Post-production houses test Intel Core2 Quad technology

Both houses felt almost satisfied with their current processing power and performance, but felt that if time and energy could be saved it could be greatly beneficial to them.

Running a successful business today, whatever field it may be, requires a high degree of efficient technology and equipment, especially when dealing with a highly competitive environment. In the field of production and post-production especially, their efficiency relies heavily on powerful computers to help them in creating and editing work as quickly as possible, until it is flawless. Many post-production houses have come to realize that investing in computers that can take on this difficult task is indeed the path to competitive performance.

The challenge

Digital Media Cairo (DMC) and FX Productions both tested the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor for ten days and kept a log of performance results comparing to their usual results. Testing focused on 2 of the most common challenges that they face today: time management and speed, and equipment over-work. With the long hours spent editing heavy images, the computers were likely to over-heat and even need to be shut down before being able to continue.

Both DMC and FX Productions relied on Mac Pro computers to conduct their business and claimed that so far the computers never gave them too many set-backs, other than the usual heat-up or occasional shut-down. The computer processors they were using included Intel Core Duo processors and Intel Xeon processors. Both post-production houses commented on the fact that they felt their processors were up to speed and allowed them to work efficiently and at the pace they desired. The challenge was to show them that they could be working at a much faster pace, in return being able to take on more work.

Tests results

Assessment of the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor showed a definite improvement in computer functioning, equaling in an improvement in the pace that work is done and therefore the amount completed. Both production houses used applications such as Mac Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack 2, and Motion 3, in addition to other applications in Final Cut Studio.

Rendering time for certain animated frames took an average of an hour and 45 minutes using the post-production houses' usual processors. But with the Core™2 Quad processor, rendering time was decreased to about 45 minutes to an hour, almost half the time. In editing other visual media such as videos or documentaries, rendering time was about 20-30 minutes comparing to a much lower 12-18 minutes using the Core™2 Quad processor. Encoding of images was also reduced to almost half the time when using the Core™2 Quad. Employees who tested the Core™2 Quad processor also mentioned that the computers didn't get hot, a good indication of the thermal performance of Intel's white box machines, used on the shelf components and chassis.

Overall test results show that the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor was faster and more powerful than previously used processors, that it saved energy (decreasing heat), and that employees in the post-production field would recommend that houses invest in Core™2 Quad processors. Both houses mentioned that they never realized that they could have better functioning computers until they tested the Core™2 Quad.

Customer quote

"The Intel® Core™2 Quad processor is very beneficial because it saves you time and makes you more relaxed while you are working. It also makes a huge difference when the computer doesn't heat up, especially because our rooms are usually quite hot because of all the computers and equipment inside." - Waleed Abdel Moneim, Head of Editing, DMC.

"Once you see the difference and the benefits, you are much more likely, as a post-production house, to go out and buy some Core™2 Quad computers. Our Mac computers all had Intel Core Duo processors which were already very good. The Core™2 Quad of course was only better. Very fast, very efficient, and kept up with all the different things we were doing while editing. We never realized how much computing power we were missing until we used Intel's Core™2 Quad." - Ahmed Niazy, Editor, FX Productions.