i7 MBP vs. iMac 2.4 C2D in video encoding

[namethisfile]

Hey guys,

I decided to see how quick the new i7 MBP was compared to my 3 year old iMac in encoding using MPEG Streamclip.

Here are the specs of both machines:

Mid-2010 i7 2.66Ghz 15" MPB, 4GB RAM, 7200rpm HDD, Nvidia GeForce 330m w/ 512 VRAM

vs.

Mid-2007 20" iMac 2.4Ghz C2D, 4GB RAM, 7200 rpm HDD, ATI HD2600 Pro w/ 256 VRAM

I normally go through MPEG Streamclip to encode my D90 video files for Final Cut Express usage.

The procedure went as follows:

1) Recorded 2 minute AVI file w/ Nikon D90
2) Imported video into both machines
3) Quit all programs, except for MPEG Streamclip on both machines and turned off "Automatic Graphics Switching" on MBP so it defaulted to the discrete NVidia card since the iMac is also using a discrete card
4) Exported the 2 min AVI file in MPEG SC into a Quicktime file using "Apple Intermediate Codec" for compression, set the Quality to 100% and the Frame Rate to 24 (since D90 records in 24 FPS at 720P) for both machines

i7 MBP: 33.5 seconds (1st try); 33 seconds (2nd try)

iMac 2.4 C2D: 40.5 seconds (1st try); 40 seconds (2nd try)

i7 2.66 MBP avg time = 33.25 sec
iMac 2.4 C2D avg time = 40.25 sec

That is only a 7-second time difference between the two machines, which I found surprising.

So, thought, I'd share this finding with the rest of you, in regards to, real-world performance.

 

[Reelknead1]

I have never used that encoder but I know with Handbrake the difference is huge. The test on my i7 2.66 vs 2.66 c2d using a 2gb file and the i7 took 19 mins the c2d took 48 mins.

 

[namethisfile]

I have never used that encoder but I know with Handbrake the difference is huge. The test on my i7 2.66 vs 2.66 c2d using a 2gb file and the i7 took 19 mins the c2d took 48 mins.

Huh. That is huge.

It seems like MPEG Streamclip doesn't take advantage of some of the newer technologies on the iCore chips, as much as Handbrake does.

But, I tested mine with MPEG Streamclip because it is a necessary step for me to convert my Nikon D90 AVI files into the native format that Final Cut Express can use without rendering.