How to use intel media sdk with dual intel processor workstation

[Paul_W_2]

Hi,

We are planning to get a dual processor dell workstation running windows 8.1. How will intel media sdk work with such dual intel processor system in terms of hardware encoding. Can we select which intel HD chip to use or is it automatically optimised to use both?

[Bjoern_B_Intel]

Hi Paul,

can you share more details on the System you are going to use. I need processor and chipset Information. You can also just point me to the system on the web.

Thanks,

Bjoern

[Paul_W_2]

Hi Bjoern,

Thanks for the follow up. Can you advise on the following which uses Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2600 v2? http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-t5610-workstation/pd

And also whether that family of processors can use hardware acceleration. 

[Paul_W_2]

Hi Bjoern,

Thanks for the follow up. Can you advise on the following which uses Intel® Xeon® Processor E5-2600 v2? http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/precision-t5610-workstation/pd

And also whether that family of processors can use hardware acceleration. 

[Bjoern_B_Intel]

Hi Paul,

The Intel(R) Xeon(R) E5-2600 v2 series does not come with an integrated graphics device. Therefor you will not get any video encoder/decoder HW acceleration. But the Encoder/Decoder will run in software, optimized for the underlying processor HW architecture. 

The Intel® Xeon® processors supporting media HW acceleration are the following ones:

• E3-128*v3 (e.g. E3-1285v3, E3-1286v3)

• E3-128*Lv3 (e.g. E3-1284Lv3, E3-1285Lv3, E3-1286Lv3)

Furthermore the c226 chipset is required.

Let me know if this answer is of help.

Best,
Bjoern

[Paul_W_2]

Hi Bjoern,

Ok. For the software encoding/decoding, how does intel media sdk optimize for dual processors. Have anyone tried this out before? Is it automatic or is there some APIs to call? This is crucial because it affects our decision to get dual processor if the sdk don't work on both dual processors. =)

Edit: If I choose the processors which you have mentioned in a dual processor set up, will HW acceleration work on dual processors too?

Thanks,

Paul

[Bjoern_B_Intel]

Hi Paul,

How does Intel media SDK optimize for dual processors?
Intel is mainly focusing on HW accelerated codecs and is using the SW implementation for reference and to develop HW features. For best performance you better watch out for a HW accelerated solution.

Will HW acceleration work on dual processors too?
The CPUs mentioned are typically used on a server board (different kinds of) with one Xeon processor socket. Depending on the HW provider they might also offer multi node solutions where multiple acceleration boards (server cartridge) are packed in one bigger system (e.g. HP). You will also find HW solutions based on PCI Express boards (e.g. Artesyn) which can be used in a server or your workstation.

Let me share a small list of suggested HW platforms proved to be working.
• Intel® Server Board S1200V3RPM
• Supermicro* X10SLH-F, X10SAE, X10SAT server boards
• Kontron* SYMKLOUD* MS2900 Media
• Quanta* S910-X31E
• HP* Moonshot* ProLiant* m710 Server Cartridge
• Artesyn* SharpStreamer* PCIE-7207

There are more solutions out, so you just might take this as a starting point. For more details please contact the specific HW vendor directly.

Best,
Bjoern

[Kian_Teck_L_]

Hi Bjoern,

As you mentioned the following Xeon processors are supported for media HW acceleration. I would like to know what is the roadmap for intel xeon processor to continue supporting? it seem like only a limited xeon processor is supporting it. Looking forward, will i have difficulty of getting the supported Xeon processor if i used media HW acceleration?

"The Intel® Xeon® processors supporting media HW acceleration are the following ones:

E3-128*v3 (e.g. E3-1285v3, E3-1286v3)

E3-128*Lv3 (e.g. E3-1284Lv3, E3-1285Lv3, E3-1286Lv3)

Furthermore the c226 chipset is required."

The reason why i choice xeon processor is the ECC support. Is there any other processor that can fulfill ECC and media HW acceleration other than Xeon class?

Regards

Kian Teck