Encoding a digital video using a Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) operation. Advantageously, digital video may be encoded in a manner that conserves computational resources. A software encoder searches a decision tree in a random forest in furtherance of encoding of the digital video by causing a physical hardware component to perform a single operation on multiple data operands concurrently. The single operation may be a comparison of two or more thresholds of a single feature of a single frame, or a portion thereof, of the digital video. The decision tree may be arranged to position comparisons involving a single feature near the root of the decision tree.