Ok, I have 2 computers here. Both are encoding the same DVD to be the same size. Roughly the same settings. One, a P4 2.8G (h/t), is using DVD::RIP (transcode). The other, an Athlon 1800+, is using Acidrip (mencoder). The P4, i'd have though, is a much faster machine. But currently, its encoding at 14.1FPS.

Is it just me, or is this INCREDIBLY slow? The Athlon is chugging away at 30.4FPS. What's wrong with the P4? Is it because transcode is so much slower? Or am i missing some secret setting somewhere?

From what you've given us, it's an uneven comparison. Are both machines encoding the same files at the same settings? When I encode movies directly from my DVD's, I can normally encode the .vob file to divx at probably around the same speed you're getting on my P4 1.7ghz, but that's using programs like CladDVD and VirtualDub, and I got Shrek down to around 1GB (Widescreen, NEVER get a full screen movie!)

I would also look at the quality of the two movies that your computers did, and see which one looks better and look at the filesizes. Also, are you using the same codecs and file formats to encode your movies?

Same DVD. Both encoding to a Divx file, 624x336 24bpp 25.000 fps 1692.5 kbps. File sizes are roughly the same (1.3G). They both kept the AC3 audio.

that sounds about right for a p4 system. My 2.8c encodes DVD > Divx (dvd resolution, ac3 audio) at about 18fps.
AMD's are generally better at these type of things compared to P4's

Twice as fast though? This P4 should be a faster chip too. The Athlon isn't overclocked at all. That's amazingly poor performance on Intel's behalf.

just tried the same experiment (same dvd, same file size, same bitrate, etc with acidrip) on a P3 500. it gets ~20fps.

try to use non graphical mode of mencoder in shell

it may work