# Intel Quick Sync Video **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [November 17, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332 "2012-11-17T20:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/1 "2012-11-17T20:35:17Z")
SandyBridge hardware encoding/decoding Quick Sync is a hardware video encoder built into the Intel SandyBridge chipset. It would be great to have that functionality included in the Plex Media Server. Since the Plex transcoder is based off of ffmpeg it might be worth looking at [this.](http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/integrating-intel-media-sdk-with-ffmpeg-for-muxdemuxing-and-audio-encodedecode-usages) and especially [this](http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=162442) which is a functional version of ffmpeg that can encode/decode using the IQS. ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/2 "2012-11-23T03:40:59Z")
Cross-linking to another request. [intel-quicksync-support](http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/40113-intel-quicksync-support/) ---
**Author:** ![Darknight670](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Darknight670](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Darknight670)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/3 "2012-11-23T09:11:22Z")
You should request that to ffmpeg dev if you really want it ---
**Author:** ![songok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@songok](https://forums.plex.tv/u/songok)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/4 "2013-01-24T16:03:41Z")
> [@](#): > > You should request that to ffmpeg dev if you really want it Excuse my ignorance but am I correct in saying that plex uses FFmpeg for decoding? I thought FFmpeg was not really supported anymore?(gradually declining support over the last while) Again, not an expert but is something like lav filters not better supported and thus more likely to implement quicksync decoding and other optimisations quicker than FFmpeg? Cheers for any answers to the above. Obviosly my point in posting is I would love to see quicksync being used in future. ---
**Author:** ![Kamus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/kamus/32/2457_2.png) [@Kamus](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Kamus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2013, 1:16am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/5 "2013-01-25T01:16:50Z")
The ball is on the developers hands now: [http://www.anandtech.com/show/6665/intels-quick-sync-coming-soon-to-your-favorite-open-source-transcoding-applications-](http://www.anandtech.com/show/6665/intels-quick-sync-coming-soon-to-your-favorite-open-source-transcoding-applications-) the new SDK makes this possible from what i understand. this would be an amazing feature for PMS transcodes, where speed is more important than quality (the quality can be overcome with higher bitrates easily) Having multiple 1080p transcodes going at the same time would be possible this way. ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/6 "2013-02-24T22:02:48Z")
> [@](#): > > You should request that to ffmpeg dev if you really want it They are already aware as per the links I provided. ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/7 "2013-04-26T00:22:13Z")
I've created a ticket for this. If you want to check on the status of the ticket, you can click [here](https://plexapp.lighthouseapp.com/projects/14382-plex/tickets/1484-intel-quicksync-video-acceleration-for-transcoding). ---
**Author:** ![snickers\_1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/snickers_1/32/91590_2.png) [@snickers\_1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/snickers_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/8 "2013-04-26T16:03:49Z")
would be cool ---
**Author:** ![Trudge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@Trudge](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Trudge)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/9 "2013-04-26T16:09:50Z")
> I've created a ticket for this. If you want to check on the status of the ticket, you can click [here](https://plexapp.lighthouseapp.com/projects/14382-plex/tickets/1484-intel-quicksync-video-acceleration-for-transcoding). this is really something you need to be lobbying the ffmpeg project on (as is already noted above).  Plex uses ffmpeg for all its encode/transcode/decode so once they add it, Plex will be able to make use of it. ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/10 "2013-04-29T00:27:06Z")
Simply put: I'm going to keep trying all angles until progress is made. I'm even thinking of starting a bounty for the feature. > this is really something you need to be lobbying the ffmpeg project on (as is already noted above).  Plex uses ffmpeg for all its encode/transcode/decode so once they add it, Plex will be able to make use of it. ---
**Author:** ![snickers\_1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/snickers_1/32/91590_2.png) [@snickers\_1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/snickers_1)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/11 "2013-04-29T15:17:19Z")
I just asked about QuickSync in the FFmpeg Forum. I'll post their answer. ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/12 "2013-05-24T18:09:15Z")
Is there a link to your request? If so, can you post it? > I just asked about QuickSync in the FFmpeg Forum. I'll post their answer. ---
**Author:** ![techmattr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/techmattr/32/5565_2.png) [@techmattr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/techmattr)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/13 "2013-05-25T02:09:42Z")
Oh I hope this is optional if its ever implemented. Hardware encoding is fast but it looks so bad. Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD ---
