Problem with HEVC 4K 8-bit playback with Atom x7-Z8700 Cherry Trail

[PJ]

I have Surface 3 (Windows 10 x64) with the latest Graphic driver: 08/04/2015,10.18.15.4248

But when I play an HEVC 8-bit 4K video with Atom x7-Z8700, I get square artifacts:

http://imgbox.com/3b2aIiqh imgbox - fast, simple image host

Please solve the driver problem

[MSchm21]

10.18.15.4248 is outdated as hell, update your driver and try again before reporting an issue because it possibly is fixed already in newer drivers.

[PJ]

Since I know, there's no new driver for Cherry Trail.

[idata]

Hi PJay,

I checked the specs of your Microsoft® Surface-3 and I found the maximum resolution of the Surface-3 is 1920 x 1280; it's possible that this issue comes up because 4k only supported by 6 generations processors.Regards,Hellen.

[PJ]

Thanks for reply,

It doesn't relate to the screen resolution. It can output 4K easily via Display Port though:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Microsoft-Surface-3-Tablet-Convertible-Review.141116.0.html Microsoft Surface 3 Tablet/Convertible Review - NotebookCheck.net Reviews

It also fully supports HEVC format up to 4K resolution:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/Microsoft/Surface_3/dxva.jpg http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/Microsoft/Surface_3/dxva.jpg

[idata]

Hi PJay,

Please check, if in this link form Microsoft® is there any driver that could help you to fix this issue.https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/install-update-activate/download-drivers-and-firmware-for-surface?os=windows-10 https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/install-update-activate/download-drivers-and-firmware-for-surface?os=windows-10It is important to mention that we sell our Intel chipsets and processors to third party manufacturers as Microsoft® and they design their own computers with their own features, settings and capabilities.For that reason they design their own drivers, to meet the exact specifications on their computers.Regards,Hellen.

[PJ]

I have already the latest drivers but no luck:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040

[idata]

Hi PJay,

Let me investigate more about this issue, and as soon I get a solution I would let you know the answered.Regards,Hellen.

[PJ]

No solution yet?

[CCris2]

Hi,

What player you use ? Not all players are able to play correctly 4k content.

You can try use this player : http://www.videohelp.com/software/PotPlayer PotPlayer 1.6.60136 / 1.6.60286 Beta - Download

I use this on an i7 6700k and it playes nicely, and it has option to use hardware or software codecs.

[PJ]

Windows 10's media players, MPC-HC, PotPlayer, DXVA Checker...

i7 6700K is Skylake and it has different driver but Atom x7-Z8700 is Cherry Trail and I couldn't still find a newer working graphic driver for Surface 3

[CCris2]

The drivers for Surface 3 are provided by microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38826 Download Surface Pro 3 from Official Microsoft Download Center

and they are dated 4/25/2016

[PJ]

It's Surface 3 not Surface Pro 3

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040 Download Surface 3 Wi-Fi from Official Microsoft Download Center

[CCris2]

Ok, you didn't mention what type was

You have those drivers ?

[PJ]

Surface 3 Pro has Core i5 Haswell not Atom Cherry Trail.

I got the driver from here (also said in the first post) :

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49040 Download Surface 3 Wi-Fi from Official Microsoft Download Center

[idata]

Hi PJay,

I apologize; this is the answer I could get. Cherry Trail supports HEVC hardware decoding up to 3840x2160 resolutions.Supported media detailed, page 130: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/atom/atom-z8000-datasheet-vol-1.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/atom/atom-z8000-datasheet-vol-1.html Surface 3 drivers are customized by Microsoft, in regards to your issue my recommendation is to contact Microsoft and request to review the Graphics driver issue on your device.https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/install-update-activate/download-drivers-and-firmware-for-surface?os=windows-10 https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/support/install-update-activate/download-drivers-and-firmware-for-surface?os=windows-10 Regards,Hellen.

[CCris2]

Hi Hellen,

The problem is that the HEVC/H265 codec is not available in encode/decode page (on skylake i7 6700k is the same problem), in the program he is using.

It can be selected only the software codecs ...

When I tried to run a lower then 4k video with Quick Sync selected as H265 decoder the PotPlayer went on software mode ... It worked in hardware mode only when I used DXVA.

When I played H264 movies in 4k they worked with Quick Sync.

[PJ]

I use DXVA2 native.

As you see in the screenshot of the first post, Z8700 can play HEVC 4k 8-bit in hardware mode but with artifacts/incorrect block colors.

[CCris2]

When you play on PotPlayer you get same artifacts ?

[PJ]

Yes, it's not player/decoder problem.

[CCris2]

I see.

I just hope the next driver will fix this thing also as there are lots of problems reported.