Resolve free version GPU support

[porina]

While looking up other info, I just saw multiple references that the free version of Resolve may not use GPU to accelerate some CODECs supported by GPU. It is a bit ambiguous as to exactly what is or isn't supported and I haven't managed to find anything more official. I've seen references to H.264, and conflicting info if it is for both encode/decode, or encode only - GPU used only for decode? Anyone clarify this?

 

I'm wondering if this might explain the observation it heavily hits both CPU and GPU when I'm doing encoding (HEVC source, H.264 output). I've started exploring more features and have been wondering about some of the paid version only features.

[OddOod]

https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_19_Supported_Codec_List.pdf

This lists all the supported codecs and whether you need Studio (the paid version) to use them 

It seems like in windows you can import and export in H.264/5 with 8-bit color, but you need studio to use GPU or more color depth.
With MacOS you have no limitations and with Linux you need Studio to do it at all. 

[porina]

7 minutes ago, OddOod said:

It seems like in windows you can import and export in H.264/5 with 8-bit color, but you need studio to use GPU or more color depth.
With MacOS you have no limitations and with Linux you need Studio to do it at all. 

Thanks. So if I'm reading that correctly, it is using OS support, and not GPU. That probably explains the CPU usage I'm seeing, although I am also seeing GPU usage. Maybe that's for other operations e.g. LUT/grading.

 

I find it amusing AV1 is supported on GPU in free version. Wait, this could be a licensing thing? They don't want to be paying the fees for using it on the free version maybe. But they seem to be supported for decode in mkv container (no mention of GPU), so I don't know after all.

[OddOod]

Just now, porina said:

Wait, this could be a licensing thing?

TBH, no clue. I barely know enough about en/decode to look up the answer.