NUC hardware decoding

[trummel]

I've just bought myself an Intel NUC (D54250WYKH) to try out as a prototype NPVR client. It's very nice and with NPVR 3.2.9 and Windows 8.1 runs HDTV very happily at about 20% CPU usage. I'm using ffdshow for the video decoding and lav for the audio (both courtesy of SAF). I'm quite happy with that, but I did notice that by default, ffdshow wasn't taking advantage of the Intel Quicksync hardware decoding on the HD5000 video chipset. The odd thing is that when I reconfigured the ffdshow decoders to use the hardware decoding instead of libavcodec, the cpu usage went up noticeably, lipsync went out and the video developed a distinct stutter.

I'm not concerned, because the i5 CPU is more than up to the job of the software decode, but it struck me as odd, so I thought I'd put it out here to see if wiser heads could suggest why. I did think of buying the cheaper Celeron version to give it a try, but without the hardware decode working, it might struggle.

[SickBoy]

I'm definitely interested as well. I've been looking at resurrecting a mATX PC versus other options, and since I already happen to have some laptop memory and an SSD sitting around, the NUC option seems attractive. if I can get away with the cheaper NUC and it can decode H.264 acceptably, might as well save $100.

[hoborg]

Hi.
Try to use latest WIP SAF, There is no FFDShow any longer and it is working really nice on IntelGPU (at last on my HD4600).

[jcjefferies]

I think you will find that a Celeron processor is more than adequate for HD. I now use XBMC/OpenElec for NextPVR playback and checking a number of 1920x1080/H264 videos the processor usage occasionally peaks at 20%. Previous to that I was using an old Pentium 4 PC under Windows and could almost play HD video using the motherboard video running 95%-100%. However when I added a cheap modern video card with GPU, a Nvidia 210 the processor usage dropped below 20% I think using Cyberlink decoders.

Chris

[SickBoy]

I just ordered the Core i5 NUC, the one that has room for an internal 2.5" SATA drive. I'm probably going to try KodiBuntu first... just to see if I can get that to work for what I need it to. Buying another Windows license just for this, seems burdensome.

They're on a (decent, but not "OMG GO BUY ONE") sale from Newegg right now.

[Reddwarf]

What you guys need to consider is the GPU/graphics card's ability to decode h.264. I know for a fact that none but perhaps the newest nvidia chips can do that, while almost all AMD (except the really old ones) can. I'v ran full hd on a P4 1.8 GHz processor with a AMD HD6400 graphic card without a hitch.

[sub]

The recent Intel onboard-video chipsets, like the Intel HD 4000 and above, do a good job with decoding/encoding H.264 in hardware.

[mvallevand]

What you guys need to consider is the GPU/graphics card's ability to decode h.264. I know for a fact that none but perhaps the newest nvidia chips can do that, while almost all AMD (except the really old ones) can. I'v ran full hd on a P4 1.8 GHz processor with a AMD HD6400 graphic card without a hitch.

h265 is the new h264 for benchmarking You need to play them with another player than NextPVR because sub's ts reader doesn't understand the ts files that most samples I've found are made in. Here's a good source for testing http://www.elecard.com/en/download/videos.html I think it might push a celeron NUC too hard. My i7 with HD4000 is ok though,

Martin

[Reddwarf]

h265 is the new h264 for benchmarking You need to play them with another player than NextPVR because sub's ts reader doesn't understand the ts files that most samples I've found are made in. Here's a good source for testing http://www.elecard.com/en/download/videos.html I think it might push a celeron NUC too hard. My i7 with HD4000 is ok though,

Martin

That's right, but is anyone using h.265 yet? I'v read about plans for using it to distribute tv using mobile network, but as far as I know noone has done it yet.

[mvallevand]

That's right, but is anyone using h.265 yet? I'v read about plans for using it to distribute tv using mobile network, but as far as I know noone has done it yet.

Handbrake supports it now so I think it's a question of build it and they will come. I expect the move to h265 will be faster than the move from xvid to h264 since it's the right format for the cloud and the IoT.

Martin