Dual Core increase HD performance?

[Tenbaum11]

I just want to pose a question about the possibility of performance gains for the Yonah dual core processors. I have 1.5 ghz powerbook and it struggles and slows considerably when playing the HD media (such as the HD trailers from the apple site). Will HD media performance (H.264) benefit from a dual core system? Thanks.

[Moogs]

Yes, independant of internet connection limitations, dual core Powerbooks would perform better in the video world.

Just as dual processor desktop machines crunch video and play it back more smoothly than a single processor machine (generally), a dual core Macintel PB would most likely trash your existing model. And not only because of the processors but because of the overall system architecture and bandwidth (which will be much less bottlenecked). HOWEVER, if your problem is internet bandwidth (i.e. slower connection), streaming video from Apple's site wouldn't improve much because the bottleneck still hasn't been removed.

[dfiler]

The HD trailers aren't streamed so we're definately not talking about an internet bandwidth issue.

HD encoded in h.264 is too processor intensive for any G4 based computer. This might change someday if we figure out how to use GPUs for h264 decoding. But holding's one breath will probably proove fruitless.

Dual cores will speed h264 decoding (and encoding). However, one thing to consider is that using such a processor intensive codec will run the CPU(s) full bore and quite quickly drain batteries. I don't see h264 as a suitable codec for mainstream use with HD for at least another couple years. At lower resolutions it currently works fairly well but still at great CPU expense. A laptop crunching full HD in h264 would chew through it's battery in no time.

[gjas15]

I just built a Athlon X2 based system (2x 2Ghz) with a Radeon X700 for my stepdad. The first thing I did after going through billions of windows and software updates is download iTunes and try playing the HD trailers on Apple's site. I played back Final Destination 3 1080p with about 50%-60% CPU usage.

I was amazed at how little cpu was used when my 1.67 powerbook chokes on even 720p. That Athlon is a beast!

[The Grim]

I just built a Athlon X2 based system (2x 2Ghz) with a Radeon X700 for my stepdad. The first thing I did after going through billions of windows and software updates is download iTunes and try playing the HD trailers on Apple's site. I played back Final Destination 3 1080p with about 50%-60% CPU usage.

I was amazed at how little cpu was used when my 1.67 powerbook chokes on even 720p. That Athlon is a beast!
You seriously compare high-end dual core desktop with single core G4 laptop.
Do you compare RAM and video card also?

Compare desktop to desktop would be better. I do not think the best of laptop can unseat your special built PC, of course, unless somebody built special game machine 19' laptop.

[v.noir]

I read somewhere on the ATI website that their new drivers do (or will in some future release) provide H.264 acceleration on select Radeon cards.

[gjas15]

What I ment was if a dual core desktop system can do that then why cant a dual core laptop do something similar. If the efficiency of a yonah is similar to that of a X2 then you could playback 720p and 1080i in what my laptop would consider "reduced performance". Which in a dual core chip would be turning off one of the cores and possibly clocking down the chip.

Also, the only Ati chipset that allows H.264 decoding is the R520 which is only in the double digit cards like the x1800 not in the lower end cards like the x700

[Moogs]

I read somewhere on the ATI website that their new drivers do (or will in some future release) provide H.264 acceleration on select Radeon cards.


That would be very cool indeed. Linkage?

[chucker]

ATI Hardware Acceleration of H.264 (http://www.macrumors.com/pages/2005/05/20050526155112.shtml)

[Moogs]

another one... (http://www.ati.com/technology/H264.html)

[Random Hero]

I just built a Athlon X2 based system (2x 2Ghz) with a Radeon X700 for my stepdad. The first thing I did after going through billions of windows and software updates is download iTunes and try playing the HD trailers on Apple's site. I played back Final Destination 3 1080p with about 50%-60% CPU usage.

I was amazed at how little cpu was used when my 1.67 powerbook chokes on even 720p. That Athlon is a beast!
Final Destination 3?!?

....GIGGITY!