I think the issue is lot more complex than you realize and as far as you are concerned I would be willing to bet you $100 that you could care less.

GPU processing is useful under limited circumstances. Concentrate you horsepower under the CPU for handling high compression codecs and otherwise concentrate your configuration if you are handling uncompressed multiple video streams with high-speed disk and pipelines to and from.

GPU is worth about nothing to you.

Sorry I don't understand how you can say GPU acceleration is worth nothing? It is all to me and the very reason why I changed from VP11 and now to 12.

Yes, it looks like I didn't dig deep enough before posting. Sorry about that. I did just find the "GPU Specifications vs Vegas Performance" thread and I've started reading it. Guess I'm about to get edu-ma-cated!

Vegas GPU acceleration uses OpenCL, or open computing language. Both AMD and nVidia cards run OpenCL.

In my opinion the most important aspect of GPU acceleration is the ability to preview the timeline at a high quality in realtime. Editing is a creative process and if you can't immediately see the result it impedes creativity. Both AMD and nVidia cards one you get to about the $100 point do a very good job of accelerating timeline preview. But...

As videoITguy wrote, get a strong CPU as well because you only need one or two items in the timeline that are not GPU accelerated and the preview train comes off the tracks. IMO render speeds aren't a big a deal for two reasons. 1. Sony render formats aren't very high quality compared to what you can do outside of Vegas. 2. You can set up a render overnight or while you're working on another project if you have a good CPU and enough memory. 3. Only MC AVC and Sony AVC renders are GPU accelerated at this point in time. Note that the assembly or compositing of the timeline is always GPU accelerated (for items that are coded that way), but not the actual render except for the two codecs I mentioned.

Here are benchmarks of various GPUs rendering to the XDCAM EX format. Note that is is a benchmark that is heavy on assembly and light on render. The XDCAM EX format is relatively easy to render so this benchmark does provide an indication of how well a GPU can assemble or preview the timeline.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU13/588

Finally, I have been running a little benchmark site for Vegas that might be helpful to you.

http://www.hyperactivemusic.com/vegaspro/vegaspro.html

Listen to everybody here, do some reading, you'll figure out what best suits your needs. You really can't make a "wrong" choice.

- Mark

Could it be that VideoITGuy is saying it doesn't mean anything to ME since I am running VP10? That's the way I took it.

Yes, if you are on VP10 and have no intention to upgrade in the coming year or so then all you need is a good CPU, preferable a Intel hex core or bigger depending on how much you want to spend.
What kind of footage are you dealing with? HDV, AVCHD or higher?

HDV & AVCHD...

The CPU I have chosen (at this point is the Intel Core i7-3770K

For HDV you don't need anymore then you already have; for AVCHD it depends on the bit rate the footage is recorded with. It also depends on how "heavy" your editing is. Simple cuts, cross fades, CC will work fine in VP10 with a i7-3770K but there is no headroom for the future.

If your budget can handle it, I would highly recommend moving up to a 3930K or 4930k & 4 channel memory ... As long as you are on Vegas V10, a good mid-range vid card should serve you well...

Obviously, I'm in the same boat. A bit of digging around has brought up this: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/GPU13/588
And this: http://blog.whitesites.com/Graphics-Card-for-the-Fastest-Rendering-in-Sony-Vegas-Pro-12__635078797007330625_blog.htm

Notice there's a link that brings you back to this forum! Round and round we go......:-)

Just FYI.. While it may be preferred, the GTX 580 does not require water cooling per se. The Blog link you included alluded that it does, while showing a model that was built for water cooling..

OldSmoke peaked my interest in the 580 and I found this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487006
Has a 1 year warranty..

A little more comfort than you might find on ebay , but not to say ebay is not a good option..

I use it ( ebay ) all the time with great results..

The CPU I have chosen (at this point is the Intel Core i7-3770K

I use an Nvidia 650 along with the HD4000 from my i7-3370K to good advantage. You might be interested in this thread http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=872603 and the one referenced in that thread.

wwaag

Stringer
Great find and yes you are right, the card doesn't need water-cooling. I wonder if the 3GB make a difference too.

" I wonder if the 3GB make a difference too. "


I'll let you know.. :)

Hey guys, I just want to stop and say thanks at this point. I've built pc's in the past but this will be my first "video" pc. I really appreciate all the help and discussion being offered here.

There is a bit of a price difference between the 3770 and the others mentioned isn't there? (Heavy sigh...)

3930K and 4930K are different motherboards too as those are socket 2011 but those don't have a build in GPU. Why not a newer Haswell socket 1050?

GPU is an assist, not a magic pill. You get the most bang for the buck with the fastest processor that you can afford - the GPU selection will be whatever is left in the budget. Some users find that with a fast processor, GPU support adds little benefit to the process.

Steve Man

Sorry but not true. Have a look at Hulk's benchmark tests http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=874761&Replies=48 and you will see that even a 6 core CPU benefits greatly from GPU acceleration; as long as you have the right GPU.

OK, I guess it's time to show the configuration that I had originally chosen. I was trying to put this all together on my own, all the parts and pieces are so different from my last build I feel like I'm on a different planet. So, here's where I started:

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek GAIA SD1283 56.3 CFM CPU Cooler
Therm Cmpd: Arctic Silver 5 HD Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme6 ATX LGA1155 Motherboard
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3-2400 Memory
Storage: Crucial M500 480GB 2.5" Solid State Disk
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive
Case: Azza Genesis 9000 (Black) ATX Full Tower Case ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Enermax 750W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX PS
Optical Drive: Pioneer BDR-2208 Blu-Ray/DVD/CD Writer

I put this together on PC Parts Picker. But, base on what I've learned so far though a better direction may be:

CPU: Intel Core i7-3930K 3.2GHz 6-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: ASRock X79 Extreme6 ATX LGA2011 Motherboard

That's only main components (other than memory) at this time. BUT, I didn't find any Socket 1050 MOBO listed on PC Parts Picker, only LGA 2011.

Is Socket 1050 available at this time? I saw references to it back in May-June that it was upcoming???

Thanks again, you guys are great at spending my money!!! :-D

I partnered the 3930K with an Asrock Extreme 9 almost two years ago and have never looked back.. If I were to do it today, I would probably go with the extreme 6, since the 9 didn't really provide any additional functionality for me..

I know there are those who feel overclocking is an unnecessary risk when working in a professional environment, but I have set my core clock to 42, and it is rock stable without having to fiddle with any other settings - voltages, etc..

MikeA

My mistake, it's 1150 not 1050. These are MB geared for the Haswell CPUs. The new 4771K comes with a HD4600 GPU. However, if you can fit it into your budget go a level up for a 2011 socket setup with a 3930K or 4930K, don't bother with the twice expensive X version that at best will get you an additional 5% improvement. Important is got stick with Win7Pro 64bit and a GTX570/580.

Excellent OS! That'll get me going I think. I'll post my revised wish list when I get it made.