Nvidia NVENC is a feature in its graphics cards that performs video encoding, offloading this compute-intensive task from the CPU. It was introduced with the Kepler-based GeForce 600 series in March 2012.
The encoder is supported in many streaming and recording programs, such as Wirecast, Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) and Bandicam, and also works with Share game capture, which is included in Nvidia's GeForce Experience software.
It is accompanied by NVDEC for video decoding in Nvidia's Video Codec SDK.
Video Nvidia NVENC
Versions
NVENC has undergone several hardware revisions since its introduction with the first Kepler GPU (GK104).
First generation, Kepler
The first generation of NVENC, which is shared by all Kepler-based GPUs, supports H.264 high-profile (YUV420, I/P/B frames, CAVLC/CABAC), H.264 SVC Temporal Encode VCE, and Display Encode Mode (DEM).
NVidia's documentation states a peak encoder throughput of 8× realtime at a resolution of 1920×1080 (where the baseline "1×" equals 30 Hz). Actual throughput varies on the selected preset, user-controlled parameters and settings, and the GPU/memory clock frequencies. The published 8× rating is achievable with the NVENC high-performance preset, which sacrifices compression efficiency and quality for encoder throughput. The high-quality preset is considerably slower but produces fewer compression artifacts.
Second generation, Maxwell GM107
Introduced with the first-generation Maxwell architecture, second generation NVENC adds support for the high-performance
HP444 profile (YUV4:4:4, predictive lossless encoding), and increases encoder throughput up to 16× realtime, which corresponds to about 1080p @ 480 Hz with the high-performance preset.)
Maxwell GM108 does not have NVENC hardware encoder support.
Third generation, Maxwell GM20x
Introduced with the second-generation Maxwell architecture, third generation NVENC implements the video compression algorithm High Efficiency Video Coding (a.k.a. HEVC, H.265) and also increases the H.264 encoder's throughput to cover 4K-resolution at 60 Hz (2160p60). However, it does not support B-frames for HEVC encoding (just I and P frames). The maximum NVENC HEVC coding tree unit (CU) size is 32 (the HEVC standard allows a maximum of 64), and its minimum CU size is 8.
HEVC encoding also lacks Sample Adaptive Offset (SAO). Adaptive quantization, look-ahead rate control, adaptive B-frames (H.264 only) and adaptive GOP features were added with the release of Nvidia Video Codec SDK 7. These features rely on CUDA cores for hardware acceleration.
SDK 7 supports two forms of adaptive quantization; Spatial AQ (H.264 and HEVC) and Temporal AQ (H.264 only).
Nvidia's consumer-grade (GeForce) cards are restricted to two simultaneous encoding jobs. Their professional Quadro cards do not have this restriction.
Fourth generation, Pascal GP10x
Fourth generation NVENC implements HEVC Main10 10-bit hardware encoding. It also doubles the encoding performance of 4K H.264 & HEVC when compared to previous generation NVENC. It supports HEVC 8K, 4:4:4 chroma subsampling, lossless encoding, and sample adaptive offset (SAO).
Nvidia Video Codec SDK 8 added Pascal exclusive Weighted Prediction feature (CUDA based). Weighted prediction is not supported if the encode session is configured with B frames (H.264).
There is no B-Frame support for HEVC encoding, and the maximum CU size is 32×32.
The Nvidia gt 1030 does not support nvenc. It is a gp108 chip.
Fifth generation, Volta GV10x
Maps Nvidia NVENC
Operating system support
The Nvidia NVENC SIP core needs to be supported by the device driver. The driver provides one or more interfaces, (e.g. OpenMAX IL) to NVENC. The NVENC SIP core can only be accessed through the proprietary NVENC API (as opposed to the open-source VDPAU API).
It is bundled with Nvidia's GeForce driver.
NVENC is available for Windows and Linux operating systems. The free and open-source nouveau device driver does not support Nvidia NVENC.
FFmpeg has supported NVENC since 2014, and is supported in Nvidia drivers.
See also
- Intel Quick Sync Video, Intel's equivalent SIP core
- Video Coding Engine, AMD's equivalent SIP core
References
External links
NVIDIA VIDEO CODEC SDK
Source of article : Wikipedia
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