Force Plex to Hardware Transcode with GPU?

Server Version#: 1.27.2.5929
Player Version#: 4.85.1

I have read every post I could find on here and elsewhere. I cannot find a way to get Plex to transcode with my GPU. When transcoding, Plex will primarily use my CPU around 40 - 60 %, and my GPU around 0 - 10%.

It only becomes a problem when transcoding 4k h.265 video. My GPU can easily handle it, but Plex isn’t using it.

My setup:

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 (running latest driver from Nvidia)
Windows 10 Pro 19044.1826
Intel Core I7 6700 CPU

Things I’ve tried that aren’t working:

Windows Settings/Display/Graphics Settings/ Added “Plex Media Server.exe” & “Plex Transcoder.exe” to the list and selected my GPU for “High Performance.” Also selected “Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling”

Enabled " Use hardware acceleration when available" and “Use hardware-accelerated video encoding” in Plex. Also changed transcoder settings to “Prefer Higher Quality” and also tried “Make my CPU hurt”

I’ve started Plex as an administrator to see if that would help. (I’m not running it as a windows service)

Rebooted multiple times.

None of the above has made a difference. Plex still transcodes primarily with my CPU.

I pasted the most recent transcode event from the Plex Media Server logs below.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Jul 16, 2022 07:56:32.750	WARN	[Req#1dd/Transcode/oqde28tl9vd4oaj78ci9uiho] Timed out waiting for segment.
Jul 16, 2022 07:56:32.749	WARN	[Req#1d7/Transcode/oqde28tl9vd4oaj78ci9uiho] Timed out waiting for segment.
Jul 16, 2022 07:56:32.649	WARN	[Req#1dd/Transcode/oqde28tl9vd4oaj78ci9uiho] Transcode runner appears to have died.
Jul 16, 2022 07:56:32.649	WARN	[Req#1d7/Transcode/oqde28tl9vd4oaj78ci9uiho] Transcode runner appears to have died.
Jul 16, 2022 07:55:51.330	INFO	[Req#be/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - MFT name: 'Microsoft AAC Audio Encoder MFT'
Jul 16, 2022 07:55:51.066	INFO	[Req#be/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - MFT name: 'Microsoft Dolby Digital Plus Decoder MFT'
Jul 16, 2022 07:55:51.011	INFO	[Req#be/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - MFT name: 'Microsoft AAC Audio Encoder MFT'
Jul 16, 2022 07:55:50.499	ERROR	[Req#be/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Error initializing an MFX session: -3.

Update - I discovered that the problem is HDR tonemapping.

Any 4k file with HDR is being sent to my CPU for the tonemapping and causing it to choke.

4K content without HDR is transcoding perfectly on my GPU.

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.