GPU accelerated video editing

[Skydiver]

Hi guys-

I use this computer almost exclusively for video editing. Several editing software packages (Sony Vegas 11, Cyberlink Power Director 10, etc) now offer GPU acceleration. I'm thinking of upgrading my GPU. What features are most important - number of CPU cores, clock speed, amount of GPU memory, etc if all I really want to do is maximize the rendering speed in GPU accelerated HD video rendering? Thanks!

[Soultribunal]

What is your full current system setup, as well as screen resolution?

As well have you conisdered the professional like of ATI/nVidia cards like the Quaddro and FirePro??

-ST

[Skydiver]

I'd just signed up and this was my first post. I entered all my specs - highlights are i7-860, GTX 260 video card, 8GB DDR3 1600 RAM,Win7 64 bit. I have been using Power Director 9 and 10 with GPU acceleration. It's pretty fast but I'm looking to speed it up some more. I was thinking of a GTX460, GTX560 2MB, GTX 560Ti or GTX 570. Just wondered whether more video memory is important for video editing, or more CUDA cores or faster GPU processor speeds. Thanks.

[Skydiver]

Oh- I forgot to add- screen res 1920 x 1080

[dpk33]

Although Premiere Pro CS5 isn't on your list, I've tried it with a GT220, a GTX260, a GTX295, a GTX285 and a GTX460. From all honestly, there was no difference above the GT220. The GPU usage was around 40-50% most of the time when rendering video and never went above 70%, with the exception of the GT220, which the GPU usage is always capped at 100% when rendering video. Anything over a GTX260 is overkill IMO.