[solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

phoenix324 · 2024-01-13 19:50:49

Kernel: 6.6.9-zen1-1-zen
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H (12) @ 4.50 GHz
GPU 1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
GPU 2: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile

At start it gives info several ways to achieve hardware-video-acceleration on linux-
-VA-API
-VDPAU
-AMF
-NVDEC/NVENC

So are they mutually-exclusive?

-------------------------------

In Section ` 1 Installation`, there are three sub-sections
-- 1.1 Intel
-- 1.2 NVIDIA
-- 1.3 AMD/ATI
-- 1.4 Translation layers

Here do i only have to follow only one of them ? What about `Translation layers` ?

-------------------------------

If i also have to follow `1.4 Translation layers`, the description here is also confusing
--libva-vdpau-driver — A VDPAU-based backend for VA-API.
--libvdpau-va-gl — VDPAU driver with OpenGL/VAAPI backend. H.264 only.
--nvidia-vaapi-driver — A CUDA NVDEC based backend for VA-API.

Which among them do i have to exactly install?

-------------------------------

Under `1.1 Intel` there are also multiples-
HD Graphics series starting from Broadwell (2014) and newer (e.g. Intel Arc) are supported by intel-media-driver.
GMA 4500 (2008) up to Coffee Lake (2017) are supported by libva-intel-driver.
GMA 4500 H.264 decoding is supported by libva-intel-driver-g45-h264AUR, see Intel graphics#Hardware accelerated H.264 decoding on GMA 4500.
Haswell Refresh to Skylake VP9 decoding and Broadwell to Skylake hybrid VP8 encoding is supported by intel-hybrid-codec-driver-gitAUR.
Skylake or later also need linux-firmware.

My intel cpu is this - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H (12) @ 4.50 GHz, Gpu - Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630], which falls under both first two points of this.

-------------------------------

Are there any guide which i missed on how to interpret/read ArchWiki? I tried searching but didn't find anything.

Last edited by phoenix324 (2024-01-16 12:42:05)

jl2 · 2024-01-13 20:49:48

phoenix324 wrote:

At start it gives info several ways to achieve hardware-video-acceleration on linux-
-VA-API
-VDPAU
-AMF
-NVDEC/NVENC
So are they mutually-exclusive?

You can Install multiple of them, or only one, or none. or the translation layers may help.
btw:

For comprehensive overview of driver and application support see #Comparison tables.

especially 5.4 Application support

In Section ` 1 Installation`, there are three sub-sections
-- 1.1 Intel
-- 1.2 NVIDIA
-- 1.3 AMD/ATI
-- 1.4 Translation layers
Here do i only have to follow only one of them ? What about `Translation layers` ?

GPU 1: Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630]
GPU 2: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile

depends on which gpu should decode/encode. I'd recommend the intel one to offload the main gpu.

If i also have to follow `1.4 Translation layers`, the description here is also confusing
--libva-vdpau-driver — A VDPAU-based backend for VA-API.
--libvdpau-va-gl — VDPAU driver with OpenGL/VAAPI backend. H.264 only.
--nvidia-vaapi-driver — A CUDA NVDEC based backend for VA-API.
Which among them do i have to exactly install?

depends on your choice.

libva-vdpau-driver for VA-API
libvdpau-va-gl for VDPAU
nvidia-vaapi-driver for NVDEC

Under `1.1 Intel` there are also multiples-
HD Graphics series starting from Broadwell (2014) and newer (e.g. Intel Arc) are supported by intel-media-driver.
GMA 4500 (2008) up to Coffee Lake (2017) are supported by libva-intel-driver.
GMA 4500 H.264 decoding is supported by libva-intel-driver-g45-h264AUR, see Intel graphics#Hardware accelerated H.264 decoding on GMA 4500.
Haswell Refresh to Skylake VP9 decoding and Broadwell to Skylake hybrid VP8 encoding is supported by intel-hybrid-codec-driver-gitAUR.
Skylake or later also need linux-firmware.
My intel cpu is this - Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-9750H (12) @ 4.50 GHz, Gpu - Intel CoffeeLake-H GT2 [UHD Graphics 630], which falls under both first two points of this.

check If any of the 2 packages are already installed. if none is installed, the choice is yours (I'd go with the first - chances for better development)

Are there any guide which i missed on how to interpret/read ArchWiki? I tried searching but didn't find anything.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Help:Reading
You must feel like me trying to understand code other people wrote.

phoenix324 · 2024-01-15 16:55:32

I'd recommend the intel one to offload the main gpu.

i am on laptop ( intel+nvidia), intel has integrated graphics and nvidia is dedicated. In this case what would you recommend?

After seeing the `5.4 Application_support`, VA-API seems to be working on everything.

And if i understand correctly, using VA-API will means i will be using Intel?
Using NVDEC,NVENC,VDPAU - will use Nvidia?

libva-vdpau-driver for VA-API
libvdpau-va-gl for VDPAU
nvidia-vaapi-driver for NVDEC

I still don't understand for the `Translation Layer` Section. Here are the things ->
- does using 'libva-vdpau-driver — A VDPAU-based backend for VA-API.' means that i will be able to use firefox-decoding using nvidia? as in the 'Application support' it says firefox is only compatible with VA-API only ?

- 'A VDPAU-based backend for VA-API' dose this line says - VDPAU will do the work by translating VA-API calls made by firefox?

- 'libvdpau-va-gl — VDPAU driver with OpenGL/VAAPI backend. H.264 only.' this one is even more confusing

- 'nvidia-vaapi-driver — A CUDA NVDEC based backend for VA-API.' - in this NVDEC will do the work by translating VA-API calls made by firefox?

Just below the 'translation layer' these is a note -

Series 525 of the NVIDIA driver introduced a regression, breaking VA-API. nvidia-vaapi-driver#126 You may downgrade the drivers to version 520 or use the experimental direct-backend in the meantime.

But going to the link https://github.com/elFarto/nvidia-vaapi … issues/126, the issue seems to be closed. so is this note not relevant anymore?

V1del · 2024-01-15 21:16:27

The main benefit of video hardware acceleration is that you can avoid roundtrips in the hardware to display the image. If the intel GPU is sufficient for the task you want to decode you're going to get better results and battery life if you keep things on the intel GPU.

jl2 · 2024-01-16 08:15:21

i am on laptop ( intel+nvidia), intel has integrated graphics and nvidia is dedicated. In this case what would you recommend?

I'd recommend the intel one to offload the main gpu.

I'd recommend the igpu for power reasons, especially on a laptop, as long as it can handle it.

- 'libvdpau-va-gl — VDPAU driver with OpenGL/VAAPI backend. H.264 only.' this one is even more confusing

this translates VDPAU calls to VA-API.

- 'nvidia-vaapi-driver — A CUDA NVDEC based backend for VA-API.' - in this NVDEC will do the work by translating VA-API calls made by firefox?

yes

Series 525 of the NVIDIA driver introduced a regression, breaking VA-API. nvidia-vaapi-driver#126 You may downgrade the drivers to version 520 or use the experimental direct-backend in the meantime.

check your nvidia driver . if it isn't 525, try it. (why not?)

Arch Linux

#1 2024-01-13 19:50:49

[solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

#2 2024-01-13 20:49:48

Re: [solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

#3 2024-01-15 16:55:32

Re: [solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

#4 2024-01-15 21:16:27

Re: [solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

#5 2024-01-16 08:15:21

Re: [solved] Struggling with ArchWiki’s ‘Hardware Video Acceleration’

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