PCoIP Ultra Modes
PCoIP Ultra offers three modes that optimize system performance dependent on use case demands:
- CPU Offload for high resolution content at highest image quality.
- GPU Offload for CPU relief.
- Auto Offload provides both build-to-lossless image quality and optimum bandwidth and CPU savings for dynamic content.
This section provides video playback benchmarks to help you plan your PCoIP Ultra deployment.
The following table outlines the CPU and GPU offload that work with specific system requirements:
| Requirement | CPU Offload - AVX2 RGB 8|8|8 | GPU Offload - NVENC YUV 4:4:4 | GPU Offload - NVENC YUV 4:2:0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Image Quality Desktop (Up to 25x16 at 60 fps or 4K/UHD @ 30fps) | |||
| CPU Relief e.g. VFX Render Applications (Up to 25x16 at 60 fps, 4K/UHD not recommended) | |||
| Bandwidth Preservation (e.g. constrained WAN) | |||
| Highest frame rate from a low-cost thin client |
CPU and GPU Offload¶
The CPU optimization mode targets up to dual 4K/UHD display resolutions, leveraging the CPU's AVX2 instruction set to provide efficient content encoding at very high color accuracy, including the option for Build-to-Lossless image quality. The GPU optimization modes targets up to dual 2560x1600 display resolutions, leveraging the NVIDIA NVENC hardware encoder if present, which provides CPU relief for applications such as interactive rendering where CPU clock cycles may be premium. PCoIP Policies can be used to configure NVENC for either YUV 4:4:4 or YUV 4:2:0 chroma sub-sampling schemes.
PCoIP Ultra Auto-Offload¶
The auto-offload feature with PCoIP Ultra enables users to allow PCoIP Ultra to select the best protocol, whether that is CPU or GPU, based on display rate change. CPU Offload is used by default to provide the best image fidelity, GPU Offload is used during periods of high display activity to provide improved frame rates and bandwidth optimization. This setting is only effective if the remote host and client endpoints are capable of both CPU and GPU Offload. You can select this option when you are enabling PCoIP Ultra.
For information on how to do this, see PCoIP Ultra - Windows, and PCoIP Ultra - Linux.
Benefits of Auto-Offload¶
Using the auto-offload feature ensures that the best codec is used and enables a solid quality vs efficiency balance. Depending on the amount of display change PCoIP Ultra CPU or PCoIP Ultra GP will be used. If there is a large amount of change picked up the protocol will transition to PCoIP Ultra GPU to allow for higher frame rates and lower bandwidth. Auto-offload also ensures:
- No per-workload admin tuning required.
- No burst stealing of CPU or GPU cycles.
- No transitionary image artifacts.
- No aggressive network consumption.