Generally speaking, newer/more powerful GPUs will give you better gaming performance, but with video editing the path isn't always as clear.

In your case with the two nVidia options, there is only one answer, which is the GTX1650. As you can see from this chart, the GT1030 provides exactly zero hardware encoding while the GTX1650 does everything PD can utilize.

YouTube/optodata

DS365 | Win11 Pro | Ryzen 9 3950X | RTX 4070 Ti | 32GB RAM | 10TB SSDs | 5K+4K HDR monitors

Canon Vixia GX10 (4K 60p) | HF G30 (HD 60p) | Yi Action+ 4K | 360Fly 4K 360°

welcome to the forum.
there are many subjects on why my high speed graphics card does not work, will not use hardware acceleration with PD etc.
when it does work then the PD uses less than 1GB VRAM if not then 2GB.

nvidia driver version 411.70 works but in my experience v396.50 utilizes more; however, it depends on which version of PD you're using.

what i recommend is my prejudice. GTX 1060 6GB or 1660Ti 6GB.
GTX 1060Ti 6GB review https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gtx-1060-6-gb.c2862
GTX 1660Ti 6GB review https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1660-ti-turing,6002.html

both GTX 1030 and GTX 1050 is neutered version at a discount prices...

previously optodata said 'and you will also likely be fighting Windows when it continually wants to update your video driver...'
just a reminder. W10.

happy happy joy joy

PepsiMan
'garbage in garbage out' 'no bridge too far'

Yashica Electro 8 LD-6 Super 8mm
Asrock TaiChi X470, AMD R7 2700X, W7P 64, MSI GTX1060 6GB, Corsair 16GB/RAM
Dell XPS L702X i7-2860QM, W7P / W10P 64, Intel HD3000/nVidia GT 550M 1GB, Micron 16GB/RAM
Samsung Galaxy Note3/NX1

Quote So I have PowerDirector 16 here ready to install on a new system I'm about to order, an I7-9700 w/16GB ram + SSD. They list two GPU options above the included onboard Intel UHD graphics. They are the GeoForce GT1030 w/2GB at $100, and the GTX1650 w/4GB, @ $200. Since I am moving from a now boggy 8 year old I7-2600 w/8GB with an outdated Radeon 6850 w/1GB, I figure I'd be pleased with the GT1030. The strongest thing I now burn are HD BluRays, and producing Mpeg 2/4 videos, not into 3D or 4K stuff, games, or overclocking. Question is with my measly needs, will the GT 1030 work well with PD16, ie. hardware video encoding, etc.? And is there another cost effective brand or model GPU I should look at instead?
thanks,
chester

Kayaker - I have received your pm and do not want to engage in a discussion on which video card is the best. Since the strongest thing you do is to burn HD Blu-rays with mpeg-2 or avc video then that old i7-2600 system with the AMD 6850 card is the absolute best provided that you have the right drivers. That particular video card can do the mpeg-2, h.264, and wmv hardware encoding in which the GT 1030 lacks all of this. See this chart: https://developer.nvidia.com/video-encode-decode-gpu-support-matrix .That GT 1030 has none of the functions that the other cards in the list have.

The i7-9700 w/16 GB ram and ssd is all you need. The HD630 integrated graphics provide both mpeg-2 and h.264 video encoding that you desire for creating those HD Blu-ray discs.

I have a lot of issues on my Win 10 pc with the 9700K cpu that I am currently trying to solve. The main culprit is heat with the CM hyper 212 evo. It hit 86 degrees celsius easily with handbrake cpu rendering. Nvidia or Intel hardware encoding will reduce that temp by 10 degrees. Have found that Intel hardware encoding of h.264 m2ts files are SVRT compliant in creating those 1080/60p and 720/60p Blu-ray folders. The Nvidia hardware encoded m2ts files are not SVRT compliant in creating the same BD folders. I can easily create 10 hour BD quickly with the Intel hardware encoding and keep the heat down on the cpu. See the attached screenshot.

