High CPU when watching YouTube compared to Windows - WHY?

[idh1oi12jkl31jk2bgve3jk12b]

So I noticed that my CPU is reaching about 40%-50% when watching youtube at 1080p on Ubuntu, Mint, and Kubuntu. 

On Windows it's WAY lower than that. 

 

I googled it a bit (so much confusing information) and it seems to do with hardware acceleration? What?!

 

Anyone know if this is something that can be fixed? I don't mind switching browsers, just don't want to keep the cpu running like this as this PC is meant mainly for youtube. 

 

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Kilrah]

Likely you're missing drivers for your GPU, or software doesn't know how to make use of it. Need to list specs.

[idh1oi12jkl31jk2bgve3jk12b]

Just now, Kilrah said:

Likely you're missing drivers for your GPU, or software doesn't know how to make use of it. Need to list specs.

 

I just came across this (seems it's not about drivers): 

 

https://forum.manjaro.org/t/youtube-cpu-usage-is-much-higher-than-on-windows-7/108220/2

[Kilrah]

Indeed, but it is the "software doesn't know how to make use of it"

 

You can try that special Chromium build, but otherwise if you're not OK with that CPU usage it's back to Windows...

[idh1oi12jkl31jk2bgve3jk12b]

Just now, Kilrah said:

Indeed, but it is the "software doesn't know how to make use of it"

 

You can try that special Chromium build, but otherwise if you're not OK with that CPU usage it's back to Windows...

 

That sucks! 

[Ashleyyyy]

are you using chrome? or chromium?

if you are, go to chrome://flags and enable the "Override software rendering list" flag. this will force hardware acceleration even if chrome doesn't detect it in the driver (a common issue on linux)

[igormp]

On 12/27/2019 at 8:55 PM, Twilight said:

are you using chrome? or chromium?

if you are, go to chrome://flags and enable the "Override software rendering list" flag. this will force hardware acceleration even if chrome doesn't detect it in the driver (a common issue on linux)

That won't work since the default builds for chrome and chromium on linux do not include VAAPI support (the thing needed to actually use hardware acceleration). The only option is to use the custom chromium build that enables it, or to wait for Firefox to enable it.

[Chunchunmaru_]

As the others are saying you are missing hardware acceleration on Linux, I once made a repository if you are on Ubuntu I'll try to update it, it only works with chromium since Firefox has no intention to enable it.

If you are on an arch-based distro you can install it from the AUR

[LloydLynx]

If you want to properly enable hardware acceleration in Firefox, then type "about:config" in the address bar and switch these to "true":

gfx.webrender.all

layers.acceleration.force-enabled

webgl.force-enabled

media.hardware-video-decoding.force-enabled