Abstract: The techniques of this disclosure relate to video encoding and include using an inter mode determination for neighboring blocks, rather than the final prediction mode determination for the neighboring block, when determining an inter mode for a current block. In this way, inter mode and intra mode estimation may be separated and performed in different stages of a multi-threaded parallel video encoding implementation. In addition, this disclosure also proposes generating sub-pixel values in a third stage of the multi-threaded parallel video encoding implementation at a frame level, rather than for each macroblock during inter mode estimation process for that macroblock.