**Author:** ![jcoffi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/jcoffi/32/173511_2.png) [@jcoffi](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jcoffi)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/14 "2013-06-08T18:39:01Z")
Everything I've seen suggests the quality is the best for hardware encoding (but still not quiet as good as software encoding). To the average viewer you can't tell the difference. But i agree, I don't think it should be an all or nothing deal. > Oh I hope this is optional if its ever implemented. Hardware encoding is fast but it looks so bad. Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD ---
**Author:** ![WhatPlantsCrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/6a8cbe/32.png) [@WhatPlantsCrave](https://forums.plex.tv/u/WhatPlantsCrave)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2014, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/15 "2014-06-10T16:10:05Z")
I suggest anyone interested in this feature visit here to upvote this feature request at ffmpeg: [http://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/2591](http://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/2591) Unfortunately it only has 6 votes at the moment. I really don't understand why this is not more prominent. Especially for mobile devices, the quality difference between software encoding and QuickSync is imperceptible - and it's a hell of a lot faster. Seems perfect for transcoding on the fly. ---
**Author:** ![email\_dickie\_yahoo.com.au](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9f8e36/32.png) [@email\_dickie\_yahoo.com.au](https://forums.plex.tv/u/email_dickie_yahoo.com.au)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 11:33am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/16 "2014-06-23T11:33:30Z")
Ok, I think the time has come, Plex needs a new transcoder that supports Quick Sync. QNAP's new NAS (the TS-x51 series) is on its way and it supports Quick Sync. See the article on Anandtech which mentions how useful this feature would be to Plex on multiple pages [http://www.anandtech.com/show/8192/qnap-tsx51-nas-series-intel-quick-sync-gets-its-killer-app/4](http://www.anandtech.com/show/8192/qnap-tsx51-nas-series-intel-quick-sync-gets-its-killer-app/4) Seriously guys just get in there and utilise the VA-API's [https://01.org/linuxgraphics/community/vaapi](https://01.org/linuxgraphics/community/vaapi) I need a new NAS but really don't want to have to loadup with a i7 CPU to just transcode media it's just ridiculous and not green in the slightest. I've got a great library that I'd love to share with my friends (it would give them an incentive to buy your great apps) but at the moment its not economical. ---
**Author:** ![techmattr](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/techmattr/32/5565_2.png) [@techmattr](https://forums.plex.tv/u/techmattr)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/17 "2014-06-23T21:15:14Z")
I picked up a Haswell CPU just to try out the latest and greatest QuickSync and I still find the quality and compatibility issues make it a waste of a thought. It basically only works well with AVC/23.976 constant. Anything that is variable frame rate gets all stuttery in a lot of places and anything 29.97 is all over the place. Throw in interlaced content and it's speed is thrown out the window. It becomes slower than FFMPEG software. ---
**Author:** ![shelbystripes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@shelbystripes](https://forums.plex.tv/u/shelbystripes)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/18 "2014-06-25T04:14:18Z")
> Ok, I think the time has come, Plex needs a new transcoder that supports Quick Sync. > > QNAP's new NAS (the TS-x51 series) is on its way and it supports Quick Sync. > > See the article on Anandtech which mentions how useful this feature would be to Plex on multiple pages [http://www.anandtech.com/show/8192/qnap-tsx51-nas-series-intel-quick-sync-gets-its-killer-app/4](http://www.anandtech.com/show/8192/qnap-tsx51-nas-series-intel-quick-sync-gets-its-killer-app/4) > > Seriously guys just get in there and utilise the VA-API's [https://01.org/linuxgraphics/community/vaapi](https://01.org/linuxgraphics/community/vaapi) > > I need a new NAS but really don't want to have to loadup with a i7 CPU to just transcode media it's just ridiculous and not green in the slightest. > > I've got a great library that I'd love to share with my friends (it would give them an incentive to buy your great apps) but at the moment its not economical. Yeah, I would buy a TS-251 or TS-451 if PMS had this ability. ---
**Author:** ![snickers\_1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/snickers_1/32/91590_2.png) [@snickers\_1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/snickers_1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/19 "2014-06-25T15:21:07Z")
the problem is FFMPEG related [https://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/2591](https://trac.ffmpeg.org/ticket/2591) ---
**Author:** ![email\_dickie\_yahoo.com.au](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9f8e36/32.png) [@email\_dickie\_yahoo.com.au](https://forums.plex.tv/u/email_dickie_yahoo.com.au)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332/20 "2014-06-26T10:06:09Z")
I disagree, Plex choose to utlise ffmpeg as their transcoder. Would like to see them take advantage of the above where applicable [Next page](https://forums.plex.tv/t/intel-quick-sync-video/23332.md?page=2)