Windows 10 getting HEVC H.265 Codec to use Hardware Acceleration
Playing HEVC H.265 videos using Windows Media Player and GoPro Quik then the 4k 60 fps video appears all stuttering and becomes a slideshow. The CPU usage is going through the roof and it's not using Hardware Acceleration. I have installed the "HEVC Video Extensions" from Microsoft Store. When I use the app "Movies & TV" for playing the video file then it uses around 1% CPU and Hardware Acceleration seems to be enabled.
How can I get Windows Media Player and GoPro Quik to use Hardware Acceleration?
"HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" (Free version that works with licence software like GoPro Quik): https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9n4wgh0z6vhq
I have tried following:
- Uninstall all codecs, also the "HEVC Video Extensions" from Store: Windows Media Player plays only the sound, screen is black. Unable to open video in GoPro Quik
- Installed K-Lite Codec Pack (w/HEVC codec): Windows Media Player plays the video with both video and audio smoothly. The playback is hardware accelerated as it only used 1% CPU. Unable to open video in GoPro Quik
- Install "HEVC Video Extensions" from store (Regardless if K-Lite is installed or not): Windows Media Player plays video with both video and audio but it's stuttering. Playback is not hardware accelerated and it uses near 100% CPU. GoPro Quik is now able to open and edit the video but it's stuttering, using 100% CPU on playback and hard to edit the movie
System specifications:
- Windows 10 Pro N, Version 1803, OS Build 17134.165
- Intel i7-8700K @ 3.7Ghz (8th gen, coffee lake, newer then Kaby Lake)
- 16 GB Ram
- Nvidia GeForce 1070 GTX (Driver version 398.82 which is the newest)
One solution would be using software like Handbrake to convert the video file from H.265 to H.264, but I consider that a "hack" as this really should work with my system spec.
Solution 1:
From what I found, the Quick for Desktop (Windows10) does support the import and playback of HEVC files, but it lacks Hardware acceleration for those HEVC files when you have a Desktop PC with a dedicated graphics card where you cannot switch between integrated and dedicated graphics as you can on a laptop, as often suggested as a solution.
Consequently, I think that for hardware acceleration you need to wait for an update to GoPro Quik. This capability is simply missing in the software and there is no setting to be turned on.