they do seem to keep going.

We have multiple 2011, 2012, and 2013 iMac's at my previous workplace and they were using Premiere, After Effects, Handbrake, FCP, etc all the time on a regular basis and only one (2011) had a failed GPU (known issue) and the rest have been fine even running full tilt for years on end during the work week. I'd say it's fine. Though the iMac Pro is right around the corner and cools much better, but with a huge premium

 

[dpriest]

What he said. Though I've been using MacBooks to encode for years, even game on. My previous model was a Late 2008 MacBook (yes encoding with a Core 2 Duo is slow, but it was quick back then) and it would run up to 210 Fahrenheit, or close to 100 C when encoding with Handbrake for hours at a time in some cases, or when gaming under Boot Camp. It is now 2017 and it's still running so I'm guessing it didn't damage it after doing that for 6 years when it was my primary Mac. I now use a Late 2013 13" rMBP and it does much the same, though doesn't seem to have to fight quite as hard as the '08 did but it's used daily as well and hasn't shortened it's life either.

How comfortable should we be with this? Eh, probably not too comfortable but they do seem to keep going.

We have multiple 2011, 2012, and 2013 iMac's at my previous workplace and they were using Premiere, After Effects, Handbrake, FCP, etc all the time on a regular basis and only one (2011) had a failed GPU (known issue) and the rest have been fine even running full tilt for years on end during the work week. I'd say it's fine. Though the iMac Pro is right around the corner and cools much better, but with a huge premium

Interesting and good to know. As I am writing this reply, my PC has over 14 videos in the que that Handbrake is encoding. I am leaving it alone to do its thing which will take almost two days running around the clock. I don't mind sacrificing speed for quality. I guess seeing is believing so when I get my new iMac I'll give it a whirl. iMac Pro to rich for my pockets.

 

[CWallace]

The i7 will be better for encoding as it can use all eight threads, but as noted, the cores all run at 100% so the fans spin to 2500RPM to assist in venting all that hot air.

 

[HDFan]

I'm on a 12 cpu nMacPro running a handbrake encode with Handbrake taking ~1300% of my 24 virtual cpus and the fan running at ~1500 rpm. Here's the temperature graph showing before and as the encodings are run:



Have been doing this for years with no problem.

 

[seclusion]

Yes, fans run full with handbrake, I have the same spec machine. A couple of weeks in, no problem. When I first ran it hearing the fans, I didn’t know what it was.
It is a beast though, on par with my dead MacPro 3.33 6 Core when it wasn’t dead.

 

[dpriest]

I am spoiled with my PC. The i7-4770K processor is a monster. Having 6 fans on my chassis along with the Corsair H80i liquid cpu cooler all cores at 100% do not go above 57C. It is a PC though... So question...if I use the iMac for this, I have Handbrake save the new video files to a separate SSD on my PC to speed encoding. Do you recommend partitioning my 1TB SSD or using an external SSD that I could hook up either USB 3 or Thunderbolt? I would use the internal 1TB SSD as the source where the .MKV files are and have Handbrake save the encoded .MP4 to the external drive.

 

[loekf]

Hey guys,

My main concern is the cooling. Running a processor at 80° or higher for extensive times can damage the computer and shorten the life of the processor and I want to avoid that. Is this something that I am going to want to avoid with this iMac or are there ways to sufficiently cool it?

Should be ok. AFAIK, the CPU is thermally throttled back (clock speed, not sure about supply) when it overheats. I think it's even in the Intel CPU.

 

[chrfr]

I am spoiled with my PC. The i7-4770K processor is a monster. Having 6 fans on my chassis along with the Corsair H80i liquid cpu cooler all cores at 100% do not go above 57C. It is a PC though... So question...if I use the iMac for this, I have Handbrake save the new video files to a separate SSD on my PC to speed encoding. Do you recommend partitioning my 1TB SSD or using an external SSD that I could hook up either USB 3 or Thunderbolt? I would use the internal 1TB SSD as the source where the .MKV files are and have Handbrake save the encoded .MP4 to the external drive.

The iMac's SSD is far faster than is necessary to keep up with the CPU while it's decoding. There's no advantage to partitioning the disk, nor is it necessary to use an external disk.

 

[dpriest]

The iMac's SSD is far faster than is necessary to keep up with the CPU while it's decoding. There's no advantage to partitioning the disk, nor is it necessary to use an external disk.

OK. I guess this is different than on a PC. All articles I have read suggested to have 2 SSD's for video encloding, one being the source of the files to encode on the same drive as handbrake and a separate SSD as the destination. Cool
[doublepost=1511276687][/doublepost]On a separate note, I posted a question about transferring my iTunes library from my PC to Mac and have not gotten any responses. Posted this under the macOS forum. Should I post this elsewhere?

 

[ixxx69]

OK. I guess this is different than on a PC. All articles I have read suggested to have 2 SSD's for video encloding, one being the source of the files to encode on the same drive as handbrake and a separate SSD as the destination. Cool

No, it's not any different on a PC. You either misunderstood the articles you've read, or they're wrong.

