8K HEVC (H.265) video decoding uses CPU instead of iGPU - Intel Core Ultra 5 135U W11 Education

[FrancisDu]

Hello Intel Team,

I’m experiencing a repeatable issue with 8K video playback on multiple new systems that all use the Intel Core Ultra 5 135U processor with integrated graphics.

System details

• Laptop model: Dell Latitude 5450, 8 GB DDR5

• OS: Windows 11 Education, fully updated

• Updates: Windows updates are applied through our organization’s controlled/filtered update system, and all Intel drivers (including graphics) are updated manually via Intel Driver & Support Assistant.

• Anti-virus: Windows Defender only

Problem description

• Any 8K HEVC (H.265) video lags badly in VLC (which is our preferred media player installed on all workstations) and Windows Media Player.

• Video shows gray artifacts while audio remains fine.

• In Google Drive playback in Chrome, the same video streams smoothly (server-side decoding).

• UHD (4K) and lower-resolution videos play perfectly.

Observations

• Task Manager shows CPU spikes to 100% while the integrated GPU video decode engine stays at 0% when playing 8K content.

• For UHD/4K content, GPU video decode is used correctly and CPU usage stays low.

• Same behavior confirmed on several identical Dell Latitude 5450 systems, so it’s not a single hardware fault.

Troubleshooting performed

• Tested different media players (VLC, Windows Media Player).

• Updated BIOS, Intel drivers, and confirmed Windows updates through our managed update process.

• Verified the files are HEVC (H.265) and the CPU is advertised to support this codec.

• Issue reproduces across all identical laptops.

It looks like the integrated GPU is not engaging for hardware decoding at 8K HEVC, forcing software decode on the CPU and causing stuttering.

I’ve attached the requested IDSA zip file.

Please advise if this is a known limitation or bug, or if there’s a workaround/driver update planned.

(Note: this post was drafted with the help of AI to assist with English translation.)

Francis D.

[FrancisDu]

Hi,
I just realized I posted this question in the wrong forum section.
Please go ahead and close or delete this thread, I’ve already found the correct place to post.

Thank you!