TMPGEnc Xpress 3.0 MPEG-1 Encoding Performance

TMPGEnc Xpress 3.0 is the latest revision to this popular MPEG encoder, and a program that not only provides real-world MPEG performance results, but also includes a host of specialized CPU support options. The program supports virtually all CPU multimedia features such as MMX/MMX-2, SSE/SSE2/SSE3, 3DNow!, and even multi-processing and Hyper-Threading.

For the following test, we've taken a high-end, 3-minute AVI file, and then encoded it to MPEG-1 using TMPGEnc. The results are expressed in the form of time elapsed (minutes: seconds) and unlike our other benchmarks, a smaller bar denotes less time taken, and therefore higher performance.

Media encoding is one area where the Athlon 64 X2 really shines, as these programs not only support multi-threading, but also enact a serious toll on system performance, and can bring a non-HT, single core processor to its knees. The Athlon 64 X2 4600+ and 4200+ prove to be exceptional performers in our MPEG-1 encoding test, and not only smoke the Intel competition, but also post encoding times that fall within a hair of the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ and 4400+.

TMPGEnc Xpress 3.0 MPEG-2 Encoding Performance

For the next test, we've taken the same high-end, 3-minute AVI file, and encoded it to MPEG-2 using TMPGEnc Express 3.0. This is more stressful on the system than our previous MPEG-1 encoding, and is the standard for DVD authoring. The performance results are expressed in the form of time elapsed (minutes: seconds) and as with the MPEG-1 results, a smaller bar denotes less time taken, and therefore higher performance.

The MPEG-2 encoding test is a tougher benchmark for our dual core processors, and we see a changing of the guard, with the Intel contingent now in front. The Pentium EE 840 is the fastest of the bunch, and we also see the Pentium D 830 outpacing the Athlon 64 X2 4400+ and 4200+, while the Pentium D 830 does the same to the Athlon 64 X2 3800+. In terms of the Manchester vs. Toledo core battle, the Athlon 64 X2 4600+ and 4200+ acquit themselves well, and again remain right on track with their 1MB L2 counterparts.

XMPEG DivX Encoding Performance

We have also added in a few different media encoding tests, starting with XMPEG and its DivX encoding benchmark test. The same 3 minute video file is used, and the time to encode the 5K+ frames is displayed in the chart below. As with the previous encoding tests, these are time-based and a smaller bar denotes higher performance.

The XMPEG DivX encoding times get us back on the AMD train, and we see the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ and 4600+ posting better results than the Pentium EE 840. The rest of the AMD processors do not hold the same advantage, and the Pentium D line proves to be a tough opponent in DivX encoding.

Windows Media Encoder 9 Performance

Our last multimedia test measures basic Windows Media Encoder performance using the 3-minute DivX file we produced above, and using the Windows Media Encoder 9 to convert it into .wmv format. WME 9 offers support for multi-threading and CPU optimizations, which makes it another great media encoding test for our high-end processors.

Windows Media Encoder 9 benchmark testing shows another very tight race between the AMD and Intel dual core processors, but this time it's the Pentium D 840 providing the real competition. The Athlon 64 X2 4800+ and 4600+ are still the cream of the crop, but apparently, Hyper-Threading actually entails a performance penalty for the Pentium EE 840. Windows Media Encoder is also the only multimedia encoding test that showed a noticeable advantage for the AMD Toledo core and its 1MB of L2 cache, and the 2.4 GHz Athlon 64 X2 4600+ posted the same encoding time as the Athlon 64 X2 4400+.