[Feature]: VP9 encoding support for BMG and LNL

[savely-krasovsky]

What Feature?

Both BMG and LNL are recent platforms, and AFAIK both support VP9 hardware encoding. Is there any particular reason this support is missing?

I use my Arc Pro B50 in my homelab to transcode videos uploaded to Immich (a self‑hosted alternative to Google Photos). VP9 is the default codec to which all uploaded videos are transcoded to cover the majority of devices without AV1 and HEVC decoding support. Sure, I can use H.264 for that purpose, but those files are larger.

What's the usage scenario would be benifited?

Transcode for media delivery

What impacted?

At least Immich users, since VP9 is the default codec there. Also, many Jitsi Meet instances still use VP9 as the default codec instead of AV1 or H.264.

Do you want to contribute a patch to develop this feature?

No.

[savely-krasovsky]

If it's relatively easy to commit, I can try to prepare PR, though I didn't have a lot of experience with C++.

[nyanmisaka]

I suspect the hardware on the Xe2 doesn't support the VP9 encoder. You can check the Ultra 200V series (LNL) datasheet 829568-004.pdf and you'll find that VP9 encoder isn't listed in Table 69 on page 166.

Then check the Ultra 1 series (MTL) datasheet 792044-007.pdf where the VP9 encoder is listed since it is Xe1.

[savely-krasovsky]

So the datasheets like this is one are lying? It says "Full decode and encode" support and lists VP9.

[nyanmisaka]

So the datasheets like this is one are lying? It says "Full decode and encode" support and lists VP9.

That's interesting. Their documentation is self-contradictory. Or perhaps that sentence in the brochure was copied from the Arc Pro A40/50/60.

[savely-krasovsky]

I wouldn't suprised if they really dropped or fused VP9 encode support, but all promo and media materials clearly says it does indeed support VP9 for both decode and encode.

[nyanmisaka]

Do you have an environment to try on Windows? That's usually the platform they prioritize supporting.

BTW they removed the VP9 encoder capability from LNL in a3b3781. It was never added to BMG.

[savely-krasovsky]

I will setup SR-IOV soon and will be able to try it on Windows VM.

[nyanmisaka]

If VP9 encoder support is proven to be available there, there's a chance they'll bring it to Linux after user requests and evaluations. Otherwise, it's highly likely the hardware functionality has been fused off.

[savely-krasovsky]

@nyanmisaka I tried with Windows 11 under the latest 2025.Q3 Arc Pro Graphics driver with ffmpeg 8.0.1. It works! So hardware indeed supports VP9 encoding, but for some reason Linux support is missing :(

[nyanmisaka]

@nyanmisaka I tried with Windows 11 under the latest 2025.Q3 Arc Pro Graphics driver with ffmpeg 8.0.1. It works! So hardware indeed supports VP9 encoding, but for some reason Linux support is missing :(

That's good news from hardware perspective. And it seems they included Xe2 when adding VP9e HAL to PTL Xe3. But that seems to be an early effort for Xe2 and should require more validation before enabling in caps table. If you're interested, you can try to complete that part yourself by refering to this.