diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ac8af439..8fab979e 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2799,6 +2799,28 @@ dependencies = [
  "bytemuck",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pf-encode"
+version = "0.12.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "anyhow",
+ "ash",
+ "ffmpeg-next",
+ "libc",
+ "libloading",
+ "nvidia-video-codec-sdk",
+ "openh264",
+ "pf-frame",
+ "pf-gpu",
+ "pf-host-config",
+ "pf-zerocopy",
+ "punktfunk-core",
+ "pyrowave-sys",
+ "tracing",
+ "tracing-subscriber",
+ "windows 0.62.2 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "pf-ffvk"
 version = "0.12.0"
@@ -3166,7 +3188,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "base64",
  "bytemuck",
  "cbc",
- "ffmpeg-next",
  "futures-util",
  "hex",
  "hmac",
@@ -3180,11 +3201,10 @@ dependencies = [
  "log",
  "mac_address",
  "mdns-sd",
- "nvidia-video-codec-sdk",
- "openh264",
  "opus",
  "parking_lot",
  "pf-driver-proto",
+ "pf-encode",
  "pf-frame",
  "pf-gpu",
  "pf-host-config",
@@ -3193,7 +3213,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "pf-zerocopy",
  "pipewire",
  "punktfunk-core",
- "pyrowave-sys",
  "quinn",
  "rand 0.8.6",
  "rcgen",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 30a3db07..e3ef152d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ members = [
     "crates/pf-zerocopy",
     "crates/pf-frame",
     "crates/pf-win-display",
+    "crates/pf-encode",
     "crates/pyrowave-sys",
     "clients/probe",
     "clients/linux",
diff --git a/crates/pf-encode/Cargo.toml b/crates/pf-encode/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9de8e620
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# Hardware/software video encode (plan §7 / §W6): the per-vendor backends (NVENC, VAAPI, AMF, QSV,
+# Vulkan-Video, PyroWave, openh264) behind one `Encoder` trait + `open_video` selector, extracted
+# from the host so it depends on the shared frame vocabulary (pf-frame) rather than living inside
+# the orchestrator. Speaks pf-frame (CapturedFrame/PixelFormat/dxgi identity) and pf-zerocopy
+# (CUDA), never pf-capture — the capture→encode edge is one-way (plan §2.4).
+[package]
+name = "pf-encode"
+version = "0.12.0"
+edition = "2021"
+rust-version.workspace = true
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+description = "punktfunk host video encode: NVENC/VAAPI/AMF/QSV/Vulkan-Video/PyroWave/openh264 backends behind one Encoder trait."
+publish = false
+
+[dependencies]
+punktfunk-core = { path = "../punktfunk-core", features = ["quic"] }
+pf-frame = { path = "../pf-frame" }
+pf-gpu = { path = "../pf-gpu" }
+pf-host-config = { path = "../pf-host-config" }
+pf-zerocopy = { path = "../pf-zerocopy" }
+anyhow = "1"
+tracing = "0.1"
+
+[dev-dependencies]
+# A test writer for the NVENC backend's unit tests (`with_test_writer().try_init()`).
+tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3", features = ["env-filter"] }
+
+[target.'cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"))'.dependencies]
+# Software H.264 (openh264, BSD-2) — the GPU-less encode path on both platforms.
+openh264 = "0.9"
+
+[target.'cfg(target_os = "linux")'.dependencies]
+# libavcodec (NVENC libav + VAAPI backends). `ffmpeg-sys-next` auto-detects the FFmpeg version.
+ffmpeg-next = "8"
+libc = "0.2"
+# Vulkan bindings for the raw Vulkan-Video encode + PyroWave compute backends (feature-gated below;
+# the dep stays unconditional to mirror the host's Linux target — unused-but-declared is harmless).
+ash = "0.38"
+# `libnvidia-encode.so.1` is dlopen'd at runtime for the direct-SDK NVENC/CUDA backend.
+libloading = "0.8"
+# Direct-SDK NVENC (raw `sys::nvEncodeAPI` types; entry points resolved at runtime). `ci-check` =
+# vendored bindings, no CUDA toolkit at build.
+nvidia-video-codec-sdk = { version = "0.4", features = ["ci-check"], optional = true }
+# PyroWave (opt-in wired-LAN wavelet codec) — vendored codec + bindgen'd C API, only under `pyrowave`.
+pyrowave-sys = { path = "../pyrowave-sys", optional = true }
+
+[target.'cfg(target_os = "windows")'.dependencies]
+# NVENC (direct SDK, D3D11 input) + the shared D3D11/DXGI vocabulary via pf-frame.
+nvidia-video-codec-sdk = { version = "0.4", features = ["ci-check"], optional = true }
+# AMD (AMF) + Intel (QSV) hardware encode via libavcodec (behind `amf-qsv`; link-imports FFmpeg).
+ffmpeg-next = { version = "8", optional = true }
+# `libnvidia-encode`/`nvEncodeAPI64.dll` resolved at runtime; the NVENC status→cause table dlopen.
+libloading = "0.8"
+windows = { version = "0.62", features = [
+    "Win32_Foundation",
+    "Win32_Graphics_Direct3D",
+    "Win32_Graphics_Direct3D11",
+    "Win32_Graphics_Dxgi",
+    "Win32_Graphics_Dxgi_Common",
+    "Win32_Storage_FileSystem",
+    "Win32_System_LibraryLoader",
+    "Win32_System_Threading",
+] }
+
+[features]
+default = []
+# NVENC hardware encode (Linux CUDA + Windows D3D11); entry points resolved at runtime.
+nvenc = ["dep:nvidia-video-codec-sdk"]
+# AMD (AMF) + Intel (QSV) hardware encode on Windows via libavcodec.
+amf-qsv = ["dep:ffmpeg-next"]
+# Raw Vulkan-Video HEVC/AV1 encode on Linux (reuses the `ash` bindings; no new dep).
+vulkan-encode = []
+# PyroWave — the opt-in wired-LAN intra-only wavelet codec (Linux encode backend).
+pyrowave = ["dep:pyrowave-sys"]
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/codec.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/codec.rs
similarity index 98%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/codec.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/codec.rs
index f1b48ca0..cf2d970d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/codec.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/codec.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 //! The encoder contract (plan §7, Tier 1): the [`Encoder`] trait plus the plain-data value types its
 //! signatures use — [`EncodedFrame`], [`Codec`], [`ChromaFormat`], [`EncoderCaps`] — and the
 //! dimension/VBV helpers [`validate_dimensions`] and [`vbv_frames_env`]. Backend selection, the
-//! capability probes that mirror it, and `Codec::host_wire_caps` stay in the parent [`crate::encode`]
-//! facade, which re-exports this module (`pub(crate) use codec::*;`) so every `crate::encode::*` path
+//! capability probes that mirror it, and `Codec::host_wire_caps` stay in the parent the `pf-encode` crate root
+//! facade, which re-exports this module (`pub(crate) use codec::*;`) so every `crate::*` path
 //! is unchanged.
-use crate::capture::CapturedFrame;
 use anyhow::Result;
+use pf_frame::CapturedFrame;
 
