What is Cheapest Video Card for H.265?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
What video cards have hardware h.265 encoding is hard to find. Mostly...its mentioned as a comment in some other review. I've been to the manufacturers websites and its "hidden" there too. You can read the intro and think it will identify the h.265 cards....but then.... it doesn't really. Why isn't this just a line item description in the product spec?

Anyway, what I'd like to find is any website that identifies what video cards support H.265? Is it virtually synomous with Direct X 12 or something that simple? I know: Kaby and Gen 6 cpu's support h.265...but my question is for video cards. So far...I'm fairly certain the Radeon RX 480 supports it with the cheapest card being $180. I'm hoping for something closer to $100...if its out there.

(((Bonus?==>Is Radeon always cheaper than Nvidia for comparable performance? Thats my impression from general reading. Kinda an AMD vs Intel sort of thing????)))
Thanks.
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
F

fluked

Commendable
Jan 25, 2017
66
0
1,660
Even older used cards can DECODE 1080p h265 just fine, probably 40usd'ish range.

You need to ask better questions. What resolution? Do you plan to encode also? Do you need low profile? Do you need multiple displays? Is there power restristions?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
14,240
93
75,540
For nvidia it's simple as they provide an easy to see chart. https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-video-codec-sdk The 900 series or newer. Earlier have partial support but that can't really be counted if it's not full support. Intel is skylake or newer. Amd is harder to find, it should be gcn 3rd gen or newer. With the rx 400 series still having some gen 1, I don't know if they updated them to work.

From what I can tell, just be on the safe side with a rx 460 or 1050. If it's a new pc, just using the igpu on sky/kaby will be cheaper.

Generally amd gpus will be slightly cheaper. They are close though. For instance the 460 and 1050 is $100 and $110 right now and are close in performance. You'd have to look at deals which change daily to find what is actually better to buy at the time you are buying.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
Thanks Moderator....I went to the link, could not find a reference to "900 series" etc. Lots of good information....but no identification of what gpus/cards support H.265. Its the very problem I complain of: talk in detail with charts of Maxwell GM206, Kepler GPU, Pascal GPU NVence and SDK...but when I go to NewEgg, none of these terms show up.....so I'm left not knowing at all if any card will have hardware encoding of H.265 or not.

My computer is half frozen/stalling right now as my cpu's are 100% maxed out decoding with new software right now. Sorry if its too messy. I'll come back in a few hours or more......Thanks. (Edit to fix typos)
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
OK.... very related, I'm testing new encoding software (this is 7th Share) that is x3 faster than Handbrake...but takes 100% of the cpu making multi tasking impossible. At first go, the "affinity" control did not have effect, now I think it is as the cpu cores are bouncing down to 80% allow the computer to work. Hmmm.... with 3 x the speed, doesn't look I will need a different video card ?

but on that topic: I've confirmed the link above. good info on CPU's but none on video cards?....or am I missing some key info? I followed the links on that page...still no help.

Where or how can I confirm whether or not a particular video card supports H.265? Just reading, H.265 is aimed at "large" data transfers such as found in 4K videos. I sense I can assume that cards designed to handle 4K displays can also support H.265 encoding? But I'm not going to spend $400 on an assumption.....and I would like to ease into this with an entry $100 offering if I can confirm it will even work.

Speaking of "working": the link states the value of hardware encoding of H.265 is that it leaves the cpu AND THE GPU.... free for other tasks. Well, thats why I bought my current video card for the CUDA cores...but there is NO difference when encoding with CUDA or not CUDA...my quadcores get used the same. I'm assuming the Cuda cores are different...but I think thats why I got the unit ...in order to free up my cpu. Didn't happen.

thanks again. No solution yet.....and I'd think "everyone" wants to know?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
14,240
93
75,540
You're stepping into more technical details that most people don't know about so it's not going to be simplified to what retailers give options for. You're going to have to know more to understand the info given like the codenames for the architectures which must be used instead of the series since most series are mixed with gpu rebrandings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Radeon_400_series The rx 400 series as an example, we see gcn gen 1 which was used since the 7000 series, so that's 7000, rx 200, rx 300, and rx 400 series that all use it. Maxwell gm206 = 950 and 960. That means the 970 and up fall under maxwell 2nd gen so don't have full support. Pascal is the 10 series.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
Ikaz: thanks. I use testimony when nothing else is available...but even with, I wonder if "all" such cards have H.265 capability? No doubt...some do...but at the bottom of the line intro cards? Thats why I want it in print ..... somewhere.

