NUC5i3RYK HEVC decoding performance

[JMich12]

I know that this topic has been discussed in several posts, but I'm getting considerable worse performance in my nuc comparing it with other results I've found in several sites. I have Windows 10 (64 bits), 8 GB RAM dual channel and latest GPU graphics installed (15.40.28.4501). The benchmark I use is HEVC decode benchmark (Cobra), my results are attached and the sites with better results are:

http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/Intel/NUC5i3RYK/nuc_i3_h265_benchmark.png http://www.notebookcheck.net/fileadmin/Notebooks/Intel/NUC5i3RYK/nuc_i3_h265_benchmark.png

http://nucblog.net/2015/03/broadwell-i3-nuc-performance-and-comparison-to-haswell/ Broadwell NUC Review (NUC5i3RYK): Performance and Comparison to Haswell - The NUC Blog

Thanks in advance for your help.

[idata]

Hello polluelo:

First of all let me apologize for any lateness in answering your inquiry, we will be more than glad to assist with the information you are requesting. Thank you very much for providing the links above, they are very useful. In regard to your question, I just wanted to let you know that the results of benchmarking provided on those links or in any other web site are not officially validated by Intel®, those tests were perform by a 3rd party web site and any differences between those configurations (including software) and your configuration may very well make those results inapplicable to your component or system. One more thing to consider will be that the environment and the components (memory RAM, Windows version installed, SSD) on that benchmarking site are different from the ones you are reporting; this may also influenced the results in your test. I also wanted to check if you have any performance issues, not in regard to those other results but with the NUC itself. Do you get any error messages? Is the NUC crashing or are you detecting any kind of problem with it? Now, according to the information in that site, the NUC was tested with Windows® 7, did you try to install that Windows version and test it in order to see if it makes a difference on the values? You mentioned you have driver 4501, in our web site there is a newer driver, it is the beta version 4539, you can always try to install it and test the NUC again: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26347/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=86210 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26347/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=86210 Are you using the latest BIOS version for that NUC? Instructions to do a BIOS update using F7 method: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/desktop-boards/000005724.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/desktop-boards/000005724.html This is the .BIO file needed to do it to version 0361, the latest: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26497/BIOS-Update-RYBDWi35-86A- https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26497/BIOS-Update-RYBDWi35-86A- Any further questions, please let me know. Regards Alberto

[JMich12]

Thanks for your involvement Alberto.

I've installed the latest bios and beta driver version with similar results. I know that Intel can't validate results from third parties, but I didn't find any official way of checking if the performance of HEVC decoding in my Intel NUC is correct.

My configuration just differs from the test I mention in my first post in the operating system (Windows 10 in my case vs Windows 7) and the SSD (Kingston SSDNow 120 GB vs Unknown), I don't think that's the reason for getting almost half the performance taking into account that I'm using latest drivers with hybrid decoding, the performance, In my opinion, should be better or the same at least.

¿Do you have any test or software validated by Intel that I can use for checking if the performance I'm getting is correct?

[idata]

Hello polluelo:

You are welcome, thank you very much for providing those details. In regard to your inquiry, yes, we do have a tool that is normally used to overclock the processor, it is called Intel® Extreme Tuning Utility, but besides that once you install it you will have the option to run a benchmarking test with it so you can compare the results. https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24075/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-?product=66427 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24075/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-?product=66427 Just to let you know, even though the toll gives you the option to overclock the processor, remember that the overclocking is not cover under warranty, so if the processor gets defective because of that reason it will not be replaced. There is a plan that you can purchase that covers the overclocking, please check the link below for further details: https://click.intel.com/tuningplan/ https://click.intel.com/tuningplan/ Any further questions, please let me know. Regards Alberto

[JMich12]

Thanks for the software Alberto. I've installed and tested it, I can see the general performance numbers of the NUC, but what I want to check is the HEVC decoding performance of the NUC, just to know if it's correct or I have any configuration problem in the bios, OS, drivers, etc.

¿Do Intel have any software to check it or any 4K HEVC video that should be decoded correctly with an NUC5i3RYK 8GB dual channel 1600 MHz RAM, Windows 10 latest BIOS and latest GPU drivers?

[idata]

Hello polluelo:

Thank you very much for letting us know that information. In regard to your inquiry, I will do some research in order to find out if we have a software or tool to do that, same thing with the 4K HEVC video, as soon as I get any results I will post all the details on this thread. Any questions, please let me know. Regards Alberto

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi polluelo,

I work for Intel Customer Support and let me tell you that we dont have any benchmark tool that could help you with HEVC decode benchmarking that you are running.

