Recommended Arc GPU for transcoding and AV1

[casperse]

Hi All

I really want to utilize the new Unraid supporting Arc GPU's.

 

1. Plex transcoding
2. Reencoding media to AV1 format

 

But I am unsure if the Memory is a factor when choosing the right card? 8 or 16 GB.
Currently looking at:

 

• Intel Arc A380 6GB
• Intel Arc A750  8GB
• Intel Arc A770 16GB

 

I want to use Unmanic to reduce the less important media catagories.
(Keeping the important stuff as original)

Looking forward to hearing from someone who has some practical experience? or just knowledge about these cards.

 

Thanks

Casperse 

 

[MowMdown]

I just ordered myself an A310 because it's a single slot and I value the space in my NAS case... honestly for video encoding/decoding the A310 is probably plenty unless you plan on doing other GPU heavy workloads besides video encoding.

 

4GB of VRAM in my experience with my GTX970 more than adequate for multiple concurrent 1080p transcodes. I've seen as much as 256MB per trancode which roughly means 16 trancodes to be maxed out. I never personally have anywhere near that number so it in theory should be more than I'll personally ever need.

[casperse]

Thanks for sharing @MowMdown
I get different comments on the importance regarding the GPU ram size?
I need to convert many TB to AV1 (Less important media category's) but I think your right the GPU encoder is the same.
And I dont want to use this for gaming at all.

[casperse]

Just ordered a Sparkle Arc A380 Genie - 6GB GDDR6 RAM 🙂 I hope the low profile will help the airflow in my case

[thewolf56]

@casperse  How are you liking the performance of that GPU?  I'm looking to build a new server in the near future (currently have unriad on a mini PC) and finally move my PLEX server from a Windows PC to unRAID and I'm debating which platform I use for it, so seeing how the intel ARC GPUs do in unraid with docker containers for stuff like Plex and TDARR would be helpful.  I know current intel iGPUs are pretty good on that front.

[casperse]

On 9/5/2024 at 1:48 AM, thewolf56 said:

@casperse  How are you liking the performance of that GPU?  I'm looking to build a new server in the near future (currently have unriad on a mini PC) and finally move my PLEX server from a Windows PC to unRAID and I'm debating which platform I use for it, so seeing how the intel ARC GPUs do in unraid with docker containers for stuff like Plex and TDARR would be helpful.  I know current intel iGPUs are pretty good on that front.

Sorry I have it but havent installed it yet.

I would like to have it on my production system and I am waiting for the final release to come out.

[MowMdown]

@thewolf56 I've been running my Arc A310 for a few weeks now, it's been pretty good for plex transcoding. I was able to run 5 simultaneous 4K -> 1080p transcodes with HDR -> SDR tonemapping without any issues other than it was over WiFi so I might have been able to get up to 6 if I was plugged into my network. I'm even running mine in a PCIe Gen3 x1 slot as well. I don't think you could even saturate the PCIe Gen4 x4 link anyways. Since they're so cheap I may just pickup a 2nd A310 and throw it in one of my other PCIe Gen3 x1 slots since I have 3 of them.

 

I have not really tested encoding with handbrake, I'll do a test and let you know how it goes later today.

[casperse]

Have anyone gotten the ARC card working using the Unmanic docker?

 

I now have the card installed and the Unraid v.7.0.0.0 installed and its working transcoding using Plex but I cant get Unmanic to "see" the card?

 

So close! yet so Far away 🙂

 

Edited September 18 by casperse