Transcoding is a digital-to-digital conversion process, such as converting audio or video files to another file format.
A powerful GPU is essential to ensure smooth and efficient performance. A high-performance GPU can also significantly reduce the transcoding time which makes a big difference compared to a slower-performing card.
In this article, we are going to see two GPUs, one of them is our best choice and the other is our best budget GPU choice. Be sure to keep reading if you want to find out what the best GPU for transcoding is.
Best GPU for Transcoding: ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
Core Clock Speed
2,640 MHz boost
CUDA Cores
16,384
Memory Size
24GB GDDR6X
Dimensions
357.6 x 149.3 x 70.1mm
PSU Required
1000W
TDP
450W
Currently, the best available GPU in the market for transcoding is the RTX 4090. Therefore if you need the best, we recommend the ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 24GB GDDR6X.
This GPU is intended for gaming but it’s great for professional use that requires high performance such as transcoding, rendering, and video editing. It features 24 GB 384-Bit GDDR6X memory which makes it more than ideal for handling large and complex video files.
The RTX 4090 has 16384 CUDA Cores which is a massive amount, this graphics card delivers exceptional performance for transcoding and video editing. And it also supports ray tracing and it comes with the power of artificial intelligence which accelerates your workflows.
Best Budget GPU for Transcoding: NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000
Core Clock Speed
1005 MHz base, 1545 MHz boost
CUDA cores
2,304
Memory Size
8 GB GDDR6
Dimensions
267mm x 112mm x 40 mm
PSU Required
450 W
TBP
160 W
If you need a graphics card that’s designed specifically for workstations, then we have a more affordable, but also top-performing option.
This is the NVIDIA Quadro P4000 8GB. It features 8 GB 256-Bit GDDR6 memory which is a lot less than what the RTX 4090 offers, but this should be fine for smooth and efficient transcoding. And it has 2,304 CUDA Cores, which seems minuscule compared to the RTX 4090’s 16384. But the best part about this GPU is its price, it costs considerably less.
Conclusion
We’ve looked at two great NVIDIA graphics cards you can use for transcoding. One of them is the mighty RTX 4090 which is designed for gaming but can be used for workstations as well because it delivers excellent performance for transcoding and video editing.
There’s a huge difference between the RTX 4090 and the Quadro P4000 both in terms of performance and price difference. The RTX 4090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X memory, while the P4000 has 8 GB of GDDR5 memory. Between these two, the RTX 4090 seems like the better option, but ultimately the decision is up to you and your budget and your use case.
