I'm not sure the extra 100Hz of CPU juice would make any difference either, especially when the likely culprit is your hard disk, based on your test (though if you're re-encoding a file already on your main hard disk, it's not going to be a very accurate test as the drive would be reading and writing simultaneously, lowering speed massively).

The next test would be to defrag your hard disk and see what difference that makes. Google 'PerfectDisk' - it's the best defragging software around. You might also considering a reformat of your hard disk, and if using Vista, go back to XP. I have a lowly Radeon X700 in my desktop PC, and its preview window is fine in XP, but rubbish in Vista, even with Aero turned off. I have noticed similar GPU-sapping performance in my 8400M-equipped notebook.

On my capture notebook, I have two partitions - the first one of around 300gb, for video. The second, around 20gb, for the OS. I install onto the second partition as this would be the slowest area of the drive - leave the fast area for the video captures, which need it.

Filmscan really is overkill and especially taxing on a notebook CPU. I would be sticking to 'high' personally.

New cheap ($160) solution for capture (via component only) into cineform on laptop

AVerMedia AVerTV Express HD DVR

Hands On: AVerMedia AVerTV Express HD DVR | We Got Served (http://www.wegotserved.com/2010/11/02/hands-avermedia-avertv-express-hd-dvr/)

Serge - are you sure?

I haven't seen Cineform codec in its specs.

And that card doesn't do 1080p, only 1080i.

Hi, Alex!

I'm sure but not 100% :)

# upports real-time H.264 recording
# Digital recording in MPEG-2, AVI, H.264 (iPhone, & iPod), PSP

I think you can choose to capture in AVI with any installed DS codec incl. Cineform.