Vegas 9 more Video card intensive, or CPU intensive?

Norm Sanders

Norm Sanders

Script Wrangler
I'm having some issues editing RED footage with my system (Win 7 Pro, 4GB RAM-only 3GB usable because of 32bit OS, Quadcore Q6600 2.4 CPU, etc.), and THINK it's my video card ... I'm going to check, but I may have an ATI card, and just saw on RED.com that they recommend NVidia ....

So, assuming I'll be replacing/updating my video card, I'm wondering if I really need to upgrade to a super intense beast, or if it matters with Vegas.

Some NLE's are video card intensive, as well as RAM, and Vegas at least USED to be all about the CPU ... not sure if that's changed with Version 9 or not.

Thoughts?
 
Yeah, I'm also pretty sure Vegas doesn't use the Video card for working with the video. Mine just outputs to a TV, but that's all it does in Vegas.
 
Vegas does not make any use of the GPU on your video card so it doesn't matter what card you have. It is purely CPU bound so there is no need to upgrade your video card because you won't see any difference in Vegas performance.

~jr
 
Norm Sanders said:
=just saw on RED.com that they recommend NVidia=
Click to expand...

If you are using RED's REDCINE application, you'll need an NVidia card, as it doesn't render properly if you have an ATI card. It shouldn't make a difference with other application, like Vegas.
 
skinny! said:
I'd wait for a more detailed response from Perrone Ford, but i believe Vegas ignores the video card entirely.
Click to expand...

Bingo. I wouldn't say Vegas ignores the video card, as it doesn't. But it doesn't use the GPU on the video card. So buying a hot video card won't help in this instance.
 
Norm Sanders said:
Some NLE's are video card intensive, as well as RAM, and Vegas at least USED to be all about the CPU ... not sure if that's changed with Version 9 or not.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I don't know ANY NLEs that are video card intensive. I know some that will leverage it if it's there (like Avid), but most make use of the card very little.
 
PowerDirector uses the GPU on most nVidia & ATI video cards. When I was testing it and Vegas (at the same time) it was clear that PowerDirector rendered faster - perhaps as much as 2 times faster. But PowerDirectr isn't in the same league as Vegas.
 
Adobe Premiere CS4 uses the GPU, but I think you need an expensive Open GL model like the Nvidia Quadro CX to take full advantage. Vegas, in my 8 years of experience of with it, barely leverages a video card beyond basic through put. It doesn't even seem like a faster GPU eliminates bottle necks when it should, like during preview.

It strikes me that the GPU is being purposely stymied for performance within NLE's. Edius was able to provide real time editing with no rendering for DV about 5 years ago, and that was with single core processing and a modest, slightly modified ATI gaming card.
 
I will take editing on Vegas any day over editing on any other system ... rendering aside. I love the fact that it will real time preview even RED footage, as I'm FINALLY able to do now. Got Windows 7 64bit on my system now, and am running Vegas 9 64 bit, and things are working like a dream, compared to before ... and that's with only 4GB of ram, and a system that's now over 2 years old.
 
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