Question / Help NVENC vs x264

[Veetus]

So I just tried using NVENC as opposed to x264 and I noticed it to look / perform a lot better. Was I living under a rock where everyone was using this but me or is this some hidden gem that no one is using? By default, I don't think this is on.

My setup, if it matters:

Windows 10
16 GB RAM
i7 4770K @ 4.0 GHz
GTX 970

Only reason I tried NVENC was because I was having issues getting The Division look good and run smooth at the same time.

I guess my questions are: Are people using this? What are the pros/cons of using it over x264?

Thanks,
Veetus

 

[Harold]

For recording? you can make up the quality loss generated by using nvenc with additional bitrate. If you're streaming, the quality loss is enough to make nvenc useless.

 

[Veetus]

For recording? you can make up the quality loss generated by using nvenc with additional bitrate. If you're streaming, the quality loss is enough to make nvenc useless.

I am sorry. I should have specified. I meant for streaming and what I am saying is I am not seeing much difference in quality at all. I am streaming at 3500 KBPS if that makes a difference. 1080 downscaled to 720.

 

[Harold]

nvenc at 3500 looks about equal to x264 at 2000.

You'll get a far better quality per bitrate out of x264.

 

[sam686]

There is at least one use that did a test with NVENC and QuickSync: https://obsproject.com/forum/threads/.15963/
Their test shows terrible NVENC quality, but QuickSync isn't so bad.

Too bad my CPU is only i7-2600 so my QuickSync is limited to a terrible Sandy Bridge encoder quality. Newer generation i series have better quicksync encoder quality.

Enabling QuickSync is usually done by enabling integrated graphics in motherboard setting, and installing drivers so device manager shows "intel HD graphics"