Jellyfin GPU transcoding slower on Docker than Linux install

[vojoslav]

I wanted to migrate my Jellyfin install from the default Debian install to Docker and I've got everything to work except I noticed the playback start time is noticeably slower on Docker. On thr Debian install i get playback start times at aroung 1-2 seconds, when on Docker its around 4-5 seconds, sometimes even more. This is also for time skipping and burning in subtitles, so it quickly adds up. Also this is on a really fast internet connection so it's only worse on slower ones.

Playback on host system

Code:

Sep 04 14:09:42 server jellyfin[3403784]: [14:09:42] [INF] /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -f matroska -init_hw_device cuda=cu:0 -filter_hw_device cu -hwaccel cuda -hwaccel_output_format cuda -noautorotate -hwaccel_flags +unsafe_output -threads 1 -canvas_size 1920x1080 -i file:"/media/2tb/movies/The Godfather: Part II (1974)/The Godfather - Part II (1974) RM4K (1080p BluRay x265 10bit Tigole).mkv" -noautoscale -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:0 -codec:v:0 h264_nvenc -preset p1 -b:v 13773727 -maxrate 13773727 -bufsize 27547454 -profile:v:0 high -g:v:0 72 -keyint_min:v:0 72 -filter_complex "[0:4]scale,scale=-1:1040:fast_bilinear,crop,pad=max(1920\,iw):max(1040\,ih):(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black@0,crop=1920:1040,format=yuva420p,hwupload=derive_device=cuda[sub];[0:0]setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale_cuda=format=yuv420p[main];[main][sub]overlay_cuda=eof_action=pass:repeatlast=0" -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 libfdk_aac -ac 2 -ab 256000 -af "volume=2" -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 "8d5fb592365d1eebe313378700e76500-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/8d5fb592365d1eebe313378700e76500%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/8d5fb592365d1eebe313378700e76500.m3u8"
Sep 04 14:09:43 server jellyfin[3403784]: [14:09:43] [INF] Adding playback tracker : TW96aWxsYS81LjAgKFgxMTsgVWJ1bnR1OyBMaW51eCB4ODZfNjQ7IHJ2OjEzOC4wKSBHZWNrby8yMDEwMDEwMSBGaXJlZm94LzEzOC4wfDE3NDc2NDAwNzIyNjE1-3177d617fd52439d928ad3ef3e368928-097a8d016cd054c406b59d2cc9072e16
Sep 04 14:09:43 server jellyfin[3403784]: [14:09:43] [INF] PlaybackTracker : Adding Start Event : 09/04/2025 14:09:43

and on Docker

Code:

[12:11:35] [INF] /usr/lib/jellyfin-ffmpeg/ffmpeg -analyzeduration 200M -probesize 1G -f matroska -init_hw_device cuda=cu:0 -filter_hw_device cu -hwaccel cuda -hwaccel_output_format cuda -noautorotate -hwaccel_flags +unsafe_output -threads 1 -canvas_size 1920x1080 -i file:"/media/2tb/movies/No Country for Old Men (2007)/No Country for Old Men (2007) (1080p BluRay x265 SAMPA).mkv" -noautoscale -map_metadata -1 -map_chapters -1 -threads 0 -map 0:0 -map 0:1 -map -0:0 -codec:v:0 h264_nvenc -preset p1 -b:v 11200022 -maxrate 11200022 -bufsize 22400044 -profile:v:0 high -g:v:0 72 -keyint_min:v:0 72 -filter_complex "[0:6]scale,scale=-1:816:fast_bilinear,crop,pad=max(1920\,iw):max(816\,ih):(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2:black@0,crop=1920:816,format=yuva420p,hwupload=derive_device=cuda[sub];[0:0]setparams=color_primaries=bt709:color_trc=bt709:colorspace=bt709,scale_cuda=format=yuv420p[main];[main][sub]overlay_cuda=eof_action=pass:repeatlast=0" -start_at_zero -codec:a:0 libfdk_aac -ac 2 -ab 256000 -af "volume=2" -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 "82b6922762d24375fc6194995e1575f1-1.mp4" -start_number 0 -hls_segment_filename "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/82b6922762d24375fc6194995e1575f1%d.mp4" -hls_playlist_type vod -hls_list_size 0 -y "/var/lib/jellyfin/transcodes/82b6922762d24375fc6194995e1575f1.m3u8"
[12:11:40] [INF] Adding playback tracker : TW96aWxsYS81LjAgKFgxMTsgVWJ1bnR1OyBMaW51eCB4ODZfNjQ7IHJ2OjE0MS4wKSBHZWNrby8yMDEwMDEwMSBGaXJlZm94LzE0MS4wfDE3NTU3MDE2NzI5NzU1-3177d617fd52439d928ad3ef3e368928-3887c17a9c4ba9c3679471ae35fcb65a
[12:11:40] [INF] PlaybackTracker : Adding Start Event : 09/04/2025 12:11:40

I've confirmed that Docker uses my GPU with nvidia-smi, so not sure what could be the issue. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[toytown]

I've never ran mine outside of docker, but checking through my logs i get a 2.5second delay between FFMPEG being run and "Adding Start Event" for 2160HDR->1080pSDR. I just assumed it was buffering up the initial content (albeit your logs show otherwise). It's the same time if im on a local lan or remote.