PC upgrade questions

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I am feeling an itch to upgrade my Desktop PC and want some suggestions on the Processor I should purchase or even if I should bother or not.


My main reason is that I do allot of MKV to VOB conversion for HD movies to be played on the PS3. I find that watching them on the PC through a DVI to HDMI to my TV never produce results as good watching them via VOB on the PS3. Sometimes the conversion process can take upto 24 hours depending on many factors like file size, quality chosen for conversion as well as a few other conversion factors though other times it takes allot quicker.

I currently have a Core 2 Duo E6300 overclocked @ 1.98MHZ with 3g of ram running XP. Will a new and faster processor yield far better results because the conversion process can be painful, and often uses 100% proecessor power leaving the system lethargic if I want to do other taks while the conversion process is running.

I am not too fussed with how long it takes overall to convert from MKV to VOB though any improvment would be welcome. My main concern is having a PC with some juice left over to do other tasks while the conversion is in progress.

I have thought of the 7000 and 8000 series Core 2 Duo's and also the older 65mm quad core series like the q6600 but am not sure if a quad will work with my motherboard as if I remember correctly in the now lost manual it stated that a quad would not fit? I guess I am limited to one of the later Core 2 Duo's but is not true that a quad would be more suitable, in which case I may just get CPU motherboard bundle.

PS

As for overclocking, I am no expert but my motherboard is limited and the processor will not go passed 1.98MHZ without not booting up.

Thanks
 
Double negative, OMG!

Will a new and faster processor yield far better results because the conversion process can be painful, and often uses 100% proecessor power leaving the system lethargic if I want to do other taks while the conversion process is running.
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Of course it will.

Though if it's a hefty process, why try and do anything else with the comp at the same time? Just leave it to do it's business, you could probably improve it's process by exiting apps like browsers, anti-virus software, etc. But that won't make much of a difference. Go and grab a quad core.
 
I haven't done anything with mkv's, but why are you converting them to vob's? Any reason you can't convert them to divx and play them on the PS3? That's what I've been doing with my DVD collection and it works great, complete with the original DD 5.1 audio.

As a point of reference, my C2D T7200 with 2Gb of ram can convert a 2 hour movie from a 6+ Gb vob to a 1 Gb divx in about 1.5 hours, so I'd be surprised if the issue is your E6300. Perhaps the software is to blame?
 
First of all, this thread belongs in the computer section. Secondly, if the processing time doesn't matter much to you, I recommend a cheap beater computer that can process this stuff all day and night and doesn't tie up your main machine. That's probably a cheaper solution than trying to make one machine that can do everything super fast all at once.
 
I found a nice little PS3 media server that will stream the MKV file without needing to convert it to a VOB file. As long as you're wired and not wireless, you should be fine. If you're interested, I'll provide a link when I get home.

Something interesting also, with the media server running, I could see and access the MKV file and "copy" it to the PS3. It saved the file to the PS3 as a MKV and will now play it natively without having to convert it to a VOB/mpg file. With that you are only dealing with the download time to your PS3 instead of encoding time (although there is some encoding going on while uploads to the PS3). Might want to give that a try first for a free solution.

As far as upgrading, check out the new i7 processors. They are monster encoders with horse power to spare if you want to spend that kind of money. I also agree, that my Q9550 does a decent job as well.

*thread moved.
 
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I got a quad core q9550 overclocked to 4GHZ and yes it does make a whole lot difference when using MKV2vob. Takes about 1-2hours to covert a Full HD 1080p 10gig movie into XviD codec.. so yea if ur upgrading and video conversion is ur main purpose then definately get a Core 2 Quad Processor or the new i7. Rest of it doesn't really matter and don't forget a hugeA** HDD as i've filled my 1TB to the max already :sly:
 
Can't really go i7 unless you get a new Motherboard.

For converting video generally more Cores are better than raw clock speed, so a Q9400 or higher would be heaps better than what you have. But as you don't know what M/B you have, I'd be sticking to the E8400 which is a monster of a chip, and a very decent overclocker as well.
 
