Question / Help Dedicated encoders or x264?

[TheIcon]

Hi,
I want to know from a quality and speed perspective, what is the difference between hardware external encoders like from Avermedia to something like software based x264? I know x264 pushes your CPU and might be slower, but much better quality. What about those hardware encoders?

Thank you

 

[Lain]

x264 has the best quality, and the quality/CPU ratio is adjustable. Quicksync is pretty good. NVenc is getting better with the latest chipsets. AMD's VCE (see the VCE branch on the feedback forum) is also pretty good too (hopefully we can eventually merge it)

 

[TheIcon]

I have been following @jackun 's work, has been doing a great job with the VCE, as a R9 290 user the VCE will come in most useful streaming intensive games which leaves no room for my processor to encode.

Thank you for your response, can you please help me understand a few more things while we are on this?

I have Intel Core 75 4670 and R9 290, I get better quality with Quick Sync than VCE. Is it due to the hardware or can the VCE can improve match it?

What about external encoders like the game capture devices like Avermedia, where do they fit into the quality and speed?

Thanks again