I tried to download and test the Cobra 1.5 or 1.61 which I beleive is the latest version but I was able to find any valid download.

Do you know if this tool allows you to enable http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/quick-sync-video/quick-sync-video-general.html Intel® Quick Sync Video? Perhaps under the tools settings?

Here are the graphics specifications just for referece:

Intel® High Definition (Intel® HD) Graphics

The Intel HD graphics controller features the following:

• 3D Features

― DirectX* 11 support

― OpenGL* 4.2 support

• Video

• Next Generation Intel® Clear Video Technology HD support is a collection of video playback

and enhancement features that improve the end user's viewing experience

• Encode/transcode HD content

• Playback of high definition content including Blu-ray* disc

• Superior image quality with sharper, more colorful images

• DirectX* Video Acceleration (DXVA) support for accelerating video processing

• Full AVC/VC1/MPEG2/H.264 HW Decode

• Partial H.265 encoding via graphics hardware and via the CPU

• Intel HD Graphics with Advanced Hardware Video Transcoding (Intel® Quick Sync Video)

NOTE: Intel® Quick Sync Video has to be enabled by the application.

I hope this helps,

Ronny G

[JMich12]

Hi Ronny,

I had a balanced power plan, that was the reason of getting a lower score. I changed the Windows energy plan to performance and the score I get now is the same as nucblog, but I hoped better results using the driver with hybrid HEVC decoding (nucblog test was before that driver got out), it seems that driver capability doesn't improve what's it's supposed to improve. I have a question, just to clarify, you said the application must support Quick Sync, but HEVC decoding using Hybrid decoding isn't supposed to use DXVA and not Quick Sync (Fixed function decoding)? MPC-HC lets chose how to decode the video and it shows QS doesn't support HEVC in Broadwell but DXVA does.

Thanks Ronny

[RonaldM_Intel]

Hello polluelo,

In MPC-HC, HEVC will be checked when selecting QuickSync only if the decoder is full Hardware acceleration. In Broadwell's case, as you already know, it is not full Hardware acceleration, but rather a hybrid solution. In here, the decoder is exposed to the application through the DXVA API.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

[idata]

Hello:

Thank you very much to rguevara and Ronald_Intel for the information posted previously. To polluelo: I hope the information provided above was useful for you. Any further questions, please let me know. Regards Alberto

[JMich12]

Thanks for your help guys,

I've achieve the same performance as others achieve before Intel release of drivers with hybrid HEVC decoding (changing Windows power plan) but I don't get any improvement using DXVA vs pure software decoding. I don't know if you can help me anymore. Couldn't you ask the developers what kind of improvement could be expected using DXVA vs software decoding?

Regards,

[idata]

Hello polluelo:

Thank you very much for letting us know that information. In regard to your question, we will do further research in order to verify if we can provide the information you requested. As soon as I get any updates from the investigation, I will post all the details on this thread. Thank you for your patience. Any further questions, please let me know. Regards Alberto

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi polluelo,

Are you still benchmarking with Cobra 1.5?

Is it possible that you provide me with more details on how you are running this test? ...and please include where can I get the software/application that you are testing.

Thanks,

Ronny G

[JMich12]

Hi Ronny,

You can download the HEVC decoding benchmark in the next URL:

https://hwbotdownloads.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/benchmarks/HDBC_V1.61.zip https://hwbotdownloads.s3.amazonaws.com/downloads/benchmarks/HDBC_V1.61.zip

I'm using this benchmark tool and I'm doing a "how it feel" test through MPC-HC, that lets you choose witch decoder to use (Quick Sync, DXVA, Pure Software, etc.), and Intel Extreme tuning Utility in background. I appreciate no better performance using DXVA vs software, just lower CPU use, maybe that's what GPU driver developers wanted to achieve, just a lower CPU use.

Regards

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi polluelo,

I apologize, I haven't had the time to duplicate, please allow me some extra time and I will get back to you.

Regards,

Ronny G

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi polluelo,

Look at the following results and let me know your feedback.

Thanks,

Ronny G

[JMich12]

Your results confirm that the score I achieved after changing the energy plan was correct. It confirms too that Hybrid decoding doesn't improve the fps or capabilities, it just lowers the CPU consumption, which is a good thing, but it was not what most of us were hoping.

Thank you Ronny.

[idata]

Hello:

Thank you very much to rguevara for the information posted previously. To polluelo: We are glad to hear that the information posted previously was useful for you and you were able to confirm the decoding performance of the processor. Any other inquiry, do not hesitate in contact us again. Regards Alberto