@privateger For Intel, I use Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad CPUs and those can keep up with x265 - you just set the encoding and leave and do something else and when you come back it's done.

For the Core 2 ME, you just don't include the proprietary malware in the BIOS image and the ME does not load (it's only newer Intel CPUs that require proprietary ME software for init that are handcuffed).

I also use AMD CPUs - dual 6282 SE's of 32 core power and up to 256GB of RAM too.