Which CPU is better for encoding videos with x264? Core i7 or Xeon E3?

[aram1376]

Hi All.

I'm going to buy a dedicated server for encoding videos using x264. There are 2 servers which I can get (Good Prices). Which server should I choose?

Intel Core i7 3770 - 3.4Ghz - 4c/8t (16gb RAM)
Intel Xeon E3 1245 v2 - 3.4Ghz 4c/8t (16gb RAM)

Which one encodes videos faster? Speed is way too important.
(I want to encode 24/7 )

 

[TomTom111]

I would assume the core i7 would be the better video encoder, because it has the on-board graphics.
That, and the i7 has higher benchmark results in CPU tests.

I vote the i7 in this case.

 

[Calculagator]

I would assume the core i7 would be the better video encoder, because it has the on-board graphics.
That, and the i7 has higher benchmark results in CPU tests.

I vote the i7 in this case.

Actually, both of those cpus have integrated graphics that support quick sync. They should have identical performance in an otherwise identical system. You don't need ecc unless you want more than 32gb of RAM.
I would just get whichever is cheaper.

 

[nikoli707]

those processors are virtually identical in every way except the 3770 will turbo up to 3.9ghz while the xeon will turbo to 3.8ghz. the xeon will accept eec memory as well. the i7 has a slightly better igpu but it would only be noticeable in quick sync apps or gaming. you shouldn't be using quick sync for x264 anyways though.

otherwise your talking about a 2% speed increase with the 3770. if they are both the same price, get the i7.

 

[aram1376]

I would assume the core i7 would be the better video encoder, because it has the on-board graphics.
That, and the i7 has higher benchmark results in CPU tests.

I vote the i7 in this case.

Both have integrated graphics. The i7 is better in the benchmarks, but the E3 is newer and more reliable.
So you'd go for the i7?

 

[nikoli707]

I would assume the core i7 would be the better video encoder, because it has the on-board graphics.
That, and the i7 has higher benchmark results in CPU tests.

I vote the i7 in this case.

Both have integrated graphics. The i7 is better in the benchmarks, but the E3 is newer and more reliable.
So you'd go for the i7?

the e3 v2 is not newer… its the same ivy bridge architecture and the same chip off the same line, just binned differently. the xeon will more than likely run slightly cooler at a lower vcore due to its binning.

 

[aram1376]

those processors are virtually identical in every way except the 3770 will turbo up to 3.9ghz while the xeon will turbo to 3.8ghz. the xeon will accept eec memory as well. the i7 has a slightly better igpu but it would only be noticeable in quick sync apps or gaming. you shouldn't be using quick sync for x264 anyways though.

otherwise your talking about a 2% speed increase with the 3770. if they are both the same price, get the i7.

Thanks for your explanation. One question. What if the server with the xeon cpu uses ecc memories (actually it does)? Will x264 work faster? Would the e3 be a better choice with ECC?

 

[nikoli707]

no… eec memory actually runs slightly slower(maybe 3-10% slower in a worst case scenerio) since all the data has to go through the error correction circuit. eec shouldn't be necessary for most applications though, especially video encoding… unless of course this is professional level studio encoding.

 

[aram1376]

no… eec memory actually runs slightly slower(maybe 3-10% slower in a worst case scenerio) since all the data has to go through the error correction circuit. eec shouldn't be necessary for most applications though, especially video encoding… unless of course this is professional level studio encoding.

Thanks for your perfect explanations.
One other question. What about i7 3930 vs i7 4770? I decided to order a more powerful server, since they both are better than 1245v2 and 3770.
Which one would you choose for encoding if you were me? 3930 or 4770? Why?

 

[nikoli707]

the 3930 is a 6 core ivy bridge while the 4770 is a 4 core haswell. in apps that can use the 6 core 12 thread lga 2011 processor, it will destroy the haswell quad core. though you will likely be paying quite a bit more for the jump to 2011 platform.