Recommended HW for transcoding?

[lightsout 156]

With the new server update I am curious what is the best method for HW transcoding.

 

Currently I have an Intel  4570s 4c/4t cpu. 8gb of ram pretty basic setup for my server. It runs windows 10.

 

I am getting back into recording cable tv through an HDhomerum prime and emby will be handling DVR duties.

 

So I will be having plenty of mpeg2 content, the rest of my library is primarily x264/mkv.

 

My main client is a shield that gets 80% of the usage, with some Roku tv's and a fire stick in the bedroom.

 

I am curious what are the better methods for transcoding (when needed which I don't think is often). I was thinking about dropping in an i7 4770k to my server (not really looking to move to a whole new platform right now.)

 

But was also curious if a graphics card is helpful here? If so what sort of card is required?

 

When I select "advanced" in the transcoding section I don't see any option for decoders, my chip I believe should have quicksync, maybe it is because I am using an old ATI 5450 for video output. ( I am a premier member)

Edited January 19, 2019 by lightsout

[Luke 42079]

Can you please attach the emby server and hardware detect log? Thanks.

[lightsout 156]

Can you please attach the emby server and hardware detect log? Thanks.

Here you go, you can probably see the server playing an old .avi with mpeg4. I assume xvid. On the Shield I had it set to deinterlace SD content and the server was choking, it couldn't keep up with the video kept buffering. It was transcoding at like 13fps. I turned off deinterlace on the server and its playing fine. Doesn't look deinterlaced but oh well. This file is a rarity just an old elmo movie my daughter loves.

 

I PM'd you my server log it has my external IP that I log into my server from, wasn't sure I wanted that public.

Edited April 2, 2019 by lightsout

[Luke 42079]

@@softworkz I'll add you to the PM

[lightsout 156]

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

 

More cores? Does a GPU help in the server?

[Luke 42079]

We'll see what @@softworkz thinks. Thanks.

[softworkz 5067]

@lightscout - You should activate your onboard graphics and connect a monitor. Then you should see QuickSync and DXVA acceleration methods.

 

Once you have that, you should try how it performs, good chances that your CPUs video acceleration is sufficient.

[lightsout 156]

@lightscout - You should activate your onboard graphics and connect a monitor. Then you should see QuickSync and DXVA acceleration methods.

 

Once you have that, you should try how it performs, good chances that your CPUs video acceleration is sufficient.

This server basically runs headless, is a monitor needed for those things to activate?

 

Excellent that worked thank you.

Would you commonly recommend one over the other? Quicksync or dxva?

Edited January 21, 2019 by lightsout

[softworkz 5067]

This server basically runs headless, is a monitor needed for those things to activate?

 

Excellent that worked thank you.

Would you commonly recommend one over the other? Quicksync or dxva?

 

I'm gllad to hear that it's working now!

 

For QuickSync vs. DXVA::

 

DXVA cannot do encoding.

Generally, it's best to have decoding and encoding performed by the same acceleration type.

QuickSync is a vendor specific API with more low-level access to the hardware.

DXVA is more robust and less prone to problems, though, as it is a Microsoft API and vendor drivers are tested for this functionality before they get WHQL certification, whereas vendors are sometimes less thorough with that.

 

But generally, QuickSync would be the primary choice over DXVA.

[lightsout 156]

I'm gllad to hear that it's working now!

 

For QuickSync vs. DXVA::

 

DXVA cannot do encoding.

Generally, it's best to have decoding and encoding performed by the same acceleration type.

QuickSync is a vendor specific API with more low-level access to the hardware.

DXVA is more robust and less prone to problems, though, as it is a Microsoft API and vendor drivers are tested for this functionality before they get WHQL certification, whereas vendors are sometimes less thorough with that.

 

But generally, QuickSync would be the primary choice over DXVA.

Thank you fit the thorough answer. Performance is much better now. I have loved Emby since the MB WMC, happy to finally be supporting the project.

[Luke 42079]

Thanks for the feedback !

[horstepipe 422]

On 1/21/2019 at 5:03 AM, softworkz said:

@lightscout - You should activate your onboard graphics and connect a monitor. Then you should see QuickSync and DXVA acceleration methods.

 

Once you have that, you should try how it performs, good chances that your CPUs video acceleration is sufficient.

So @softworkzthere's no way to enable quicksync if there's no monitor attached (if server runs headless [dedicated server])?

[Carlo 4561]

You may be able to use a dummy plug.

[horstepipe 422]

haha is the word "dedicated server" something which is not being used outside of Germany? 

I do NOT have physical access to the machine

[softworkz 5067]

5 minutes ago, horstepipe said:

haha is the word "dedicated server" something which is not being used outside of Germany? 

I do NOT have physical access to the machine

Windows or Linux?

[Carlo 4561]

Yes that term is used but usually means it's dedicated to a single function.
I think what most people would understand is "hosted server" to mean it's not in your physical location but hosted at a data center.

This might be problematic.

EDIT rest removed as softworkz just asked.

 

[horstepipe 422]

1 minute ago, softworkz said:

Windows or Linux?

Linux (Ubuntu 20.04)

[softworkz 5067]

What you quoted above (DXVA...) was about Windows.

And for QuickSync - this is working on top of VAAPI in case of Linux. For getting VAAPI to work, you'll need to have a display device installed. 

The requirements for having a display device/GPU available are:

• The CPU needs to have integrated graphics
  (those CPUs are usually more expensive than their counterparts without graphics, so it's less likely that a hosted server would have such CPUs)
• The integrated graphics is activated in the BIOS
• The hoster doesn't use any virtualization technology (which might not forward the GPU to the guest OS)

 

[horstepipe 422]

okay understood

[softworkz 5067]

If you want to have hw acceleration with a hosted/rented server, you'd need to look for one having an Nvidia GPU, where you could even have just a virtual server.

[horstepipe 422]

Thanks softworks!

I found a kb article of my hosting provider which explains how to enable the igpu. I‘ll try it out tomorrow.

[Carlo 4561]

Let us know how you make out.

[horstepipe 422]

it was no pain enabling it and cpu is way less stressed now. thanks!

Next question here

 

[horstepipe 422]

@softworkz

If I enable quicksync instead of vaapi it decodes and encodes in software. I'm running Emby v4.7.0.9..

Vaapi works fine. Is this the best I can get on this kind of setup or would you like to take a look at a log?

[softworkz 5067]

Yes, hw detection log please.