Xvid Encoding:

We tested video encoding performance using VirtualDub-MPEG version 1.6.15 and a multi-threaded 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.


Xvid encoding is an extremely small three seconds slower over a several minute test, so as the BIOS matures we can hopefully expect improvements in performance from Asus to bring them to the same level at the very least.

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 MP3 encoding, the P35-based Asus P5K Deluxe is slower than the P965 Asus Commando. This is strange because, especially on the Intel optimised LAME 3.97, we'd expect the P35-based boards to be faster because they're further optimised for Core 2 processors.

MP3 Decoding

Again the Asus P5K Deluxe is slower using the Intel compiler with LAME 3.97, but this time it is faster using the Microsoft compiler.