In the screenshot the cpu is at 100%. Nvidia hardware encoding at 58% load reduces the cpu temperature dramatically. Encoding of 1060/60p is 3X realtime. BTW: cpu rendering is also 3X realtime but the cpu temps are much higher. This computer may not last a year if continuous daily operation of this pc continues at this cpu temperature without hardware encoding.

Again, the old i7 system you have with the right drivers or the new i7-9700 system should perform to your expectations without the GT 1030 video card. You may not have a cpu temp problem at all. You may buy any Nvidia card like the 1650 if you want.

Quote Generally speaking, newer/more powerful GPUs will give you better gaming performance, but with video editing the path isn't always as clear.

In your case with the two nVidia options, there is only one answer, which is the GTX1650. As you can see from this chart, the GT1030 provides exactly zero hardware encoding while the GTX1650 does everything PD can utilize.

optdata, PepsiMan, tomasc:
Thanks for the clarity on the GTX 1030/GTX1650, suggestion of GTX1060Ti/1660Ti, and using the HD630. After relooking at costs for both the limited factory and all the aftermarket card offerings, think I'll go with the onboard video and then go aftermarket if need be with the GTX1650. I'll prolly be back on here with other issues, lol.

Quote



optdata, PepsiMan, tomasc:
Thanks for the clarity on the GTX 1030/GTX1650, suggestion of GTX1060Ti/1660Ti, and using the HD630. After relooking at costs for both the limited factory and all the aftermarket card offerings, think I'll go with the onboard video and then go aftermarket if need be with the GTX1650. I'll prolly be back on here with other issues, lol.

I use the GTX 1650 and I advise that if you go with this card download the Nvidea '10 series' Studio driver not the Game version.
Ian

Hey all,
Ok, I finally received my new Dell, i7, 9700 with a GeForce 1650 4G GPU. The present driver Dell just updated to, shows to be version 442.23 which I don't even see on their site as current. PepsiMan mentioned>"Nvidia driver version 411.70 works but in my experience v396.50 utilizes more; however, it depends on which version of PD you're using." I see new current Studio drivers ranging from 430.xx to 451.xx. I have PD 18 in the box here uninstalled. Any particular driver better that ya'll know of?
thanks,
chester

You can use it as is for now. When you are ready get the Nvidia latest Geforce 451.67 drivers or the Studio drivers if you have any Adobe products installed. Here is one link for Nvidia driver downloads: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us&ncid=afm-chs-44270&ranMID=44270&ranEAID=msYS1Nvjv4c&ranSiteID=msYS1Nvjv4c-d1q6KlvO.yXSARTyXIjghA .

Quote You can use it as is for now. When you are ready get the Nvidia latest Geforce 451.67 drivers or the Studio drivers if you have any Adobe products installed. Here is one link for Nvidia driver downloads: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us&ncid=afm-chs-44270&ranMID=44270&ranEAID=msYS1Nvjv4c&ranSiteID=msYS1Nvjv4c-d1q6KlvO.yXSARTyXIjghA .

OK, thanks for the info. I'll go ahead and get it the Game version 451.67 now, and the install PD18. Will let you know.

Quote You can use it as is for now. When you are ready get the Nvidia latest Geforce 451.67 drivers or the Studio drivers if you have any Adobe products installed. Here is one link for Nvidia driver downloads: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us&ncid=afm-chs-44270&ranMID=44270&ranEAID=msYS1Nvjv4c&ranSiteID=msYS1Nvjv4c-d1q6KlvO.yXSARTyXIjghA .

OK, I got 451.67 Game version down and loaded, updated Win 10 to Ver. 2004, and then installed PD18. After playing with it some, and changing some options, monitoring CPU/GPU usage, I'm gonna move over to the PD18 forum with now more questions, naturally, lol. Thanks to all you guys for the help, and perhaps help me out over there as well.
chester