Best CPU for encoding

[francescoIT]

I need to buy a workstation to encode several inputs from external devices (such as TV tuner, web cam, etc..).
Any one has any idea about the best solution for the hardware configuration ?

I mean, for example, does VLC (and VLM expecially) take any advantage from multi-core processors ?

What about the RAM and the GPU ? In my experiences memory and graphics card do not influence a lot the over-all encoding process: is this correct ?

Thanks for your help !

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Let's start by the easy one. GPU has no incidence on your encoding.

RAM can have, if you are a bit short, especially for high resolution, but I guess for a new comp this won't be a problem.

Well, then the CPU. Some encoder used by VLC are multithreaded and can use multi core with a correct OS. H264 encoder is one of them. Then what is your output format ?

[francescoIT]

Reaaly, I do not have a preferred one !
Since I'm using VLC both as server and client (more exactely VLM as Server and the ActiveX plugin as Client) I guess I can use more or less any combination of video and audio encoding.

Since I'm streaming over a gigabit LAN I do not have bandwitch limitation.
What I whant is the best video and audio quality taking in account the CPU load of multi-encoding (4 or more).

Any suggestion is wellcome !

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

DO you want to encode 4 videos at the same time ?

[francescoIT]

Yes:
A web cam
2 TV tuner
An external capture card (composite)


Does this sound strange to you ? And, first of all, does it sound possible to you ?

A 1000 of thanks !

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Well, I would say a Dual Core would be a great idea then.