Home/ Questions/Q 14747
Next
In Process

askthedev.com Latest Questions

Asked: 2024-09-27T03:41:38+05:30 In:

How can I enable hardware acceleration for Chrome and Edge on Ubuntu 22.04 when using Intel Alder Lake processors?

I’ve been digging around for a while now, trying to get hardware acceleration up and running on my Chrome and Edge browsers on Ubuntu 22.04, specifically with my new Intel Alder Lake processor. I thought that once I upgraded my system, everything would just work seamlessly, but it seems like I hit a bit of a roadblock.

I managed to install Ubuntu 22.04 without a hitch, and the performance is pretty solid overall. However, I noticed that web video playback isn’t as smooth as I expected, and I suspect it might be due to a lack of hardware acceleration. I’ve read that enabling it can significantly improve performance, especially with tasks like video streaming and gaming in the browser.

I’ve already checked the Chrome settings, but it seems there’s no straightforward toggle for hardware acceleration on Linux like there is on Windows. I did some research and found some suggestions to add flags in the Chrome shortcut or delve into system files, but honestly, some of it looks a bit complicated for someone like me who isn’t that tech-savvy. And what about Edge? I know it’s based on Chromium too, but do I have to follow the same steps, or is there a different method I should consider?

If there are any command-line tweaks I should be aware of, I’d love to hear about them. Or, if anyone has had success with this on Alder Lake specifically, your insights would be greatly appreciated! I’ve seen some play around with altering the config files and installing special drivers, but it’s all overwhelming.

Would love to hear how others have tackled this and if you found any particular settings or steps that helped you enable hardware acceleration effectively. Any tips, tricks, or experiences would be super useful. Thanks in advance!

Share

    Leave an answer

    You must login to add an answer.

    Need An Account,

    2 Answers






    1. Hardware Acceleration on Ubuntu 22.04


      Enabling Hardware Acceleration in Chrome and Edge on Ubuntu 22.04

      So, you want to get hardware acceleration running in Chrome and Edge on your new Intel Alder Lake setup? Totally get it; it can feel like a maze! Here’s a way to tackle it step-by-step.

      For Chrome:

      First off, you’ll want to check if you have the proper drivers installed. You can update your graphics drivers via the terminal. Open a terminal and run:

      sudo apt update
sudo apt install mesa-utils

      Now, to enable hardware acceleration, you can try running Chrome with specific flags. Close Chrome if it’s running and then use this command in the terminal:

      google-chrome --enable-features=VaapivideoDecoder --use-gl=desktop

      If you want to create a shortcut with this command, you can edit the Chrome launcher and append those flags to the command line. Find the Chrome launcher file, usually located at:

      /usr/share/applications/google-chrome.desktop

      Edit it and modify the Exec line so it looks something like:

      Exec=/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable %U --enable-features=VaapiVideoDecoder --use-gl=desktop

      For Edge:

      Edge, being Chromium-based, is somewhat similar. You can also launch it from the terminal with similar flags. Use this command:

      microsoft-edge --enable-features=VaapiVideoDecoder --use-gl=desktop

      Just like with Chrome, you can modify its .desktop file located at:

      /usr/share/applications/microsoft-edge.desktop

      Make sure to change the Exec line and add the flags there too.

      Final Tips:

      After you make these changes, restart the browsers. You can go to chrome://gpu in Chrome or edge://gpu in Edge to check if hardware acceleration is enabled and see the status of the GPU features.

      If video playback is still choppy, you might also want to check for any pending Ubuntu updates or try different video players or formats to see if that helps.

      There might be various tweaks here and there, and everyone’s experience can differ slightly depending on hardware. But hopefully, these steps help you get started! Good luck, and happy browsing!


    2. To enable hardware acceleration on Chrome and Edge browsers in Ubuntu 22.04 using an Intel Alder Lake processor, you’ll first want to ensure that your graphics drivers are properly installed. Start by installing Intel’s open-source graphics drivers, which should support your Alder Lake CPU. You can usually do this using the built-in commands or through the Software & Updates application. Run the following command in the terminal to install the drivers:
      sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intel. Once this is done, restart your machine to apply the changes. After that, open Chrome and navigate to chrome://flags. Look for the option for “Hardware-accelerated video decode” and enable it. Additionally, ensure that hardware acceleration is turned on in the settings by navigating to Settings > Advanced > System and toggling on “Use hardware acceleration when available”.

      For Edge, the process is similar since it is based on Chromium. You can access the flags in Edge by going to edge://flags and enabling the same settings as mentioned for Chrome. If you prefer command-line tweaks, another approach is to launch either browser with specific flags; for instance, you can run Chrome with
      google-chrome --use-gl=desktop or Edge with
      microsoft-edge --use-gl=desktop. This may help force hardware acceleration in some cases. Ensure both browsers are updated to the latest versions to enjoy the best compatibility with hardware acceleration features. If issues persist, checking forums or communities dedicated to Ubuntu and Linux hardware might provide personalized insights, particularly those who’ve successfully configured environments similar to yours.

    Related Questions