On a separate note, I posted a question about transferring my iTunes library from my PC to Mac and have not gotten any responses. Posted this under the macOS forum. Should I post this elsewhere?

I'd suggest googling this question... there's literally dozens of articles and posts on this, as well as an Apple support doc.

 

[kohlson]

So question...if I use the iMac for this, I have Handbrake save the new video files to a separate SSD on my PC to speed encoding.

In watching disk activity on Activity Monitor, Handbrake doesn't come anywhere closer to saturating disk I/O in my experience. This on both a 2013 15-MBP and a SATA-II SSD on 2010 MP. CPU seems to be the gating resource in these devices. Apple has been pretty good about increasing the storage interface performance along with CPU performance in recent years.

 

[Significant1]

If you are ok, with longer encoding times, you could disable turbo boost to keep temperatur down:
https://www.rugarciap.com/turbo-boost-switcher-for-os-x/

 

[HDFan]

All articles I have read suggested to have 2 SSD's for video encloding, one being the source of the files to encode on the same drive as handbrake and a separate SSD as the destination. Cool

I just ran a test encoding in Handbrake from an SSD to a RAID device.

CPU was running ~1200%:



The highest SSD (Macintosh HD) and HD (Pegasus) transfer rates I saw were 2.5 MB/s:





Most of the time the transfer rates were in Kilobytes per second! So for Handbrake I see no reason to use fast disks at either end. SSD's would be a waste of money. The critical factor is your CPU bottleneck.

 

[dpriest]

I just ran a test encoding in Handbrake from an SSD to a RAID device.

CPU was running ~1200%:

View attachment 737531

The highest SSD (Macintosh HD) and HD (Pegasus) transfer rates I saw were 2.5 MB/s:

View attachment 737532

View attachment 737533

Most of the time the transfer rates were in Kilobytes per second! So for Handbrake I see no reason to use fast disks at either end. SSD's would be a waste of money. The critical factor is your CPU bottleneck.

Thanks for the info. That's why I am getting the i7-7700k. Should be a work horse. I have to get past the temperature thing. High temperatures for sustained periods and computers don't mix.

 

[sanmarcos]

Use Windows and take advantage of hardware encoding through Intel Quicksync with Handbrake.

 

[cynics]

Use Windows and take advantage of hardware encoding through Intel Quicksync with Handbrake.

But you'd lose out on Apple AAC in Windows.

 

[diamond3]

I'm curious what settings you're using in Handbrake. I'm just starting to digitize my movie collection and wanted to go the route of h265. However, I'm unsure if it's taking advantage of the hardware encoding QuickSync technology that's available now in the 2017 iMacs. I've downloaded the nightly build, select the apple 1080 30p preset, change the frame rate to 23.976, encode profile to x265 and I'm only getting around 11-14 fps encoding on the 2017 iMac with the i7 processor. I'm converting from makemkv (mkv bluray files). Is h265 really that slow? I may start a new topic, but this one already has some good info in it.

 

[lali]

Hey guys,

I'm finally going to switch to an iMac from my desktop PC and have been a MacBook Pro user for years. Needless to say I am thrilled because I am not a PC fan at all. I don't have it yet and am planning to get the new 2017 27" iMac with the 4.2 GHZ i7-7700k processor, 32GB Ram, 1TB SSD. One thing I would like to do on this new iMac that I do on my PC is to use Handbrake to render H.264 1080P mp4 from mkv files using high quality custom settings and H.265 4K once the future AppleTV's support. My current PC is running windows 7 64 bit, has the i7-4770K (Not overclocked) processor, 16GB Ram and the Corsair H80i cpu cooler with 2 SSD drives. When loading the Handbrake que with several video files on my PC all four cores are running at 100% and do not go over 57° Celcius which I am very happy with. I am holding on to this PC for that purpose if the iMac has problems. My main concern is the cooling. Running a processor at 80° or higher for extensive times can damage the computer and shorten the life of the processor and I want to avoid that. Is this something that I am going to want to avoid with this iMac or are there ways to sufficiently cool it?

Hi,
I have been using Handbrake forever with my iMac. Some of my friends tell me I am wasting all my time encoding all those files when I should have been using PLEX since day one. I am looking into PLEX to save time. Just an idea for you to consider thanks

 

[Sahib7]

the route of h265. However, I'm unsure if it's taking advantage of the hardware encoding QuickSync technology that's available now in the 2017 iMacs.

QuickSync is beneficial for H264, but not H265.
The i7 iMac is faster in encoding h264 than the Imac pro because of that.
So if you are mainly encoding h265 the iMac Pro might be worth it...

 

[dpriest]

I'm curious what settings you're using in Handbrake. I'm just starting to digitize my movie collection and wanted to go the route of h265. However, I'm unsure if it's taking advantage of the hardware encoding QuickSync technology that's available now in the 2017 iMacs. I've downloaded the nightly build, select the apple 1080 30p preset, change the frame rate to 23.976, encode profile to x265 and I'm only getting around 11-14 fps encoding on the 2017 iMac with the i7 processor. I'm converting from makemkv (mkv bluray files). Is h265 really that slow? I may start a new topic, but this one already has some good info in it.

