Quote Hi. I'm a longtime PD user, upgrading from PD 14 to 18 because I want the WEBM support. I'm downloading 8 files: the PowerDirector app plus 7 content packs.

I have an older computer -- Intel i7-3770 @ 3.40 GHz, 4 Cores, 16 GB RAM, and a very limited GPU (GeForce GT 730).

I'm thinking that since I never use content packs, I should skip installing them, possibly to get a performance boost. (I've heard that upgrading from 14 to 18 might mean everything becomes slower.

Any suggestions on skipping the content packs?

Thanks.

Just keep in mind, wemb support is only VP9, lots of VP8 out there so it depends on what one's needs are.

Not sure what app plus 7 content packs you refer to. Skipping content pack is surely doable, I don't see any major performance improvements from doing such. I guess like the "Create Disc" menu module will load a tad faster, as well as any other room that has to populate a window of features. As far as timeline editing, no performance changes that I would see.

Jeff

It does sound like that you purchased the PD18 Ultra version.

It has been a while since I installed Cyberlink software. You should have a popup window to allow you to browse or change the drive and location for an installation and to check or uncheck each of the content packs before proceeding. There will be no performance boost while editing. There might be a faster response to access each room in the library since they are pretty much empty.

AI doubt that not installing content packs will boost performance. I download every content pack that is released and I have seen no difference in performance over time. Subscribe to PowerDirector University on YouTube.

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Quote

Just keep in mind, wemb support is only VP9, lots of VP8 out there so it depends on what one's needs are.

Not sure what app plus 7 content packs you refer to. Skipping content pack is surely doable, I don't see any major performance improvements from doing such. I guess like the "Create Disc" menu module will load a tad faster, as well as any other room that has to populate a window of features. As far as timeline editing, no performance changes that I would see.

Jeff

Thank you (all) for the replies.

The main downloadable executable was
"1_CyberLink_PowerDirector18_Ultra_VDE191105-02.exe"

and the 7 content packs had filenames like
"ContentPack_Essential_PowerDirector_PCP190327-01.exe" and
"ContentPack_PremiumV_PowerDirector_PCP190521-01.exe"

For now, I haven't installed them, but it seems that I can without fearing much performance hit.

One bonus question:
Any thoughts on whether to turn on Dynamic GOP for a custom encoding profile? It's turned off for the default profiles, but in one of the few google hits I found for "Dynamic GOP" -- https://www.viraltech.co.uk/best-render-settings-in-powerdirector-for-youtube.php -- the guy says he turns his ON.

It must not matter much, since people aren't discussing it much, but I thought I'd ask.

Thanks again.

Quote One bonus question:
Any thoughts on whether to turn on Dynamic GOP for a custom encoding profile? It's turned off for the default profiles, but in one of the few google hits I found for "Dynamic GOP" -- https://www.viraltech.co.uk/best-render-settings-in-powerdirector-for-youtube.php -- the guy says he turns his ON.

It must not matter much, since people aren't discussing it much, but I thought I'd ask.

I took a look at it when it came out in PD15 and could not find any indication it was doing anything. GOP pattern was constant for me, not dynamic on the PD produced file. I even tried capturing some source footage that would feature the added capability, still no change, constant GOP. GOP patterns have had several issues and modifications in PD since then, even for canned profiles. I've never gone back and tested in PD18 to have a new opinion. But yes, in theory it can be good with scene motion.

I didn't see any place in that link they did anything to validate anything in PD, just turned it on. That's always an approach, I guess. Maybe it's like the quality mode, I think I can probably dig up a very old email from previous forum moderator when more of a working relationship was active, I tried to resolve what that was really doing and was told support said it was a null switch, depreciated feature!

Jeff