Best settings for Handbrake?

Not sure if this is the right forum if it isn't, MOD's please move. I have ripped my movies and tv shows into MKV's but many of the files do not stream without stutter. I am wondering if anyone has any settings that would maintain 1080p and decent audio and still stream without stutter? I followed this guide, http://www.winxdvd.com/resource/best-handbrake-bluray-rip-setting.htm , and the files were small enough and the quality excellent when streaming. The only drawback is that it takes 7 or so hours to do a 40 min tv episode. I have a quad core AMD with 6 gigs of ram so not sure how to speed the conversion up. Any suggestions for different settings to maintain the great quality? If there aren't, then I guess I'll just have to wait till the files convert, which just means I won't use my HTPC for a while lol
Edited by pelenor - 11/18/12 at 3:29pm

It's an Att home network and I'm not sure how to improve the speed. I could use a wired connection but that would defeat the purpose of wanting to stream to multiple tv's. I am using my laptop on another tv from my HTPC that is in the basement in the theater room. I had started another thread asking about the best streaming devices but what I discovered is is that the files are too big for my network. The funny thing is though is that my Iphone can stream all the files wiht no stutter using Video Stream app. I believe the app converts realtime.