Do I need an Nvidia driver in Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS for hw transcoding

[trekker182]

Server Version#: 4.142.2
Player Version#:
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

Hi, I just purchased a Plex Pass because I was tired of getting the playback error message with two 1080p streams simultaneously.

From Plex’s transcoding page, it looks like I need an Nvidia driver for my HD Graphics 630 (rev 4). I am using an old Dell from 2018 an i3-7100 3.90Ghz.

The option to use hardware acceleration isn’t listed under transcoding. My question is how do I know which driver to use? I did that listing using ‘sudo apt search nvidia-driverand’ and there are tons of them. On Plex’s website, it says it has to be 450.66 or newer. I don’t see any specific drivers for my HD Graphics 630 and don’t want to install the wrong one. I’ve enabled it in the BIOS instead of automatic as well.

I’ve tried ubuntu-drivers devices to see which driver I need, but nothing comes up and it is being detected by lspci -k | grep -EA3 ‘VGA|3D|Display’.

When I go to Software & Updates > Additional Drivers, nothing is listed and it says no proprietary drivers are in use. I’m using Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS & access it remotely headless.

Or should Plex’s hardware transcoding work with the existing built-in driver that Ubuntu is using?

DeviceName: Intel HD Graphics
Subsystem: Dell HD Graphics 630
Kernel driver in use: i915

Thanks for everyone’s advice & have a great day!

[ChuckPa]

You do not need Nvidia drivers if you’re using the built-in QSV on the -7xxx CPU
PMS brings everything it needs with it.

Your server’s DEBUG logs of it starting up and capturing one playback attempt are needed to see what it’s not liking.

[trekker182]

Thanks, I couldn’t find a specific error in the logs and partly by Googling and my Ubuntu buddy from a previous job, I tried to go the 22.04 route, but it failed and I had to start fresh with 24.01 and now it is showing up in Plex transcoder settings. It looks like I was using an out dated Kernal. Once I get the movies copied over from the backup that I lost on the Ubuntu drive, I will have to redo my permissions among other settings and I still have to test, but it’s great that I now have that check box and it shows my Intel 630 Graphics from the drop down.