# Plex not using GPU for Transcoding media (HW Acceleration is enabled) **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [January 31, 2021, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059 "2021-01-31T06:36:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kristiancua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kristiancua](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kristiancua)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 6:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/1 "2021-01-31T06:36:03Z")
Server Version#: 4.51.1 Player Version#: 8.7.1.20931 (Android App) I’m hosing a Plex Server on my old ASUS Laptop with Windows Server 2019 and i can’t seem to make it Transcode media using GPU. See below for my Server-acting-Laptop’s specs: ASUS X555LD Intel Core i5-6200U (Supports Intel Quick Sync Video) 8GB DDR3 RAM GPU0: Intel HD Graphics 520 (N/A, Display) GPU1: Nvidia GeForce 940M (2GB, Render) Everytime any of my devices stream a media, it transcode them via the CPU and completely ignoring both GPUs: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/3/f/3f1e03bbb2c7af28ac6aa7db05c6bd6e51a67522.jpeg) Also, I am subscribed to a Plex Pass so HW Acceleration should be completely enabled. I have tried below changes for reference: - Forced `Plex Media Server` and `Plex Transcoder` executables to use the `High Performance` card (GT940M) in _System \> Display \> Graphics Settings_: - Set `High-performance NVIDIA processor` as the **Preferred graphics processor** in _NVIDIA Control Panel_: - Set `High-performance NVIDIA processor` as the **Preferred graphics processor** for both `Plex Media Server` and `Plex Transcoder` executables in _NVIDIA Control Panel_: However, even with these settings forced, **Plex still transcode media files via the CPU** which causes a _hilarious amount of utilization %_. See below images for reference: - Windows Task Manager (High CPU Utilization but almost 0% on both GPU0 and GPU1): - HWMonitor (same reading as Windows Task Manager): Am i missing something? or Plex doesn’t support devices with Dual GPU such as Laptops? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![fallenczar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ec9cab/32.png) [@fallenczar](https://forums.plex.tv/u/fallenczar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 8:10am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/2 "2021-01-31T08:10:45Z")
Neither of your GPU supports HEVC transcoding. Have you tried transcoding a h.264 file ? ---
**Author:** ![kristiancua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kristiancua](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kristiancua)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/3 "2021-01-31T13:58:22Z")
Yes, it also didn’t appear to transcode via HW. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/e/1/e17e065b9ee938098b6e9eeaff5b081dd4bb5f03.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/5/8/580c6387e3f906247c6affafd0bdf9043edf52b1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 10:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/4 "2021-02-01T10:05:40Z")
> [@kristiancua](#): > > GeForce 940M Your discrete graphics card may not support NVENC [NVENC encoding on 940MX - General Topics and Other SDKs - NVIDIA Developer Forums](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvenc-encoding-on-940mx/47995) The Quicksync unit in your CPU only supports baseline HEVC (i.e. without any of the more advanced features like 10 bit color etc) I think it’s time to upgrade your server hardware. (or avoid HEVC video files) You might also be better off removing/disabling the discrete GPU. Have you ever stopped and restarted your Plex server after buying the Plex Pass subscription? ---
**Author:** ![kristiancua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kristiancua](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kristiancua)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2021, 11:15pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/5 "2021-02-01T23:15:45Z")
Hi, thanks for that. Well actually, i bought a used HPe ProLiant ML310e Gen8 v2 here with Intel Xeon E3-1220-v3 which i’ll start setting up in a week or so (as soon as i receive the parts i ordered online). Would you say this can work better with my current setup? I understand that Xeon processors don’t support Intel’s QuickSync Video but later down the road i’ll be buying a GTX 1050 for GPU Transcoding, would that be a good idea? I don’t have much audience with my Plex Setup now so i hope it wouldn’t hurt the CPU that bad. Just me and a girl some 6,000 km away from me. Here’s what my initial and final Build will be: **Initial Build:** **CPU:** Intel Xeon E3-1220-v3 (3.1ghz~3.5ghz) **GPU:** -Not Available- **RAM:** 4GB DDR3 1600mhz **SSD:** -Not Available- **HDD:** 1x 1TB, 1x 750GB **Final Build:** **CPU:** Intel Xeon E3-1270-v3 (3.5ghz-3.9ghz) **GPU:** Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti (or AMD Radeon RX 570) **RAM:** 32GB DDR3 1600mhz **SSD:** 256GB NVM.e via PCI-e Adapter **HDD:** 4x 8TB on RAID5 setup Do you think my build is more than enough for an ideal starting setup? or is there anything i should change. Also, is there any easy way i can identify which codecs a certain CPU supports for transcoding? Thank.s ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 7:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/6 "2021-02-02T07:08:04Z")
I’d still prefer a relatively modern core i7 over a Xeon. ---
**Author:** ![kristiancua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f475e1/32.png) [@kristiancua](https://forums.plex.tv/u/kristiancua)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/7 "2021-02-02T07:36:21Z")
i mean there’s only so much this aging ML310e Server PC can support. and i don’t really have neither the $$$ nor the knowledge in setting up Home Servers (this HPe ProLiant ML310e Gen8 V2 Server PC is actually my first) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-using-gpu-for-transcoding-media-hw-acceleration-is-enabled/685059/8 "2021-05-03T07:36:44Z")
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