Merge pull request #276021 from dknappettmsft/avd-chroma-default-420

AVD set default chroma value and GPU acceleration refresh

Author: PMEds28

articles/virtual-desktop/TOC.yml

@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@
           displayName: deploy, get started
           href: add-session-hosts-host-pool.md
         - name: Enable GPU acceleration
-          displayName: graphics, multimedia, videos, cad, session hosts
+          displayName: graphics, multimedia, videos, cad, session hosts, 3D, rendering
           href: enable-gpu-acceleration.md
         - name: Customize session host images
           items:
@@ -284,6 +284,9 @@
           - name: Windows 11 Enterprise images
             displayName: languages, language packs
             href: windows-11-language-packs.md
+        - name: Configure default chroma value
+          displayName: graphics, multimedia, videos, cad, session hosts, 3D, rendering
+          href: configure-default-chroma-value.md
       - name: Applications
         items:
         - name: Publish applications with RemoteApp

articles/virtual-desktop/configure-default-chroma-value.md

@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+---
+title: Configure default chroma value for Azure Virtual Desktop
+description: Learn how to configure the default chroma value from 4:2:0 to 4:4:4.
+ms.topic: how-to
+author: dknappettmsft
+ms.author: daknappe
+ms.date: 05/21/2024
+---
+
+# Configure the default chroma value for Azure Virtual Desktop
+
+The chroma value determines the color space used for encoding. By default, the chroma value is set to 4:2:0, which provides a good balance between image quality and network bandwidth. You can increase the default chroma value to 4:4:4 to improve image quality. You don't need to use GPU acceleration to change the default chroma value.
+
+This article shows you how to set the default chroma value. You can use Microsoft Intune or Group Policy to configure your session hosts.
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+Before you can configure the default chroma value, you need:
+
+- An existing host pool with session hosts.
+
+- To configure Microsoft Intune, you need:
+
+   - Microsoft Entra ID account that is assigned the [Policy and Profile manager](/mem/intune/fundamentals/role-based-access-control-reference#policy-and-profile-manager) built-in RBAC role.
+
+   - A group containing the devices you want to configure.
+
+- To configure Group Policy, you need:
+
+   - A domain account that is a member of the **Domain Admins** security group.
+
+   - A security group or organizational unit (OU) containing the devices you want to configure.
+
+## Increase the default chroma value to 4:4:4
+
+By default, the chroma value is set to 4:2:0. You can increase the default chroma value to 4:4:4 using Microsoft Intune or Group Policy.
+
+Select the relevant tab for your scenario.
+
+# [Microsoft Intune](#tab/intune)
+
+To increase the default chroma value to 4:4:4 using Microsoft Intune:
+
+1. Sign in to the [Microsoft Intune admin center](https://endpoint.microsoft.com/).
+
+1. [Create or edit a configuration profile](/mem/intune/configuration/administrative-templates-windows) for **Windows 10 and later** devices, with the **Settings catalog** profile type.
+
+1. In the settings picker, browse to **Administrative templates** > **Windows Components** > **Remote Desktop Services** > **Remote Desktop Session Host** > **Remote Session Environment**.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/enable-gpu-acceleration/remote-session-environment-intune.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the redirection options in the Microsoft Intune portal." lightbox="media/enable-gpu-acceleration/remote-session-environment-intune.png":::
+
+1. Check the box for the following settings, then close the settings picker:
+
+   1. **Prioritize H.264/AVC 444 Graphics mode for Remote Desktop connections**
+
+   1. **Configure image quality for RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics**
+
+1. Expand the **Administrative templates** category, then set each setting as follows:
+
+   1. Set toggle the switch for **Prioritize H.264/AVC 444 Graphics mode for Remote Desktop connections** to **Enabled**.
+
+   1. Set toggle the switch for **Configure image quality for RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics** to **Enabled**, then for **Image quality: (Device)**, select **High**.
+
+1. Select **Next**.
+
+1. *Optional*: On the **Scope tags** tab, select a scope tag to filter the profile. For more information about scope tags, see [Use role-based access control (RBAC) and scope tags for distributed IT](/mem/intune/fundamentals/scope-tags).
+
+1. On the **Assignments** tab, select the group containing the computers providing a remote session you want to configure, then select **Next**.
+
+1. On the **Review + create** tab, review the settings, then select **Create**.
+
+1. Once the policy applies to the computers providing a remote session, restart them for the settings to take effect.
+
+# [Group Policy](#tab/group-policy)
+
+To increase the default chroma value to 4:4:4 using Group Policy:
+
+1. Open the **Group Policy Management** console on device you use to manage the Active Directory domain.
+
+1. Create or edit a policy that targets the computers providing a remote session you want to configure.
+
+1. Navigate to **Computer Configuration** > **Policies** > **Administrative Templates** > **Windows Components** > **Remote Desktop Services** > **Remote Desktop Session Host** > **Remote Session Environment**.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/enable-gpu-acceleration/remote-session-environment-group-policy.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the redirection options in the Group Policy editor." lightbox="media/enable-gpu-acceleration/remote-session-environment-group-policy.png":::
+
+1. Configure the following settings:
+
+   1. Double-click the policy setting **Prioritize H.264/AVC 444 Graphics mode for Remote Desktop connections** to open it. Select **Enabled**, then select **OK**.
+
+   1. Double-click the policy setting **Configure image quality for RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics** to **Enabled**, then for **Image quality**, select **High**. Select **OK**.
+
+1. Ensure the policy is applied to your session hosts, then restart them for the settings to take effect.
+
+---
+
+## Verify a remote session is using a chroma value of 4:4:4
+
+To verify that a remote session is using a chroma value of 4:4:4, you need to [open an Azure support request](https://azure.microsoft.com/support/create-ticket/) with Microsoft Support who can verify the chroma value from telemetry.
+
+## Related content
+
+- [Configure GPU acceleration](enable-gpu-acceleration.md)