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Can someone help me understand why my windows 10 laptop with the latest VLC can't run x265 video files, but my windows 10 desktop with the latest VLC can? My de

Can someone help me understand why my windows 10 laptop with the latest VLC can't run x265 video files, but my windows 10 desktop with the latest VLC can? My desktop definitely runs circles around my laptop, but I'm not very well versed on video tech, so I haven't been able to figure out what the issue is on my laptop.

scrlk 4y ago
What CPU and GPU do you have in each machine? Low powered laptops without HEVC hardware decoding will probably struggle.
paulmd 4y ago
FYI (not just you but generally): one tool that is very useful in this situation is called "DXVA Checker", it checks the DirectX video acceleration modules that are available for the current hardware/driver and then you can compare that against the file ("codec information" in VLC) and see what's going on. I would hazard a guess that your laptop probably doesn't have a hardware H265, or that the H265 file you're using doesn't match up to the decoder module (eg 8 vs 10 bit, or color space, etc). It is then falling back to software-decode or hybrid mode, and then it doesn't have enough oomph to do the file. https://bluesky-soft.com/en/DXVAChecker.html https://bluesky-soft.com/en/DXVAChecker.html
- silicon2401 4y ago
  Thanks very much. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a hardware shortcoming; my laptop is from 2015/2016, I just never really notice because I only use it for the most barebones needs (I hate using laptops). You're probably right, so I'll check out that tool and see what I learn. thanks!
windowsrookie 4y ago
Because the GPU in your laptop does not support x265 hardware acceleration. You need and intel 7th gen or newer for 10bit h.265. 6th gen only supports 8bit. AMD APU's started getting h.265 support around the same time.
nabakin 4y ago
That's strange. I think VLC is able to play HEVC even if you don't have a hardware decoder. You've tried reinstalling and deleting the VLC appdata folder?

scrlk 4y ago

What CPU and GPU do you have in each machine? Low powered laptops without HEVC hardware decoding will probably struggle.

paulmd 4y ago

FYI (not just you but generally): one tool that is very useful in this situation is called "DXVA Checker", it checks the DirectX video acceleration modules that are available for the current hardware/driver and then you can compare that against the file ("codec information" in VLC) and see what's going on. I would hazard a guess that your laptop probably doesn't have a hardware H265, or that the H265 file you're using doesn't match up to the decoder module (eg 8 vs 10 bit, or color space, etc). It is then falling back to software-decode or hybrid mode, and then it doesn't have enough oomph to do the file. https://bluesky-soft.com/en/DXVAChecker.html https://bluesky-soft.com/en/DXVAChecker.html

silicon2401 4y ago
Thanks very much. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a hardware shortcoming; my laptop is from 2015/2016, I just never really notice because I only use it for the most barebones needs (I hate using laptops). You're probably right, so I'll check out that tool and see what I learn. thanks!

windowsrookie 4y ago

Because the GPU in your laptop does not support x265 hardware acceleration. You need and intel 7th gen or newer for 10bit h.265. 6th gen only supports 8bit. AMD APU's started getting h.265 support around the same time.

nabakin 4y ago

That's strange. I think VLC is able to play HEVC even if you don't have a hardware decoder. You've tried reinstalling and deleting the VLC appdata folder?