GPU Video Encoder Evaluation Achieves < 2 Second Latency for Real-Time 4K UHD Encoding

The increasing demand for real-time, high-quality video streaming, particularly in 4K Ultra High Definition, presents significant challenges for efficient encoding technologies. Kasidis Arunruangsirilert and Jiro Katto, from the Department of Computer Science and Communications Engineering at Waseda University, Tokyo, investigate the performance of dedicated video encoders integrated into modern Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Their work addresses the critical need for low-latency encoding, essential for applications like live broadcasting and interactive gaming, by evaluating the trade-offs between encoding speed and video quality. The team demonstrates that these hardware encoders achieve substantially lower end-to-end latency than traditional software solutions, while maintaining comparable video quality, and importantly, reveals that ultra-low latency modes can reduce delays to as little as 83 milliseconds without compromising visual fidelity. This research establishes a clear understanding of GPU encoder capabilities, paving the way for truly responsive and immersive real-time video experiences.

Key findings reveal that hardware-based video encoders on GPUs significantly outperform software encoders in both latency and video quality. Ultra-low latency settings prove most effective at minimizing delay, with Intel GPUs achieving the lowest latency, down to 83 milliseconds, or five frames, though potential compatibility concerns exist. NVIDIA provides the best overall balance between video quality and consistently low latency, while AMD offers predictable latency with comparatively lower video quality. Importantly, the research demonstrates that choosing higher quality encoding presets does not significantly increase latency, allowing users to prioritize visual quality without a major delay penalty.

GPU Encoding Performance Across Three Vendors

Researchers meticulously evaluated the low-latency video encoding capabilities of modern GPUs from NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD, focusing on both video quality and end-to-end latency. They assembled three dedicated encoding systems, each tailored to a specific GPU vendor, utilizing high-performance CPUs, substantial RAM configurations, and dedicated GPU hardware. These systems encoded consistent 4K video sequences, conforming to industry standards, and served as a benchmark for evaluating performance. Researchers established a range of target bitrates and compared three video codecs, H. 264, H. 265, and AV1, using both software and hardware encoders. A dedicated server and video quality analysis system were employed to accurately measure and analyze video quality and latency, enabling a detailed comparison of encoding performance across different hardware and software solutions.

GPU Encoders Achieve Low Latency Streaming

The increasing demand for high-quality, real-time video streaming, particularly with 4K Ultra High Definition content, has led to the integration of dedicated hardware encoders into modern GPUs. This work presents a comprehensive evaluation of low-latency encoding modes on GPUs from NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD, assessing both video quality and end-to-end latency. Experiments revealed that hardware encoders significantly reduce end-to-end latency compared to software solutions, while maintaining comparable video quality. This achievement demonstrates a substantial reduction in delay for real-time video applications and demonstrates the potential of hardware encoding to meet the demands of bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing, cloud gaming, and emerging technologies for Smart Cities and Autonomous Vehicles.

GPU Encoders Enable Ultra Low Latency Streaming

Findings indicate that while standard low-latency tuning offers limited improvements, the ultra-low-latency mode effectively minimizes delay, with the Intel encoder achieving a particularly low latency of 83 milliseconds, equivalent to five video frames, without compromising video quality. Notably, the study reveals that selecting higher quality presets during encoding has minimal impact on latency for hardware encoders, allowing users to prioritize visual fidelity without a significant trade-off. NVIDIA’s encoder offered a balance of video quality and consistent low latency, while Intel’s encoder delivered the best video quality and lowest potential latency.