GPU Setup on Windows

On Windows, each vendor needs its own graphics drivers installed. In every case, install the drivers from the manufacturer rather than relying on the ones Windows supplies - the in-box drivers frequently lack the media components Emby needs. None of the vendors require their SDK to be installed.

What each vendor's hardware can actually do is described under Hardware Acceleration.

Nvidia

Install the current drivers from Nvidia Driver Downloads.

The minimum required version on Windows is 471.41. The Nvidia SDKs are not needed.

Nvidia works headless - no monitor has to be attached - and works when Emby runs as a Windows service.

Intel

Install the current Intel graphics drivers from Intel. The Intel Media SDK is not needed.

Headless operation, and running as a Windows service, work when the D3D11 codec is in use. Otherwise a physical monitor has to be connected to the video output.

AMD

Install the current Radeon software from AMD Drivers & Support. The AMF SDK is not needed.

The minimum required version is AMD Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.7.3 (16.30.2311).

AMD does not currently support headless operation - a physical monitor has to be connected to the video output - and AMF acceleration does not work when Emby runs as a Windows service.

Running Emby as a Service

Whether hardware acceleration survives running as a service depends on the vendor, as noted above. For the service itself, see Running as Windows Service.

Remote Desktop

Hardware acceleration can stop working while connected over RDP. See Hardware Acceleration fails with RDP.