Hardware acceleration

[IFri]

Hi 

My system:

CPU: i5-10400, Intel® UHD Graphics 630,
Ubuntu 20.4 LTS

I am running the hello-decode example and i am confusing about the option of the SW or HW acceleration, 
So if the SW option was set, the decode run on the CPU itself (software decoder like FFMPEG), or it using the hardware acceleration that embedded in the CPU (UHD graphics 630).

And if I understand correctly the HW is for using external CPU (like XE or NVIDIA GEFORCE).

Thanks for the answer!

[Rahila_T_Intel · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Thank you for posting in Intel Communities.

If Media SDK is initialized with HW flag it means that Intel GPU fixed function HW will be used to accelerate codec. Note that HW acceleration is not available on all Intel platforms. This is where things may seem a bit confusing, since the recent Intel platforms such as the 2nd generation Intel core processors (also code named Sandy Bridge) have GPU and CPU integrated on the same silicon. When we refer to the GPU on such a platform we often refer to Intel Processor Graphics.

If Media SDK is initialized with SW flag it means that the codec workload will be executed on the CPU only. And yes, CPU codec execution is optimized for the specific CPU architecture.

And again, keep in mind that if you have a discrete graphics card installed, Media SDK HW acceleration will not work by default.

HEVC codec is implemented as a plugin unlike codecs such as MPEG2 and AVC. 

We provide 2 implementations of the HEVC decoders: Software (SW) and Hardware (HW).

In case of using HEVC plugin (h265 video type), plugin type (hardware or software) used by default is set depending on -sw or -hw sample options. 

However, hardware HEVC plugins work on specific platforms only. To force usage of specific HEVC plugin implementation, please use -pe and -pd options with proper plugin GUID.

Windows : The Windows releases contain software and hardware implementations. MFX IMPL AUTO ANY implies the session will be initialized to use HW acceleration (regardless in which adapter the Intel HD Graphics device resides) if available on the processor. If HW acceleration is not available, the Intel® Media SDK defaults to SW implementation.

Linux : The Linux releases do NOT include a software implementation. MFX IMPL AUTO ANY will attempt to start the session with hardware acceleration. If the hardware implementation cannot be found initialization is not successful.

Please refer the below links 

https://github.com/Intel-Media-SDK/MediaSDK/blob/510d19dcace1d8c57567fdd40b557155ab11ab8e/doc/samples/readme-decode_linux.md

https://github.com/Intel-Media-SDK/MediaSDK/blob/510d19dcace1d8c57567fdd40b557155ab11ab8e/doc/tutorials/mediasdk-tutorials-readme.md

Hope this will clarify your doubts.

Thanks

[IFri]

Thnaks!

[Rahila_T_Intel]

Hi,

We assume that your issue is resolved.

Make sure to accept this as a solution. This would help others with similar issue.

Thank you! 

[Rahila_T_Intel]

Hi,

Thanks for accepting our solution. If you need any additional information, please post a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel.

Thanks