How to force Intel Quicksync encoding vs AMD encoding

[MarcParis]

Currently on my host machine, I'm using software encoding. Despite it's working great, for some games, I'm facing some minor lags.
I've tried AMD encoding...and to be honest...it's far from stable and universal. Compared to software encoding, only a few games is working on AMD encoding..:(
I was able to use iGPU encoding before Steam September update (when AMD encoding was put in place)...and it was working great!
Thus I would like to force again intel Quicksync for encoding...but I didn't find how to force intel Quicksync vs AMD. On Nvidia drivers it is simple...and on AMD..I didn't find nothing to force iGPU instead of discrete GPU.

Thank you in advance for your support

Of course : my iGPU is activated.

[MarcParis]

Additionnal testing :
My CPU is Intel core i7 4770K
My discrete GPU is : AMD R9-290X
Both CPU and GPU are watercooled.

Dragon Age : Inquisition :
Software encoding : lib x264 (4 threads) : 30fps (approx load of cpu is 80%)
Hardware encoding : D3D11 async + AMF H264 : 60fps

Sims 4 :
Software encoding : lib x264 (4 threads) : 60fps
Hardware encoding : D3D9 + Intel Quicksync !!! : 60fps

World of Tanks :
Software encoding : lib x264 (4 threads) : 60fps
Hardware encoding : D3D9Ex + AMF H264 : 15fps!!! (not working fine)

Well, Steam in-Home is directly choosing which material encoder to use..AMD or Intel...however, choice is not really good for some games (world of tanks, The Evil Within, Dragon age Origins)

AMF H264, when working is really efficient...butmain issue that AMF H264 is not working with many games.

It would be great from Valve/Steam to allow manual change on material encoder, depending of application, or at least in Steam parameters (iGPU or discrete GPU)

[Makoto]

Just rename (or delete) the amf folder in Steam directory and QSV will be used instead of VCE for in-home streaming HW encoding.

Edit: for a permanent approach, to avoid steam file regeneration you can just create an empty amf folder and set "Deny" "Full Control" on an "Authenticated users" group on it.

[thepeted]

Thanks for sharing that workaround - it works a treat for me.

I've been looking for a way to force QSV ever since hardware encoding for AMD was added to IHS. AMF does work for me, but I get lots of microstutter. Radeon 7950.

BIG THUMBS UP!

[MarcParis]

Yes changing folder name of AMF was succesfull!
Thank you for this tip!

Now all games are working with low cpu usage, using intel Quicksync!

Thank you again!

[Makoto]

Originally posted by thepeted:

Thanks for sharing that workaround - it works a treat for me.
AMF does work for me, but I get lots of microstutter. Radeon 7950.

Yes, same for me with a R290, i guess VCE even in 2.0 version isn't fast enough to keep up encoding 1080p@60fps in some cases (i'm guessing AMD is not using a totally dedicated unit like nVidia or Intel), the same goes on decoding for earlier version of UVD (tested up to 2.0 not sure about 3.0 to 4.2)

[MarcParis]

I don't think it's linked to unpowerefull VCE...but mainly untamed power. Nvidia is the leader on others application than games on gpu

[MarcParis]

Today I was forced to choose option #2 proposed by Makoto : create an empty AMF folder and disable all user rights on it. Indeed Steam regenerated renamed/deleted AMF folder...so option #2 is mandatory to keep using intel Quicksync..:)

Thank you again Makoto!

[Baboo]

What Makoto suggested works perfectly. Better performance than encoding with my hd 280. And it seems I have no flickering on hardware decoding on the client now.
Thanks man!

[MarcParis]

sure it's great to force Intel quicksync...shame that option is not available in Steam interface directly

[henryg]

We will add this option soon. Thanks for all the feedback we've heard on this topic!

[MarcParis]

that's a very good news Thanks for taking into account of our feedback!

[DN3092]

Originally posted by henryg:

We will add this option soon. Thanks for all the feedback we've heard on this topic!

Any chance we could get an eta?

[Draggy]

been waiting for this option, thanks!

[GameOver]

I really hope this becomes an option soon. I am a nvidia user and the games that allow quick sync run so much better. Like for instance I can get 40 to 60 fps with the beautiful setting enabled.

But without quicksync I am lucky to get 20 to 40 with the same settting. Usually have to change resolution from 1080 and switch to balanced....

[slouken]

This option is in Big Picture in the current beta client. Please let us know how it works for you!
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Betas