Nvidia hardware encode on linux host?

[[masni] CYKA CLEANER]

Does it work? I tried with 680 and 352 driver and it doesn't....

[Yamagata]

I've spent quite a bit of time trying to get this to work, with no success. I've manually updated the drivers, installed all relevant packages, and even verified VDPAU, VAAPI, and NVENC support are available via VLC and ffmpeg.

It seems like the Steam client completely ignores hardware encoding if you have a recent nVidia card right now. I cannot find any errors in the logs that would indicate *why* it chooses not to use hardware encoding; it simply says it chooses to use the NV12 software method with 4 threads every time. (The Steam stdout log is equally unhepful.)

I'm currently focusing most of my efforts on a SteamOS install using a GeForce 880M.

[supermarket70]

This still seems to be an issue. Debian sid here. NV12...

[Halfmystic]

Of course, as soon as I decide to install SteamOS on my spare PC to in house stream, some BS Nvidia driver issue for bandwidth limitation happens.

[Suros:/#]

Still waiting on this feature, but now more than ever. The new Steam Link has revealed to me that 1080p is simply too much for software encoding. Barely gets by with 720p.

[Magbed@Linux! 🐧]

Waiting as well... seems like Linux is always lagging behind on features.
Hardware encoding seems like is not working on either Ubuntu or SteamOS. Also broadcasting is still missing on Linux. I though this things would be fixed by Steam machines launch date...

[Yamagata]

There is a suggestion here about diagnosing and possibly enabling it, though I cannot currently confirm if it works. https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/3t50df/hardware_encoding_on_a_gtx_970_with_latest_nvidia/

[Adelin]

Kubuntu 15.10 here, 358.09 drivers,
My laptop with gtx850m +hardware encoder on nvidia, is working fine, hardware decoding on my hd 7870 card, the graphics are good and performance ok.

I don't use the streaming feature from linux host to windows client, but i wanted to share it was working.

[Adelin]

AH no you are right it's maybe not nvidia hardware encoder:
Opn GL NV12+ libx246 main 4 threads

I think when i tested it for the first time it was using nvenc, but now it show nv12

[Suros:/#]

The driver has supported NVENC since 346. Also I'm pretty sure Quick Sync is working as well as there's a paid program that utilizes it. Just waiting on Valve.

[Chris]

Same here, newest long live driver with a gtx970 here, but hardware encoding does not work.
There is also a ticket in the steam github page, maybe it makes sense if you guys add your hw/sw details there also.

Sadly i didn't get any answer yet if hw encoding on Linux should already work and my system is the issue or it is simply not implemented yet (llooks like that way cause i don't see any hw encoding entries in the logfiles)

We need this feature , cause needing to use the cpu for software encoding simply is to big of a performance hit for newer games which already use >2 cores to perform well. Streaming in 1080p with software encoding is impossible if you want to get 60fps to play e.g. grid or dirt showdown.

@Valve: Any news about that topic ?

[libgradev]

Not working here either - tried both from a workstation and a SteamOS machine (which you would assume would rule out any 'missing package' issues)...

Github ticket link: Enabling nvidia hardware encoding does not actually enable hardware encoding[github.com]

@Valve: could a dev please interject and just confirm that this feature is broken under SteamOS/Linux currently?

[Chris]

Hi,

same accounts for Intel quicksync or amd (if there is one on linux)hardware encoding on Linux. We are missing informations about all the hw encoding on Linux.

It would really by great to get info from Valve about the status of the topic on Linux.

Best regards,
Christia

[libgradev]

Originally posted by Chris:

Hi,

same accounts for Intel quicksync or amd (if there is one on linux)hardware encoding on Linux.

I also tried to get QuickSync working without any joy FWIW...

[Chris]

Is no Valve employee willing to give a short statement ?

[Suros:/#]

Originally posted by Chris:

Is no Valve employee willing to give a short statement ?

I saw one back in November about CUDA encoding to be ready in a week. That never happened and when I went back to find it, it had been deleted. I believe it was written by somebody going by the name of "henryg" who also had one of those Valve tags. Really feels bad when they're all over getting 5.1 surround in there while we can't even play our high end games on stream.