# HW stream decoding fails
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467
**Category:** Plex Media Server
**Tags:** server-unraid
**Created:** [January 19, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467 "2023-01-19T05:47:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gkuzet](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gkuzet)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467/1 "2023-01-19T05:47:30Z")
Server Version#: 1.30.1.6562
Player Version#: Apple TV latest
Repeating log error when streaming, Plex trying to hardware encode:
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Jan 19, 2023 16:39:15.653 [0x14ba96bb8b38] Error — [Req#13f729/Transcode/75787060-8C6C-4ED8-918E-10754E4DF826/50d3fe68-d094-4961-b159-1f095c7123d7] [hevc @ 0x1528bdc52000] decoder-\>cvdl-\>cuvidDecodePicture(decoder-\>decoder, &ctx-\>pic\_params) failed → CUDA\_ERROR\_INVALID\_VALUE: invalid argument
Jan 19, 2023 16:39:15.654 [0x14ba8a3c0b38] Error — [Req#13f730/Transcode/75787060-8C6C-4ED8-918E-10754E4DF826/50d3fe68-d094-4961-b159-1f095c7123d7] [hevc @ 0x1528bdc52000] hardware accelerator failed to decode picture
Jan 19, 2023 16:39:15.654 [0x14ba98c53b38] Error — [Req#13f737/Transcode/75787060-8C6C-4ED8-918E-10754E4DF826/50d3fe68-d094-4961-b159-1f095c7123d7] Error while decoding stream #0:0: Generic error in an external library
Jan 19, 2023 16:39:15.655 [0x14ba985ffb38] Error — [Req#13f73e/Transcode/75787060-8C6C-4ED8-918E-10754E4DF826/50d3fe68-d094-4961-b159-1f095c7123d7] [hevc @ 0x1528bdc52000] Could not find ref with POC 88
Jan 19, 2023 16:39:15.655 [0x14ba991e9b38] Error — [Req#13f745/Transcode/75787060-8C6C-4ED8-918E-10754E4DF826/50d3fe68-d094-4961-b159-1f095c7123d7] [hevc @ 0x1528bdc52000] No decoder surfaces left
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Turning off “Use hardware acceleration when available” in server settings fixes the issue, but this causes CPU encoding.
Playing file accessing Plex Server via browser shows same behviour.
Direct play titles work.
I am thinking the latest plex version induced issues.
Anu help?
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### Author:  [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 6:49am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467/2 "2023-01-19T06:49:19Z")
See thread linked below.
1. Fall back to Nvidia drivers 515.86.01.
Reboot the server after installing the older drivers.
2. Run PMS 1.30.2. Others have fallen back to 1.29.2.
> [@Use hardware-accelerated video encoding got broken with the latest update](https://forums.plex.tv/t/use-hardware-accelerated-video-encoding-got-broken-with-the-latest-update/822997/21):
>
> I have an update on this 1.30.2 – gives us the fixes for EAE and also AV1 hardware decode. As has been discovered, there is something currently incompatible with the CUDA v12.0 API. We’re still working on it. I have confirmed: Nvidia drivers 515.86.01 is more than enough to give you AV1 decode and work with all other existing codecs No errors in PMS 1.30.2 Quoting myself:
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### Author:  [@gkuzet](https://forums.plex.tv/u/gkuzet)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2023, 7:31am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467/3 "2023-01-19T07:31:53Z")
Thank you.
Hopefully new version will fix the issue at not too distant future.
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### Author:  [@studententyp](https://forums.plex.tv/u/studententyp)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467/4 "2023-01-23T11:57:21Z")
Got the same problem. Worked for me with 1.29.2 …
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### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2023, 11:58am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/hw-stream-decoding-fails/827467/5 "2023-04-23T11:58:08Z")
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