Which CPU for transcoding?

[ITGuy1024 18]

Hey all - I have some options for changing up my Emby server and need some advice on which option would be best for transcoding.
I usually have 1 local stream going and up to 3 remote streams but sometimes more. I was using a Quadro P400 but using CPU seems to transcode faster.

Current server: E5 2695 v4 (seems to just handle 3 remote streams but pegs the cpu) - no QSV

I have these CPUs sitting around:
Available option 1: E3 1245 V5 - QSV
Available option 2: i7 8700 - QSV
Available option 3: i7 10700 - QSV
Available option 4: Xeon E-2144G - QSV

Thanks!

[rbjtech 5284]

The i7 10700 as it has a UHD 630 (iGPU) and the most cores with a reasonable TDP.

[ITGuy1024 18]

That what I was thinking.

[sross44 431]

Definitely go with the i7 10700. I'm actually running that on my test server and it's an awesome CPU. 

[ITGuy1024 18]

Testing it out tonight the performance isn't that much better vs what I have now it seems. 3-4 streams just pegs the UHD 630 and 4-6 streams start to drop frames. Actually just one stream will peg the UHD so maybe that isn't a good gage of how things are running.
Even though the UHD 630 is pegged the streams are transcoding faster then they are playing.
Should I just have quicksync selected or also have the DX11VA UHD 630 checked?

Edited January 6, 2024 by ITGuy1024

[ITGuy1024 18]

How would a Quadro P620 compare to the 630 UHD?

 

[Q-Droid 989]

A pegged CPU/iGPU with just one stream sounds like you don't have throttling enabled. Unless it's just pegged for a few seconds then settles into short bursts of activity.

What source are you testing with, 1080p or 4k?

 

[ITGuy1024 18]

Local is both remote streams are 1080.

[ITGuy1024 18]

Testing this more I noticed that Emby initially starts to play the media with CPU transcoding. I have to start and stop the media a few times for it to start using the igpu for some reason.

Only the igpu has been selected under transcoding and hdr tone mapping is set to hardware only.