HP/DELL disable HEVC on some of their laptops
Posted by reditanian@reddit | linux | View on Reddit | 9 comments
Dell and HP are apparently shipping (some) laptops with HEVC hardware decoding disabled.
These models are mentioned:
- HP ProBook 460 G11
- HP ProBook 465 G11
- HP EliteBook 665 G11
- Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1
It's not clear how this is done. I would hope software, but both these companies have disabled stuff in hardware before.
Can anyone with (access to) one of these confirm if HEVC hardware playback works in Linux?
MatchingTurret@reddit
MPEG LA trying to milk the patents before AV1 takes over?
mikeypi@reddit
Not likely. MPEG LA is one of the more reasonable licensors in the HEVC space. The problem is that the IP landscape for HEVC is fractured and you need multiple licenses to use it.
lateralspin@reddit
I tested my Chrome:
I can play H.264, AV1, but I get no picture with H.265
5c044@reddit
I did a quick Google about this and probably the easiest way to tell on Linux if you have HW decode is vainfo on AMD platforms as they use Mesa which uses VAAPI
Also there are comments around AMD being impacted here but the PDF linked in the Ars article for HP ProBook 460 G11 states that is an Intel based machine.
Also there are completely different issues on why your browser or vlc may not use hw acceleration on Linux so seeing if the HW accelerated interface is present or or not is the best 1st step.
LowEquivalent6491@reddit
It seems to me that everything is on the software side.
Even Linux is affected by this. Most Linux distributions do not have AMD HW video acceleration. So users have to install unofficial Mesa libraries themselves from European servers.
Intel HW video acceleration seems to still work without limitations.
Nvidia HW acceleration comes with proprietary drivers.
SeyAssociation38@reddit
>Nvidia HW acceleration comes with proprietary drivers.
i have the latest open drivers and I don't see this
xTeixeira@reddit
Don't have access to any of these, but one of the reddit threads linked in the Ars article claims that it still works fine on Linux (CachyOS): https://www.reddit.com/r/GeForceNOW/comments/1omsckt/psa_be_wary_of_purchasing_dell_computers_with/
Hytht@reddit
Probably because on Windows HEVC has to be bought on Microsoft store or included by OEM.
reditanian@reddit (OP)
Article from Ars.