. Even for non-HDR content, 10-bit significantly reduces "banding" in the dark gradients typical of Season 2's cinematography.

. A CRF of 18 is considered visually lossless for most viewers. Advanced Command Line:

Modern x265 versions handle grain better without this old setting, which can bloat file sizes excessively.

For "extra quality," bypass hardware encoders (like NVENC) in favor of CPU-based software encoding HEVC 10-bit (x265)

To enjoy or produce Game of Thrones Season 2 in extra quality using x265 (HEVC), you need to balance superior compression with the specific visual demands of the show, which includes dark scenes (e.g., "Blackwater") and fine details like fur and armor. 1. Optimal Encoding Settings for High Quality

While x265 can save 20-50% in file size compared to x264, "extra quality" releases should still maintain a healthy bitrate to avoid "blockiness" in dark scenes. 3. Recommended Release Groups (Tier List) Preset Options — x265 documentation - Read the Docs

. These presets use deeper analysis to prevent artifacts, though they take much longer to encode. Constant Quality (CRF): Set between