We’ve already written about future processors that will support 8K video decoding, such as Rockchip RK3588 that is expected to launch in early 2020.
But I’ve just read claims that Amlogic A311D and S922X-B processors could also decode VP9 8K at 30 fps. So let’s have a look at Amlogic A311D datasheet first:
Amlogic Video Engine (AVE-10) offloads the Cortex-A53 CPUs from all video CODEC processing. It includes dedicated hardware video decoder and encoder. AVE-10 is capable of decoding 4Kx2K resolution video at 75fps with complete Trusted Video Path (TVP) for secure applications and supports full formats including MVC, MPEG-1/2/4, VC-1/WMV, AVS, AVS+, AVS2 RealVideo, MJPEG streams, H.264, H265-10, VP9 and also JPEG pictures with no size limitation. The independent encoder is able to encode in JPEG or H.265/H.264 up to 1080p at 60fps
There’s only mention of 4Kx2K decoding at up to 75fps, and further down in the document, we can see VP9 maximum resolution and framerate:
VP9 Profile-2 up to 4Kx2K@60fps
So is that fake news? Apparently not, as adamg managed to play an 8K 30 fps video with CoreELEC on Amlogic A311D powered Khadas VIM3 SBC, and he has a video to prove it.
The VP9 video has a 7680×4320 resolution and a 29.970 fps framerate. It appears to play relatively smoothly. While Amlogic A311D supports HDMI 2.1, I doubt it can output 8K, so I’d expect 8K video decoding to work, but not 8K video output. I asked whether the video output in the video above was 1080p or 4K, but I did not get an answer to that specific question, and instead was told Amlogic S922X-B SoC, the faster version of S922X, can also handle 8K VP9 video decoding.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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