Intel Arc A310 transcode issues - CPU fall back

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: v.1.42.2.10156-f737b826c
Player Version#: Various Roku/Mobile clients

I am using a Windows 11 machine as a Plex Media Server (I know, Linux would probably be better, but I am more familiar with Windows.) and have been running into issues with the iGPU on my Ryzen 5600G. I have since added an Intel Arc A310 card to help with the load and improve performance, however, I am seeing consistent issues.

  1. Certain media will begin transcoding using the GPU, using the (hw) tag in the dashboard. At certain points, or with certain media types, the transcode fails back over to CPU and causes extreme buffers.

  2. Live TV from my HD homerun refuses to use the Intel Arc Card at all. Only leverages CPU for transcode from 1080i to 1080p on Roku players. If I attempt to watch the same Live TV session from another device such as my phone, it fails entirely. On any given day I have 5 to 12 streams with ~half requiring some form of transcode depending on the remote player or internet connection of the remote watcher, so it’d be nice to have a discrete GPU.

Troubleshooting I’ve done:

  1. Ensured Intel Arc has most recent drivers from Intel.
  2. Set the Plex.exe, Plex Media Server.exe, and Plex Transcoder to leverage the Intel Arc GPU in Windows Settings.
  3. Set high performance plan.
  4. Have dummy HDMI device plugged into the GPU.
  5. Set Intel Card as the hardware transcode in Plex Settings.
  6. Turned tone mapping off for HDR.
  7. Hardware acceleration is turned on.
  8. Messed with Enable HEVC video Encoding (experimental) set to “HEVC Sources Only”.

I am thinking I will just return the A310 and look for something else (or try and see if I can get my iGPU issue sorted), but I wanted to see if I am just being dumb.

Hoping someone smart has the groundbreaking solution I am missing!

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Resizable BAR is enabled in BIOS as well. Forgot to mention that.

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Speaking specifically about point number 2, and specifically regarding Roku devices. There is a Plex app setting in the client allowing MPEG2 support and experimental MPEG2 1080i support which may help. I don’t have my Roku device set up currently and can’t guide you specifically to the settings, but I’ll see if I can find one of my prior posts where I mentioned them.

Here’s what I was referring to:

I fully understand it doesn’t address your question regarding Intel Arc transcoding. But it may help to improve your experience, at least on Roku devices.

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I found the option in my Roku plex app and LiveTV is now just direct playing with no transcode. Nice, cant believe I didn’t stumble on that before.

I’ll see if this also takes care of the other issues I’m seeing and will update the post accordingly.

@pshanew you earned a gold star from me! :slight_smile:

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Awesome, glad it helped!