Minimum requirements for Vegas Pro 16

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 10:01 AM

I have a 4 year-old laptop built by PCSpecialist and it would seem I am under the minimum requirements regarding my processor and graphic card for Vegas Pro 16.
I have never had any success with it tbh, even with Vegas 13 it runs sluggishly, but that could be down to how it's set up.
Before I start looking to buy a new computer, can one of you helpful experts please take a look at the following questions and give me some feedback:
# Am I correct in thinking that this laptop won't cut it and a new computer is the way to go

# Do you have any pointers as to what an optimum spec would be?

# Could I use any of the parts (HDs, memory for example) in a new set up, or is that a silly suggestion? I ask because the laptop cost me nearly 2k GBP.

Many thanks in advance.

Comments

jetdv wrote on 10/29/2018, 10:18 AM

According to the "Read Me" file that is in the VEGAS/16 folder:

5. System Requirements

The following lists the minimum system requirements for using VEGAS Pro software:

A 64-bit operating system: Microsoft® Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10

2.5 GHz 4-core processor (3 GHz and 8 cores recommended for 4K)

1.5GB hard-disk space for program installation

Solid-state disk (SSD) or high-speed multi-disk RAID for 4K media

8 GB RAM minimum (16 GB recommended; 32 GB recommended for 4K)

OHCI-compatible IEEE-1394DV card (for DV and HDV capture and print-to-tape)

USB 2.0 or faster connection (for importing from AVCHD, XDCAM EX, NXCAM, or DVD camcorders)

NVIDIA

For hardware rendering (NVEnc) GeForce 900 series or higher with 4GB

AMD/ATI

AMD/ATI® Radeon with 4GB and VCE 3.0 or higher (Radeon Pro series with 8GB for HDR and 32 bit projects)

Intel

Intel Skylake or newer processor required for QSV accelerated 8-bit HEVC/AVC decoding and encoding, Intel KabyLake or newer processor required for QSV accelerated 10-bit HEVC encoding and decoding

Windows-compatible sound device

Supported CD-recordable drive (for CD burning only)

Supported DVD-R/-RW/+R/+RW (for DVD burning only)

Supported BD-R/-RE drive (for Blu-ray Disc™ burning only)

Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 (included on application disc) or 4.5

Additional 4K recommendations

Proxy workflow can be used to expedite 4K editing on all machines.

When the Preferences > Preview Device > Wait for vertical sync check box is selected, your frame rate will be limited if using HDMI 1.4 (HD: 60 fps; QFHD: 29 fps; 4K: 24 fps). The frame rate is not limited when using fully HDMI 2.0 compliant hardware.

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 10:28 AM

Thanks, I appreciate the response, but I already have this info from the VP website.
I'm looking for advice from expert and/or experienced users who have no issues running VP on good systems.

j-v wrote on 10/29/2018, 10:36 AM

My first advice is to try VPro 16 first with your present laptop on which
- an uptodate version of Windows 8 or higher
- uptodate NVidia drivers
- uptodate Intell drivers
- use the first harddisc for Windows and programs and the second for your data and video
BTW:
Vpro 16 cannot use all the new renderoptions with that laptop (NVENC and QSV), besides that for 4K rendering an 8 core processor is needed and yours has 4 cores.

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 10:51 AM

My first advice is to try VPro 16 first with your present laptop on which
- an uptodate version of Windows 8 or higher
- uptodate NVidia drivers
- uptodate Intell drivers
- use the first harddisc for Windows and programs and the second for your data and video
BTW:
Vpro 16 cannot use all the new renderoptions with that laptop (NVENC and QSV), besides that for 4K rendering an 8 core processor is needed and yours has 4 cores.

Thanks, I already did but the provided demo won't even run properly!

j-v wrote on 10/29/2018, 11:03 AM

Thanks, I already did but the provided demo won't even run properly!

There must be a reason , but I can't guess what you mean by "run properly".
Your specs suites with ease the needed specs.

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 11:15 AM

Thanks, I already did but the provided demo won't even run properly!

There must be a reason , but I can't guess what you mean by "run properly".
Your specs suites with ease the needed specs.

It stutters, lags and freezes making it impossible to watch, even in a small preview window on "auto".

j-v wrote on 10/29/2018, 11:57 AM

As with your former problems I think there is something wrong with your set-up and not with the specs of your laptop.
Sorry, but I can't help you any further.

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 12:09 PM

As with your former problems I think there is something wrong with your set-up and not with the specs of your laptop.
Sorry, but I can't help you any further.

Thanks anyway.

Kinvermark wrote on 10/29/2018, 1:17 PM

I would agre with j-v. Your specs seem OK (although laptops always seem to be a bit of a compromise for video editing), so before spending a lot of money on a new system it would be wise to investigate further. Anybody local to you that will let you test Vegas on their PC? You need a performance benchmark so you know what to expect.

What (specifics here please) footage are you having trouble with? Project settings?

chris-h wrote on 10/29/2018, 1:55 PM

I would agre with j-v. Your specs seem OK (although laptops always seem to be a bit of a compromise for video editing), so before spending a lot of money on a new system it would be wise to investigate further. Anybody local to you that will let you test Vegas on their PC? You need a performance benchmark so you know what to expect.

What (specifics here please) footage are you having trouble with? Project settings?

I live in a small, rural village in Bavaria and don't know of anyone with a powerful computer. (or even anyone with any computer!)
I downloaded the trial of VP16 and the demo just lags, freezes and stutters when I play it. It is in a small preview window set on "auto" preview.
Until I can get that to play properly, starting any kind of intensive project seems a bit pointless.
Someone else answered my other post about remote help so I'll go through the suggestions in the link and then report back if I don't get anywhere.

Kinvermark wrote on 10/29/2018, 2:09 PM

OK, using other thread now.

wjauch wrote on 10/29/2018, 7:38 PM

I would agre with j-v. Your specs seem OK (although laptops always seem to be a bit of a compromise for video editing), so before spending a lot of money on a new system it would be wise to investigate further. Anybody local to you that will let you test Vegas on their PC? You need a performance benchmark so you know what to expect.
What (specifics here please) footage are you having trouble with? Project settings?

I live in a small, rural village in Bavaria and don't know of anyone with a powerful computer. (or even anyone with any computer!)
I downloaded the trial of VP16 and the demo just lags, freezes and stutters when I play it. It is in a small preview window set on "auto" preview.
Until I can get that to play properly, starting any kind of intensive project seems a bit pointless.
Someone else answered my other post about remote help so I'll go through the suggestions in the link and then report back if I don't get anywhere.

I have edited Red 5k footage on a i7 6700 Skylake CPU, 16GB Ram, 256 SSD boot drive and Nvidia 960m (although it may be using the Skylake Intel graphics. Can you clone your C: drive to a external USB drive or do you feel comfortable opening your laptop? The reason I ask because if so I would suggest using Windows media creation tool to download the latest version of Windows10, 64 bit, and make a bootable USB Win 10 drive. Then clone your C: drive (or open your laptop and physically swap it for a different SSD drive). Install Win 10 64 bit, when it asks for activation click "I don't have one". Try Vegas on your system now. At the end of your test either swap back your c: drive or clone it back from your USB drive.

[Moderator Edit: Discussion continues here.]