I have not been encoding with the h265 because I don't have a 4K TV to watch on yet. I am a quality snob so from what I understand you trade speed of encoding for quality. I don't use presets but create my own. I am taking 1080P MKV so I encode to 1080P mp4 at 23.976 FPS using constant quality at either 18 or 20. I actually have decided to use my PC for all of the encoding because I use a program called vidcoder which uses the handbrake engine. I prefer vidcoder because I like the user interface better and there are some other options Handbrake doesn't have. Depending on the movie, I use different settings. If there is a high action film with lots of movement, I use my high quality settings and the exceptional settings for all other.
Exceptional Quality settings are:

Reference Frames: 5
Maximum B-Frames: 3
CABAC, 8x8 Tansform and Weighted P-Frames all checked
Adaptive B-Frames: Optimal
Adaptive Direct Mode: Spatial
Motion Estimated Method: Uneven Multi Hexagon
Subpixel Motion Estimation: 10 QPRD In All Frames
Motion Estimation Range: 32
Trellis: Always

Very High Quality settings are all same except:


Reference Frames: 8
Maximum B-Frames: 8
Psychovisual Trellis: Slider to spots to the right
[doublepost=1515350328][/doublepost]

I have not been encoding with the h265 because I don't have a 4K TV to watch on yet. I am a quality snob so from what I understand you trade speed of encoding for quality. I don't use presets but create my own. I am taking 1080P MKV so I encode to 1080P mp4 at 23.976 FPS using constant quality at either 18 or 20. I actually have decided to use my PC for all of the encoding because I use a program called vidcoder which uses the handbrake engine. I prefer vidcoder because I like the user interface better and there are some other options Handbrake doesn't have. Depending on the movie, I use different settings. If there is a high action film with lots of movement, I use my high quality settings and the exceptional settings for all other.
Exceptional Quality settings are:

Reference Frames: 5
Maximum B-Frames: 3
CABAC, 8x8 Tansform and Weighted P-Frames all checked
Adaptive B-Frames: Optimal
Adaptive Direct Mode: Spatial
Motion Estimated Method: Uneven Multi Hexagon
Subpixel Motion Estimation: 10 QPRD In All Frames
Motion Estimation Range: 32
Trellis: Always

Very High Quality settings are all same except:


Reference Frames: 8
Maximum B-Frames: 8
Psychovisual Trellis: Slider to spots to the right

I forgot to mention that I encode with the H264 (x264) codec. These high quality settings tax my processor and take time to process. I load the que with files, set it and forget it. On my PC I have the i7-4770K processor with 16GB RAM. My new iMac has the i7-7700K with 40GB RAM. I encoded the same file on my PC and iMac with the same Handbrake settings and there is a definite speed difference between the two where the iMac is faster!

 

[EugW]

If you're a quality snob then the best thing to do is just use the original MKV files. Even iOS devices can play them back just fine if you have the right software. For this reason, I gave up transcoding these files eons ago.

However, if you must transcode, we here at MacRumors did some test encoding with Handbrake and the i7-7700K iMac is roughly 20% faster than the i5-7600 (non-K) iMac.

With the same encode settings, the i7-7700K shaved 2.5 minutes off an encode that took 12.5 minutes on the i5-7600. Just as importantly though, the i7 was at maximum fan speed within 30 seconds, whereas the i5-7600 took around 9-10 minutes just to become audible, and didn't go to max during that period. However, if you're doing encodes all day long, then eventually it would likely hit maximum fan.

BTW, dual fast SSDs are completely unnecessary for Handbrake.

 

[dpriest]

If you're a quality snob then the best thing to do is just use the original MKV files. Even iOS devices can play them back just fine if you have the right software. For this reason, I gave up transcoding these files eons ago.

However, if you must transcode, we here at MacRumors did some test encoding with Handbrake and the i7-7700K iMac is roughly 20% faster than the i5-7600 (non-K) iMac.

With the same encode settings, the i7-7700K shaved 2.5 minutes off an encode that took 12.5 minutes on the i5-7600. Just as importantly though, the i7 was at maximum fan speed within 30 seconds, whereas the i5-7600 took around 9-10 minutes just to become audible, and didn't go to max during that period. However, if you're doing encodes all day long, then eventually it would likely hit maximum fan.

BTW, dual fast SSDs are completely unnecessary for Handbrake.

Agreed. The i7-7700K is a beast! I get nervous with temperatures however. I installed the Corsair H80i V2 Liquid CPU cooler on my PC. The cpu temperature is between 45-55 celcius where on the iMac it is well over 100 celcius. Sometimes I have my Que full enough that it encodes for days which IMOHO is too hot for a processor to run.

On a second note, I would love to have my ATV 3 play MKV files. I watch my movies through my Yamaha receiver which can play DTS audio. What software do you recommend? Is there any software that can transcode the DTS in the MKV? Right now I am converting from DTS to AC3.