Handbrake video encoding

We transcode a Blu-ray–quality video file into H.264 format using HandBrake to test the processor’s multicore performance, which pushes all cores to maximum output. This intense workload can be observed roughly and graphically in Activity Monitor by double-clicking the chart at the bottom of the CPU tab.

The Core i3 isn’t weak for general use, but see the difference the Core i7 makes here, reducing the total time taken to process our roughly halfhour video by an appreciable amount. The more of this kind of work you do on the Core processor, the harder you should consider that option, even though it can cost as much as £270.