Better performance SW Decoding H265 or HW decoding H264

[robo731]

I've been trying to figure out the best of two options for decoding given my hardware.

I have a GTX 960M and an Intel i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz.

The NVIDIA GPU does not support HEVC hardware decoding. So I'm trying to determine if I would be better off software decoding 10bit HEVC or leveraging the GPU's hardware decoding of 8bit H264.

I have limited knowledge here, so any input would be appreciated. Happy to answer any questions or provide any additional info that my be helpful.

[AMED]

Don't over think it, using the CPU is perfectly fine as long as playback is smooth.

[robo731]

Ok, I haven't actually encoded the source yet, so I was trying to make a determination beforehand. Maybe I just need to try it out I guess.

[Asmodian]

1080p I assume? 4K 10 bit HEVC is going to be too much for a 6700HQ @ 2.6GHz. Note that your GPU cannot decode 10 bit H.264 in hardware either, but your CPU should be able to handle it.

Is size important to you? If you want as small as possible HEVC is worth investigating but if you don't mind somewhat larger files H.264 will definitely be easier for your system to play and looks great. Do test a sample file at your target resolution and framerate.

[huhn]

your intel iGPU should be able to decode HEVC.

[robo731]

1080p I assume?
Yessir.

GPU cannot decode 10 bit H.264 in hardware either
Right, but it should be able to do 8-bit I think.

Is size important to you?
Yeah, I would like to keep the size down as much as possible.

H.264 will definitely be easier for your system to play and looks great. Do test a sample file at your target resolution and framerate.
Thanks for the input, will do.

your intel iGPU should be able to decode HEVC.
Yeah, just realized that recently after some searching (https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/intel/hd_graphics/530#Hardware_Accelerated_Video), will give it a go I think.

[Asmodian]

Yeah, I would like to keep the size down as much as possible.

HEVC is very interesting then, it will be smaller for the same quality compared to 8 bit H.264. Using your iGPU for hardware decoding is good advice, but your CPU might be fine software decoding 10 bit HEVC too. Assuming reasonably low bitrates and framerates and using a 64 bit player.