Every installation is different, but the single thing we have found that speeds up conversion the most is more RAM.
One big convenience of Digital Media Converter is that you can list all the files that need converting, click "Convert", and then walk away. You can, for instance, list six files to be converted for use on an iPod, then go to bed, and wake up to find them all ready to transfer. Digital Media Converter can even be set to turn the PC off after it finishes converting.