Help understanding why CPU is being maxed out to transcode some files

[mrrichardcranium]

Im running Jellyfish 10.11.11 on a dedicated ubuntu server with an I5-6500 with the integrated graphics disabled in bios, and an Intel A380 GPU configured for transcoding. For 99% of my library it uses the A380 for transcoding just fine, but Ive recently encountered a handful of files that instead max the CPU out to 100% and either fail to transcode entirely, or at a rate so slow its unplayable. 

I understand why transcoding with the CPU is a terrible experience and don't wish to investigate that. What I don't understand is why certain files are using the CPU when the GPU is available and working fine for most other video files. 

Here are two of the most recent problematic transcoding logs: https://pastebin.com/aDNqyhiu https://pastebin.com/CVmzx0ye
Jellyfin logs are too large for pastebin but I can share them by another method if needed. 

The issue occurs in Safari, StreamyFin app on the AppleTV/iOS devices, Swiftfin on AppleTV/iOS and in Google Chrome.

[ArneR]

It's no wonder your cpu is working overtime, Jellyfin is not using intel quicksync.

Look at the first log, locate stream mapping:

Code:

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (hevc (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (truehd (native) -> aac (native))

What it should say is (my movie example, never mind the different audio format):

Code:

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (hevc (native) -> h264 (h264_qsv))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dts (dca) -> aac (libfdk_aac))

Note h264_qsv on stream 0:0 (video)

Also, all audio is being transcoded using the cpu, which adds to the load, so no wonder this isn't working well for you.

Can you share a screenshot of your transcode settings?
Or make sure they are set up like this, these are what I have them set to with my Arc A310.
   

[mrrichardcranium]

It's no wonder your cpu is working overtime, Jellyfin is not using intel quicksync.

Look at the first log, locate stream mapping:

Code:

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (hevc (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (truehd (native) -> aac (native))

What it should say is (my movie example, never mind the different audio format):

Code:

Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (hevc (native) -> h264 (h264_qsv))
  Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dts (dca) -> aac (libfdk_aac))

Note h264_qsv on stream 0:0 (video)

Also, all audio is being transcoded using the cpu, which adds to the load, so no wonder this isn't working well for you.

Can you share a screenshot of your transcode settings?
Or make sure they are set up like this, these are what I have them set to with my Arc A310.

   

I had basically the same as you without VP9 or the low power encoding options. But I did kick those on and retested with the same results. The only other difference I see is I don't explicitly set the GPU path, but I only have one GPU in the system.

[TheDreadPirate]

You need to enable low power encoding.  It is a requirement for Arc.

Like this (I also have an Arc GPU).

   

Make sure your OS has all the needed Intel firmware.  See the link below.

https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/post-i...pu-support

Also, are the two ffmpeg logs you shared in your opening post from BEFORE you enabled transcoding? The ffmpeg logs do not line up with your screenshot of your transcoding settings.

[whoreder]

Ignore - you are running native and appear to have only 1 GPU. Verify that you only have 1 GPU active though. If so, you may still need to supply the path to the correct hardware.

[TheDreadPirate]

Ignore - you are running native and appear to have only 1 GPU. Verify that you only have 1 GPU active though. If so, you may still need to supply the path to the correct hardware.

OP stated they disabled the 6500's iGPU in the BIOS (which is good), so the Intel driver should not require a device be specified.  It will just the first (and only) Intel GPU it finds.

To verify that the Arc GPU is, in fact, the only GPU they can run the command below.

Code:

ls -l /dev/dri

[mrrichardcranium]

You need to enable low power encoding.  It is a requirement for Arc.

Like this (I also have an Arc GPU).



Make sure your OS has all the needed Intel firmware.  See the link below.

https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/post-i...pu-support

Also, are the two ffmpeg logs you shared in your opening post from BEFORE you enabled transcoding?  The ffmpeg logs do not line up with your screenshot of your transcoding settings.

Got it, Ive kept the low power encoding enabled. Unfortunately the same results as before. 

Those two logs were with the settings shown in the screenshot. That's what has me baffled. 
Here's an updated one after enabling the low power encoding as well. Though it looks more or less the same as far as I can tell. https://pastebin.com/xeCmjzpZ

[mrrichardcranium]

Some additional details:

Confirmed there is only one GPU detected:

Code:

➜  ~ ls -l /dev/dri
total 0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root        80 Jul  8 10:33 by-path
crw-rw---- 1 root video  226,  1 Jul  8 10:33 card1
crw-rw---- 1 root render 226, 128 Jul  8 10:33 renderD128

And to the best of my knowledge all the steps in the intel GPU Jellyfin docs configured:

Code:

intel-opencl-icd:
  Installed: 23.43.27642.40-1ubuntu3
  Candidate: 23.43.27642.40-1ubuntu3
  Version table:
*** 23.43.27642.40-1ubuntu3 500
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu noble/universe amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

As well as the Jellyfin user added to the render group.

[TheDreadPirate]

I think I see the problem, I don't know why it is happening. Tell me if you spot the problem.

Code:

/usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -f matroska -init_hw_device vaapi=va:,vendor_id=0x8086,driver=iHD -init_hw_device qsv=qs@va -filter_hw_device qs -i file:"/mount/smb/Movies/Play Dead (2025)/Play Dead (2025) Bluray-1080p.mkv" -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -sn   -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled -max_muxing_queue_size 2048 -f hls -max_delay 5000000 -hls_time 3 -hls_segment_type fmp4 -hls_fmp4_init_filename "6f076b714ded0aba585565b0137c0fca-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_base_url "hls/6f076b714ded0aba585565b0137c0fca/" -hls_segment_filename "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/6f076b714ded0aba585565b0137c0fca%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type event -hls_list_size 0 -y "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/6f076b714ded0aba585565b0137c0fca.m3u8"

Don't see it? Let me narrow down where it is.

Code:

-map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -sn   -copyts -avoid_negative_ts disabled

For whatever reason, there is a double space after -sn. I am pretty sure that -sn is supposed to be followed by a bunch of filter and encoding parameters. But, for whatever reason, that failed to generate within Jellyfin and ffmpeg just defaults to libx264 and aac.

I recall seeing this before, but can't remember the solution off the top of my head. I'll search and ask around for the solution.

---

******EDIT*******

Can you share the contents of /etc/jellyfin/encoding.xml?

[TheDreadPirate]

A couple more things. Can you check that your motherboards BIOS are fully up to date and whether enabling ReBAR is an available option in your BIOS.

Also, read my guide linked below and check how old your GPU's firmware version is. You don't have to update it, but I just want to make sure it isn't SUPER old.

https://forum.jellyfin.org/t-flash-intel...e-in-linux