http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/sandy-bridge-core-i7-2600k-core-i5-2500k,2833-5.html
Unfortunately, you have to be using Intel's integrated graphics core in order to take advantage of Quick Sync. Neither MediaEspresso or MediaConverter are able to recognize the pipeline with a discrete card installed. So, if you're doing media work on a gaming PC, Quick Sync might not be an option for you.
Let me get this straight. So even though Sandy Bridge beats discrete GPU CUDA and APP, transcoding software gives priority to the discrete GPU? Your computer must be built without a discrete GPU for the software to utilize Sandy Bridge's Quick Sync? That's just too bad, because I'd rather have a machine that can do both gaming and transcoding...