Intelligent Build to Lossless

This article describes the Intelligent Build to Lossless graphics mode for Citrix HDX. It explains how the feature works, how to configure it, and how to verify and monitor its operation. It also compares this mode to the existing Build to Lossless and Always Lossless Visual Quality settings.

Designed for mixed workloads in mind, Intelligent Build to Lossless is an evolution of Thinwire Selective Encoding and is the new default graphics mode. Similar to the existing Build to Lossless setting, Intelligent Build to Lossless uses a video codec on large, actively changing screen regions to maintain smooth session graphics. When the screen activity ceases, it progressively refines the image until it is pixel perfect. Where Intelligent Build to Lossless differs from the existing Build to Lossless setting is how the mode is toggled: the choice of whether to engage Build to Lossless or not is no longer just a policy decision, but instead based on screen activity and other factors. Moreover, this decision is made on a per-monitor basis, allowing - for the first time - a mix of Thinwire Selective Encoding and Build to Lossless all within the same session.

Intelligent Build to Lossless is enabled by default for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops version 2503 and later when a GPU is present on the VDA. When no GPU is present on the VDA, Selective Encoding without Intelligent Build to Lossless is used, which is essentially the same as how Selective Encoding worked prior to version 2503.

No Citrix Workspace app upgrades are required to take advantage of Intelligent Build to Lossless.

Intelligent Build to Lossless

In this article