GPU selection

Neel wrote on 10/31/2020, 7:18 AM

Hi all

I'm editing 4K video (with proxy files) with Magix Vegas Platinum 16. I have no dedicated GPU, just the one integrated into my Intel i7-7700. I can only preview video in Draft mode, sometimes in Preview, but never very well in Good or Best the way I used to be able to with HD content. That, and render times are absolutely abysmal when exporting to 4K.

Here are my PC specs, taken by Speccy:

Operating System
           Windows 10 Home 64-bit
       CPU
           Intel Core i7 7700 @ 3.60GHz   37 °C
           Kaby Lake 14nm Technology
       RAM
           16.0GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1066MHz (15-15-15-36)
       Motherboard
           Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. H270-HD3-CF (U3E1)   32 °C
       Graphics
           KN242HYL (1920x1080@59Hz)
           BenQ G2420HDB (1920x1080@60Hz)
           Intel HD Graphics 630 (Gigabyte)
       Storage
           5589GB Seagate ST6000DM004-2EH11C (SATA )   40 °C
           2794GB Western Digital WDC WD30PURX-64P6ZY0 (SATA )   35 °C
           931GB Seagate BarraCuda 510 SSD ZP1000CM30001 (Unknown (SSD))
           1397GB Western Digital WDC WD15 EARS-00MVWB0 SCSI Disk Device (USB (SATA) )   32 °C
       Optical Drives
           HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH12LS38
       Audio
           Realtek High Definition Audio

I'm considering buying this GPU:

https://www.canadacomputers.com/product_info.php?cPath=43_557_559&item_id=159611

But the store is saying it's final purchase, no returns if the box is opened, due to COVID.

Can I count on getting a significant boost in performance with this GPU?

Thanks!

Neel

Comments

j-v wrote on 10/31/2020, 7:53 AM

Which drivers are installed for your Intel GPU?

It is very important for playing and rendering 4K to use the latest drivers and that is number igfx_win10_100.8853 of august this year.

Neel wrote on 10/31/2020, 8:25 AM

I'm running up to date drivers from Intel

Intel® HD Graphics 630

Driver DetailsUp to date

Provider Intel Corporation

Version27.20.100.8853

Date10/14/2020

j-v wrote on 10/31/2020, 9:12 AM

Don't know your other settings in the program but this is how it goes on my laptop from signature and Nvidia GPU disabled so it only have to do it with the Intel 630 with latest drivers

Neel wrote on 10/31/2020, 9:41 AM

Yeah, I have GPU acceleration off, but again, I can't preview in even HD quality, which I could do before on Vegas Studio Platinum 11 on an i5 system with 8 GB of RAM.

Neel wrote on 11/3/2020, 1:17 PM

So in case anyone is curious, I picked up a Gigabyte GTX1650 Super with 4 GB RAM, and things run way better now. I still can't edit with native 4K files, but that's OK, since I have HD monitors and TV, so what's the point? Proxy file still get generated, and I can preview in "Preview mode, Full" to get an HD preview while editing. This would cripple my system with many dropped frames before, but smooth sailing with the GXT1650 Super.

Also, I learned from the manual that previewing in "Good" or "Best" quality uses the native 4K files, while "Draft" or "Preview" modes use the HD proxy files. Not very intuitive, I would think that if proxy files would be created they would be used no matter what, or the program should have a separate switch/toggle to select native or proxy files for preview. My $0.02.

j-v wrote on 11/3/2020, 1:42 PM

I would think that if proxy files would be created they would be used no matter what, or the program should have a separate switch/toggle to select native or proxy files for preview.

That switch is present.
Every moment you are able to switch the preview settings on a total of 16 possible switches for 8 with native files and 8 with proxy files.

Neel wrote on 11/3/2020, 2:03 PM

I would think that if proxy files would be created they would be used no matter what, or the program should have a separate switch/toggle to select native or proxy files for preview.

That switch is present.
Every moment you are able to switch the preview settings on a total of 16 possible switches for 8 with native files and 8 with proxy files.

Yes the switches are there, but back when the only option was HD editing, the same options existed. Now that there's a difference, there's no language there to indicate the division between HD and 4K.

Neel wrote on 11/3/2020, 2:04 PM

Also one thing I forgot to mention is that render times are about 20x faster now with the GTX1650 Super, which is great.