Why isn't there a standalone PCIe x1 Video Decoding Card?

[thomaz909]

I mean, there are or will be Smartphones which decode 4-8k HEVC 10Bit with 0,5-1 Watts Power Consumption.

Why isn't there a tiny dedicated PCIe x1 Card which does the same?

[littlepox]

There had been such things in the old times, like:
https://www.digitalconnection.com/products/video/xcard.asp

Nowadays they disappeared simply because there is little market, as an integrated GPU can probably do that without pain.

Yes you can design such a device, let's say, able to decode HEVC. But don't expect a lot of people around the world is willing to spend money on that as they can choose AVC alternatives(as you can expect, that HEVC is not popular yet) before they upgrade their graphics card in half a year. So how much profit do you expect after you go through a production cycle very similar to a graphics card?

For mobile devices they don't have the problem because that chip is integrated. Little extra cost or production cycle is involved.

[nevcairiel]

The most famous of such devices probably were the Broadcom CrystalHD decoders. They existed back in the early days of H.264 and were somewhat popular then, mostly because GPU decoding wasn't that advanced then.

These days, as littlepox says, any half-recent GPU supports decoding of HEVC streams, so the market would be very small. Development of such a card costs money, and you wouldn't get many people to buy them. So its probably just not profitable to create such.

[benwaggoner]

Nowadays they disappeared simply because there is little market, as an integrated GPU can probably do that without pain.

Although HW decode for HEVC 10-bit is still relatively new.

A GeForce GTX 950 had full HEVC 10-bit decode and supports 10-bit encode, and I see a 1050 on Amazon for $122. Any dedicated HW decoder would probably cost more of that due to the much lower volume production.

Kaby Lake CPUs also include 10-bit HEVC decode, so lots of systems will be getting it for "free."

[sneaker_ger]

and I see a 1050 on Amazon for $122
Don't forget the 1030 (~$70). Passive/silent and low-profile versions exist.

[benwaggoner]

Don't forget the 1030 (~$70). Passive/silent and low-profile versions exist.
Perfect! A low-price, extremely capable decoder card WITH pixel shaders and display capabilities!

[huhn]

be aware that netflix is not "supporting" the 1030 because i only holds 2 Gb Vram.

[NikosD]

So, you grab a RX 550 with HEVC 10 bit decoding and 4GB VRAM, although no driver exists, I think, for Netflix 4K decoding yet.

[Blue_MiSfit]

Gotta have that sweet sweet PlayReady SL3000 hardware DRM solution ;)