Security Guy: same as above.

fluked: I agree. Any card/NO card can decode. but the issue is what cards HAVE H.265 hardware to support this function: ie, much faster with dedicated circuits. Also: "should" help with multi-tasking if the encoding is truly offloaded.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
k1114....thanks. Your answer is quite ironic. How can anyone "know" about the subject WHEN the manufacturers DON'T PROVIDE THE INFORMATION? As stated: it should be a line item like how many CUDA Cores or what power socket it uses or its Direct Show version....but no such luck. Rather odd I think when H.265 is very much a performance/value consideration......and I assume they have to pay for the right to use it?

You said "Pascal is the 10 series". I am ignorant enough to wonder if the 10 referes to 10 bit encoding which is better than 8 but with a new system I think I would want 12?--but probably that 10 is just a name? Yes....basics. but how can anyone learn if the info is not "somewhere."

Looks to me I will wait for more responses, probably re specific video cards, then call the manufacturer and see if the sales department even has access to such info? What I feel good about is that its "not me." The info really is not provided?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
NewEgg is selling a 460 for $90. think I'll go for this rather than a cheaper model and just "hope" it will do H.265 coding. If not, I will still benefit from having 3 active monitors.

Of interest, one Q&A says the 460, a pcie 3.0 card, will run "without issues" in a pcie 2.0 slot which will be my situation. I can see that being true or false....and it raises for me just what does that 3.0 status "really" provide over the 2.0. In the next year, I'll be building a VR rig and I do assume VR won't run in a 2.0 pcie slot...although if I had nothing but time and no fear of bending a pin...that sort of issue might be fun to explore??

I do love Moore's Law.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126125
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
14,240
93
75,540
We know the 10 series and 4th gen gcn can do it. The other rx 400s for amd are the only ones in question since they are rebrandings. The info is there and the manufacturers do provide the info, somewhere. It's just not easy as it hardly matters. I don't think it's odd at all. It's a new tech that's not widely used and old cpus can still easily do it. Core 2 quad can do 4k h265 decoding. If 10 year old cpus can do it, why worry for modern hardware? Gpu acceleration isn't a big deal for this low load work and you never hear about video codec compatibility listed in specs.

The 10 series is nvidia's latest gpu series and has nothing to do with bit capabilities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_10_series

3.0 does work perfectly fine in pcie 2.0 slots. I even have a 3.0 card in 1.0 slot and works perfectly fine. The only difference is bandwidth and for video you don't have to worry. That's for gaming. If you want vr, you can certainly do it on a 2.0 slot. Again, just bandwidth and even a 1080 still has a negligible decrease. https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_1080_PCI_Express_Scaling/24.html The issue is what hardware you have to know if it is good enough performance. Bending a pin on pcie is nearly impossible. There seems to be a lot you are saying that makes no sense. I think you just have a lot to learn about pcs. The info is out there and easy to find. There is a lot to learn though. Pcs aren't a simple topic.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
Thanks k114. I have installed a Radeon 460 into my Pci-e 2.0 slot. It will run one monitor in a "disabled condition." Will be hooking up two more monitors when the adapter plugs arrive by mail from NewEgg. I'm not getting any speed boost at all from the additional stream processors....its like the software is using ONLY the cpus. Got some more testing to check on that as at the same time I'm trying to install a fresh ISO of Windows 10 and right now, I can't get the dvd to load the installer. The alternative of loading Rufus onto a usb stick along with the Windows ISO also does not work....the usb stick will not copy the win iso. Weird as it will accept a Linux ISO. Such it is with Microsoft ....

We can always know more than we do.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
R

Robert_341

Commendable
Jan 10, 2017
34
0
1,530
k1114: indeed I may have the terminology wrong. I just experienced several problems getting the Win10 ISO to download...as in it would not download to either a file for installation on another computer nor would it download to the usb stick. I fussed around and then it did download to my computer. Then it would not burn to my dvd Burner, but then it did....but now the disk will not run on reboot to install on a fresh hard drive. In my fustration, I downloaded, burned and loaded a Linux distribution Zorin 9.0...so I think I do know "how to do it" but Microsoft isn't cooperating in some way. Meanwhile, Skype won't load on Zorin, and dual monitors won't work on my Windows computer....so, lots going on. I'm going to go back to the installation of Win 10 after a couple of days. Priorities. I'll post back here with my outcome. Thanks for your interest.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom