The codec pack checks this for you
You do not need to identify your Quick Sync generation before installing. During Detailed Installation, Media Player Codec Pack detects the available CPU and Intel graphics hardware and can recommend an appropriate playback configuration automatically.
Does my Intel processor support Quick Sync?
Intel states that Quick Sync can only be used when supported Intel integrated graphics are present and enabled. The exact processor SKU matters: Intel Core processors without processor graphics do not provide Intel media support.
For an exact CPU, check Intel Product Specifications and look under Processor Graphics for Intel Quick Sync Video. A value of Yes confirms that Intel lists Quick Sync for that processor.
Quick Sync media support by Intel generation
This table is deliberately generation-level rather than an exhaustive CPU list. It highlights the hardware decode features most relevant to Windows media playback. Exact capabilities can vary by processor, graphics configuration and device.
| Intel platform | H.264 / AVC | HEVC / H.265 | VP9 | AV1 | Playback note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd–4th Gen Core Sandy Bridge to Haswell | Hardware decode | No modern HEVC hardware decode | No | No | Quick Sync exists on supported processor-graphics SKUs, but modern codec acceleration is limited. |
| 5th Gen Core Broadwell | Hardware decode | No fixed-function HEVC decode in Intel's current capability table | No | No | MPEG-2, VC-1, MJPEG and VP8 are also represented in Intel's media capability table. |
| 6th Gen Core Skylake | Hardware decode | 8-bit 4:2:0 | No listed VP9 fixed-function decode | No | Intel states hardware-accelerated HEVC support starts with 6th Gen Core. |
| 7th–8th Gen Core Kaby Lake / Coffee Lake era | Hardware decode | 8/10-bit 4:2:0 | 8/10-bit 4:2:0 | No | A major step for HEVC Main10 and VP9 playback. |
| 9th Gen Core | Hardware decode | 8/10-bit 4:2:0 | 8/10-bit 4:2:0 | No | Intel's table lists HEVC and VP9 decode up to 8K for supported formats. |
| 10th Gen Core | Hardware decode | 8/10-bit; some Ice Lake configurations add broader chroma formats | 8/10-bit; capability varies by platform | No general AV1 decode | 10th Gen is not one uniform media engine; Ice Lake and other 10th Gen platforms differ. |
| 11th Gen Core Iris Xe / UHD | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode on supported Xe-era media engines | Xe-era Intel media engines introduce AV1 hardware decode on supported configurations. |
| 12th–13th Gen Core | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Current Intel capability tables list broad modern media decode support on supported processor graphics. |
| Core Ultra / newer Intel platforms | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Hardware decode | Use Intel's current hardware table for exact profiles, bit depths, chroma formats and maximum resolutions. |
This is a playback-oriented summary, not an encode-capability table. Intel's developer documentation should be used for exact profile, pixel-format, resolution and encode/decode details for a specific generation.
Why Quick Sync may be unavailable even on a supported CPU
- Processor graphics are disabled: Intel says the integrated graphics must be enabled for Quick Sync to be used.
- The exact SKU has no processor graphics: check the individual processor specification rather than relying only on the Core generation name.
- BIOS or firmware configuration: a disabled iGPU can prevent the media engine from being available to Windows software.
- Driver state: an appropriate Intel graphics driver is required for the Windows hardware decoding path.
- Codec/profile mismatch: a generation may support HEVC, for example, without supporting every HEVC bit depth or chroma format in hardware.
- Application path: the player/decoder must select a compatible Windows hardware-acceleration API and media path.
Quick Sync, Intel graphics and Media Player Codec Pack
The Intel graphics page and this Quick Sync page cover different layers. The Intel graphics hardware decoding & drivers page tracks the current Intel driver package and general Intel GPU playback context. This page focuses on the processor/iGPU media engine and generation-specific decode capability.
Check an exact processor
Intel's own specification and media-capability pages are the final authority for a specific processor. These are particularly useful when two CPUs from the same marketing generation have different processor-graphics configurations.