TB
I haven't done anything with mkv's, but why are you converting them to vob's? Any reason you can't convert them to divx and play them on the PS3? That's what I've been doing with my DVD collection and it works great, complete with the original DD 5.1 audio.
As a point of reference, my C2D T7200 with 2Gb of ram can convert a 2 hour movie from a 6+ Gb vob to a 1 Gb divx in about 1.5 hours, so I'd be surprised if the issue is your E6300. Perhaps the software is to blame?
Click to expand...

It's always been the way I have done it. As for the time, well sometimes it takes 30 mins and on other occassions allot longer and sometimes all night. It all depends on if it muxes/patches or converts DTS and other nitbits etc.



Danoff
First of all, this thread belongs in the computer section. Secondly, if the processing time doesn't matter much to you, I recommend a cheap beater computer that can process this stuff all day and night and doesn't tie up your main machine. That's probably a cheaper solution than trying to make one machine that can do everything super fast all at once.
Click to expand...

That's a good solution but I really need space and could do with less clutter. Also I don't then want to have to transfer stuff to the main computer after the conversion etc.




Sureboss
Double negative, OMG!



Of course it will.

Though if it's a hefty process, why try and do anything else with the comp at the same time? Just leave it to do it's business, you could probably improve it's process by exiting apps like browsers, anti-virus software, etc. But that won't make much of a difference. Go and grab a quad core.
Click to expand...

I do like to use the PC so when I have the choice to use it in between tasks then I do but when it takes many hours I am kind of expelled from the PC until it is done.



Pako
I found a nice little PS3 media server that will stream the MKV file without needing to convert it to a VOB file. As long as you're wired and not wireless, you should be fine. If you're interested, I'll provide a link when I get home.

Something interesting also, with the media server running, I could see and access the MKV file and "copy" it to the PS3. It saved the file to the PS3 as a MKV and will now play it natively without having to convert it to a VOB/mpg file. With that you are only dealing with the download time to your PS3 instead of encoding time (although there is some encoding going on while uploads to the PS3). Might want to give that a try first for a free solution.

As far as upgrading, check out the new i7 processors. They are monster encoders with horse power to spare if you want to spend that kind of money. I also agree, that my Q9550 does a decent job as well.

*thread moved.
Click to expand...


Do you use TVersity? MMM yes please send the link for sure.

I7 processors are a little steep for me. Looking at spending £100-£150 really.



PS

I did look for the right section and only found PC games! I guess I did not look hard enough :-)
 
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You can facilitate more processing for your non-encoding tasks free of charge: just reduce the process priority of the encoding task. System processes will then run above it in the priority list and will provide greater apparent performance, with a trade-off in the length of time taken to encode the movie.
 
GilesGuthrie
You can facilitate more processing for your non-encoding tasks free of charge: just reduce the process priority of the encoding task. System processes will then run above it in the priority list and will provide greater apparent performance, with a trade-off in the length of time taken to encode the movie.
Click to expand...


Ok, thanks that sounds like the best solution how do I do that? MkvToVob which is the software I use does not seem to give me that option?
 
^ You can go into Task Manager and set it to whatever you want.
 
I have a GA-965P-DS3 that i'm not using. Takes 65nm Quad Cores, I've used my Q8200 in it but it wasn't the most stable thing in the world (Beta BIOS).

I'm using a GA-EP45-UD3R with a Q8200 at stock speed with a Actic Cooler Pro 7, Antec 900, and nVidia 9800 GTX and real power pro 750W.

Definately get a quad core in your next upgrade!
 
Solid Lifters
That worked as soon as I got done downloading it. No other server I've tried worked.

Thanks for the link! 👍
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Awesome!

I'm streaming 1080p, 7.1 DTS from my PC to my PS3 as we speak. :D
 
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Can't do anything now as my girlfriend's laptop (which I have been using) has had an epic fail and my PC is Windowless as I uninstalled it but now can't find my disk!!! arggh
 

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