Media encoding
The LAME WAV-MP3 encoding test is multithreaded, but not optimised for quad-core. So the QX6700 performs the same as a E6700 dual-core processor. The X6800 is the fastest, and AMD’s Athlon 64 is way behind, with only the Pentium D 925 in its rear-view mirror.
At last we arrive at a test where the four cores start to come into their own. Even with enhanced multithreading off, the QX6700 is 17 per cent faster than any other processor, including the faster-clocked Core 2 Extreme X6800. AMD’s Athlon 64 FX-62 lags woefully behind, with the QX6700 able to complete the encode in almost half the time. Enhanced Multithreading merely improves performance across the board for any multi-core processor. But if you’re doing anything with video, a quad-core processor is definitely the way forward.
