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#1 2006-06-08 1:02 am
- CplusE
- Member
- Registered: 2005-07-06
- Posts: 44
iMovie and iDVD
OK I am useing both imovie and idvd for the first time. Well really useing all the features for the first time. But one thing, I didnt know is the slow encoding time. I know it has to do with my system specs. But I have a Power Mac G4 533/ ATI 9800 128 AGP card. Ram is only 512. What i want to know. Is it the more ram I get will that help in encodeing time or is it the CPU speed. I always thought ram help in muliti tasking things not encodeing time. Can any explain to me what will help in the long run if I even start useing FCS too. Because Im either going to get another gig of memory or a faster CPU. But I also want to know what will help the process. Because if it more CPU, i will be looking into a dual too. Thank you for the help. And how are the dual cpu like sonnet and I forgot the other companies.
Im running mac wild now!
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#2 2006-06-08 9:02 am
- Funkey Monkey
- Il Maestro spettacolare
- From: On the podium.
- Registered: 2003-01-27
- Posts: 1367
- Website
Re: iMovie and iDVD
I don't proclaim to be an expert here---
But I believe that for your SPECIFIC problem, a faster CPU will help much more than more RAM. If you're not running anything else whilst iDVD is encoding, I think 512 MB should be plenty. (Don't forget you can quit iMovie and such while iDVD is doing its thing.)
Encoding is a seriously processor driven process. If you open Activity Monitor, though, you'll see that iDVD won't be using more than 30-40% of your CPU power--it actually gives priority to other things and puts iDVD somewhat in the background. So if you're writing email and browsing while encoding, things can take forever.
Anyhoo---a new process is what I believe you need to speed up the process. My G4 500 Mhz takes about 10-11 hours to encode a 120 minute DVD. The dual 1.8 Ghz G5s in my computer lab take about 2 hours for the same video, and they both have the same amount of RAM. (1 GB)
Good luck! (And welcome to the miserably slow and frustrating world of DVD production!)
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#3 2006-06-08 11:32 pm
- jayster
- Member
- From: Dallas
- Registered: 2005-03-12
- Posts: 52
Re: iMovie and iDVD
Wow at 533 DVD encoding is going to be slow...... memory wont really help all that much. If you upgrade the CPU how fast can you go and how much will it cost?? It might be worth while to just pick up a new machine if you want to encode a lot of video.
I have 1.25 mini, a intel 20" imac and just picked up a new 1.83 macbook and the difference between the G4 mini and the new macbook is amazing 120 minute DVD down from 5-6 hours to about 1.25 hours , and the iMac does about 120 min DVD in about 45 min. These are just rough obsevations I have made with my systems and not timed exactly to the second.
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