i5 vs i7 - Video Encoding on the 2012 MBA's

[KasperH]

Hi

I think it would be very interesting to see the difference between the i5 and i7 in this real world benchmark.

I submitted my i7 results in this thread (instructions in thread as well):

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1111126/

Mid-2012 13" Macbook Air w/ 2.0GHz Core i7 (Dual Core), 8GB 1600MHz RAM, and 256GB SSD:

8 min 14 sec
Average encoding speed = 29 FPS

Could someone with the i5 cpu please run the test for comparison?

br Kasper

 

[eagandale4114]

Hi

I think it would be very interesting to see the difference between the i5 and i7 in this real world benchmark.

I submitted my i7 results in this thread (instructions in thread as well):

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1111126/



Could someone with the i5 cpu please run the test for comparison?

br Kasper

The 2012 should be using quicksync for encoding. The quicksync hardware is identical on both types of processors.

 

[AlanShutko]

As far as I know, Handbrake (and x264, which handbrake uses to encode) does not use QuickSync. It only uses CPU encoding.

 

[h00ligan]

Afaik apple still hasn't enabled quicksync. Anyone have a source stating otherwise?

 

[KasperH]

maybe we could try handbrake in addition to another encoder that would take advantage of Quicksync if available.

I just want to know if the i7 makes a difference worth the price or not.

 

[plucky duck]

maybe we could try handbrake in addition to another encoder that would take advantage of Quicksync if available.

I just want to know if the i7 makes a difference worth the price or not.

I personally wouldn'tven if I could save 10-20 min per project because I don't make a living off of it, don't do it enough, and value battery life more (especially on the smaller 11"). I would set it to run and walk away and do something else. If you make a living doing this stuff then you need to judge for yourself how much your time is worth to you.

 

[Wokis]

Afaik apple still hasn't enabled quicksync. Anyone have a source stating otherwise?

I believe both facetime and airplay mirroring do use it. That airplay is using it is pretty much a given considering what all macs compatible with the feature have in common: Quicksync CPUs.

I heard quicktime encoding would start taking advantage of it in ML but haven't found any evidence that it does. I suppose a third party encoder should be able to allow quicksync regardless, but maybe there aren't any APIs on it.

If quicksync is THE way of encoding H.264? Hardly, not for every situation. Software encoders like handbrake usually get the upper hand when it comes to customisation parameters and picture quality. Does that matter for a youtube upload? Probably not.

 

[h00ligan]

Thx for the info. I'll have to look into it more.

 

[JootecFromMars]

About to download and benchmark on my i5.

 

[JootecFromMars]

MBA 13" (mid 2012) 1.8Ghz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD. Mountain Lion.

9 mins 30 secs
25.023638 fps

Only attempted 1 run. Handbrake v0.9.8.

 

[KasperH]

MBA 13" (mid 2012) 1.8Ghz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD. Mountain Lion.

9 mins 30 secs
25.023638 fps

Only attempted 1 run. Handbrake v0.9.8.

Thanks

So the difference is about 15,5%
Or you could say that the i5 looses around 9 minutes pr hour to the i7 in this particular task.

 

[JootecFromMars]

Cinebench 11.5 on:

MBA 13" (mid 2012) 1.8Ghz i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD. Mountain Lion.

OpenGL: 18.31 fps
CPU: 2.60 pts
CPU (Single Core): 1.11 pts
MP Ratio: 2.34x

Advanced settings used.

Anyone with the i7 upgrade like to try?

 

[KasperH]

Cinebench 11.5 on:

MBA 13" (mid 2012) 2.0Ghz i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD. Mountain Lion.

OpenGL: 19.86 fps
CPU: 3.01 pts
CPU (Single Core): 1.27 pts
MP Ratio: 2.37x

Advanced settings used.

 

[KasperH]

I just ran Novabench on the i7 as well (free in the App Store)

Novabench Score: 756
RAM: 178
CPU: 467
Graphics: 51
Hardware tests (HD): 60