Processor Upgrade?

[seekermeister]

Have you thought about using encoding software that makes use of your graphics card? The GTX 460 (which is a fricken power house) is more then capable of handling video encoding, but I am going to guess you are not encoding to h.264? I don't know if it can do more then h.264.

If you can use the GPU, you will free the CPU up greatly and even probably speed up the encoding process.

The software that I'm using is DVDFab, which uses CUDA to accelerate encoding. and I'm doing it to obtain
h.264 in MKV, yet it still runs the CPU at max. Perhaps I don't have the video card setup properly...I don't know?

EDIT: The GPU is running at 59° C, so it is doing something.

EDIT2: Now that I think about it, isn't there some kind of BIOS setting to cause the graphics card to bear a greater load?

 

[seekermeister]

Here is a better board:

ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 Motherboard - AMD 890GX, AM3, DDR3, USB, RAID, ATX at TigerDirect.com

But one thing confuses me...the onboard graphics. In another ad I found on this board, it said that it was Crossfire, which of course is ATI, but I want to use my EVGA GTX460 SC. Would that create any kind of compatibility issue?

I have been studying the specs in the link above, as well as the manual for that motherboard, and I'm still confused about one thing...the specs says that it has 6 SATA ports + 1 eSATA, yet studying the manual, I can only see 4 SATA ports + what looks like 2 eSATA ports. The BIOS screen pictured in the manual, definitely says that there are 6 SATA ports, but it beats me as to where...unless it is counting the 2 eSATA as part of that 6?

EDIT: My confusion is worse than I thought. It wasn't the Tiger Direct specs that I was looking at, but these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320626207625&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

EDIT 2: Nevermind, I found them. 2 of the SATAs are facing sideways, and there is only one eSATA.

 

[seekermeister]

I've also been studying the processors. It appears that I can get an Athlon II x4 640 3.0GHz for ~$100; an Athlon II x4 645 3.1GHz for ~$120; a Phenom II x4 965 3.2GHz for ~ $140 or a Phenom II x4 965 3.4GHz for ~$173. The only difference that I have noticed in these are the speeds, so it boils down to the question of how much each decimal point is worth...that is just how noticeable that each step would be?

 

[seekermeister]

In addition to what I asked in the post above, I'm wondering which would perform better for the average home user...a x4 @ 3.4Mhz or a x6 @ 3.2 Mhz?

 

[society misfit]

The AMD Phenoms II have more L3 cache than the Athlon II. They also come in 2, 3, 4 and 6 core models. Although I think the 3 core model is pretty rare nowadays (could be wrong!). You would have to do a little homework to see if the software you are using would benefit from a 6 core CPU compared to a 4 or 2 core. Not all software utilizes all 6 cores to its fullest potential. In which case I would save some money and go for a 4 core that has the most horsepower!!!! Anand Tech has a great site to compare the different models.

Bench - CPU - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

What else are you plugging into the board that requires so many expansion slots? And with most AMD boards nowadays you cannot add more than 1 Nvidia video card. AMD refuses to pay for the SLI licence! But saying that you can still use a single Nvidia video card with a AMD board that has AMD (formally ATI) on board graphics chip, just disable the chip in the BIOS.

 

[seekermeister]

The only software that I use that needs more CPU power are a couple of encoders, but I do not know how they would do with a couple of extra cores over the x4, and don't know where to look for that answer? It seems strange that AMD puts two x16 slots on their boards, if only one can be used for a video card, because I haven't seen any other type of card that requires that big of a slot. I only use a single Nvidia graphics card anyway, so I would use that extra x16 slot for something else.

EDIT: I just tried that comparison wizard that you linked, and it will be a lot of help deciding what to get. Thanks.

 

[society misfit]

Glad to help. It’s also a great site if you are in the market for a new SSD drive, video card or even a smart phone. Props goes out to Anand Tech!

You could always email the software developer for your encoders, or maybe they have a forum in regards to how their product benefits (or not) from an extra 2 cores.

AMD boards will support multiple AMD (ATI) video cards in Crossfire. Just not multiple Nvidia cards. And to my knowledge this is because…

A: Have a tighter control over compatibility given only their cards will work in Crossfire.
B: Nvidia requires that the board must be SLI certified in order to support more than 1 Nvidia card. This certification comes at a cost which AMD refuses to pay.
C: Wider chance that you will spend more money on their products!!!!

However, according to the PCIe specs, they are down sized compatible. Meaning a half or mini length card should work in a full length slot. Although that was not the case for my sound card in a previous board so I guess it’s a bit of a hit and miss!

 

[seekermeister]

If I recall accurately, with only one video card installed, there is some kind of a switch card that is supposed to be installed in the second x16 slot. I just tried to find that in the manual, and it either wasn't there, or I overlooked it. If it does have a power switch card, and instead of using it, another PCIe card of some kind was used, would everything work properly? Here's a link to the MB that I'm looking at:

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

 

[society misfit]

By the looks of the manual, in order to run the second PCIe16 slot (blue) at full 16X you will need to install the “VGA Switch Card” in the first PCIe slot (white). I am guessing the Switch Card shorts out the first PCIe slot so that the second can run at full bandwidth. Bit off topic but there are numerous tests that prove you do not gain much from running a PCIe at 16X over 8X. However….the manual does not say if either slot can be utilized for something else other than a graphics card. What is it you would like to install into the other slot?

Given you already have a graphics card, is there any particular reason for choosing a board with an onboard graphics chip?

For less than $5 more you can get this one….
Newegg.com - ASUS M4A89TD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Or….even cheaper is the …..
Newegg.com - ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Both have SATAIII, ATA133 (if you need), USB3 and eSATA. Plus all the other goodies that comes with boards nowadays!!

 

[seekermeister]

I may never use the onboard graphic...I'm not sure. However, the video card in my secondary rig is acting up, and I might possibly move the Nvidia card to it. That would depend a lot on how well the onboard graphics works. I've never used an ATI/AMD graphics card before, either onboard or separate. If this were not a consideration, then that EVO board would look good, except that it is short a PCIe slot, which is occupied by an extra PCI slot. If not for that, it would be nice to save some money.

That M489TD looks interesting, but I will have to give it some study.

 

[society misfit]

Found this just to temp you even more. AMD updates Phenom II price list - The Tech Report

Some nice prices on those top tier Phenom X6