Xvid Encoding:

We tested video encoding performance using VirtualDub-MPEG version 1.6.15 and a multithreaded version of the Xvid codec, along with the LAME MT MP3 encoder for encoding audio. We did a two-pass encode of a 15-minute 276MB digital TV recording with a target file size of 100MB.


There is very little in it when using the IGP across all three platforms tested. The MSI G965 running only 667MHz CAS-5 memory and a 1.8GHz core clock still manages to keep up with both AMD systems at 800MHz CAS-4 and 2.6GHz, and between the AMD systems the Biostar edges out by a few seconds at best. Using a discrete graphics card the field is a little more spread with the Biostar now some 20 seconds ahead of the MSI 690G and 40 seconds in front of the MSI G965.

MP3 Encoding:

We used LAME MT for our audio encoding test - it's the multi-threaded version of the popular LAME MP3 encoder. We ran tests with both Intel's and Microsoft's compilers - naturally, the Intel compiler resulted in some performance increases on Intel's processors. We converted all 18 tracks from Moby's popular Play album to a 192kbps variable bit-rate MP3.



With the Intel compiler, obviously the Intel system would come out trumps, but even with the Microsoft compiled LAME 3.97 the MSI G965 is still ahead of both the Biostar and MSI 690G which both perform almost equally.

MP3 Decoding

Decoding is another story and again the MSI G965 falls behind by on average 10 seconds in both tests, however, again there is very little difference between the Biostar TF7050-M2 and the MSI 690G.