 /// An encoded access unit (one NAL/AU) to hand to `punktfunk_core` for FEC + packetization.
 /// `data` is in-band Annex-B (the encoder is opened without a global header), so each
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ impl Codec {
     }
 
     /// Lowercase stats/console label (`"h264"` / `"hevc"` / `"av1"`) — the codec string seeded into
-    /// the web console's session meta ([`crate::stats_recorder::StatsRecorder::register_session`]).
+    /// the web console's session meta (the host `stats_recorder::StatsRecorder::register_session`).
     pub fn label(self) -> &'static str {
         match self {
             Codec::H264 => "h264",
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl Codec {
     /// H.264 is always 8-bit (High10 is neither an NVENC nor a VCN encode mode — negotiation
     /// never asks), and PyroWave's wavelet path ingests 8-bit. `true` here is only the
     /// *codec-level* gate: the active GPU/backend must still pass
-    /// [`can_encode_10bit`](crate::encode::can_encode_10bit) before the host negotiates 10-bit.
+    /// [`can_encode_10bit`](crate::can_encode_10bit) before the host negotiates 10-bit.
     pub fn supports_10bit(self) -> bool {
         matches!(self, Codec::H265 | Codec::Av1)
     }
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ impl Codec {
     }
 
     /// The codec's *spec* top level/tier bitrate (bits/s) — the usual boundary at which NVENC
-    /// starts rejecting `avcodec_open2` with EINVAL. NOT a hard cap: [`open_video`](crate::encode::
+    /// starts rejecting `avcodec_open2` with EINVAL. NOT a hard cap: [`open_video`](crate::
     /// open_video) probes the actual GPU ceiling by stepping DOWN from the requested bitrate only on
     /// EINVAL, and uses this purely as the first step-down candidate (so a card that accepts more —
     /// an RTX 5070 Ti does >1 Gbps HEVC where a 4090 caps at ~800 Mbps — is never clamped to it).
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/libav.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/libav.rs
similarity index 98%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/libav.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/libav.rs
index 7e786f48..71cbd6e2 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/libav.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/libav.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 //! (`encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs`) — so the byte-identical pieces live once (plan §2.2, the Tier-2
 //! gap). Free functions and consts over borrowed handles; nothing here is per-frame `dyn`,
 //! allocating, or on the zero-copy ingest path.
-use crate::encode::EncodedFrame;
+use crate::EncodedFrame;
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use ffmpeg_next as ffmpeg;
 use ffmpeg_next::ffi; // = ffmpeg_sys_next
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub(crate) fn apply_low_latency_rc(video: &mut encoder::video::Video, fps: u32,
     video.set_bit_rate(bitrate_bps as usize);
     video.set_max_bit_rate(bitrate_bps as usize);
     video.set_max_b_frames(0);
-    let vbv_bits = ((bitrate_bps as f64 / fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::encode::vbv_frames_env())
+    let vbv_bits = ((bitrate_bps as f64 / fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::vbv_frames_env())
         .clamp(1.0, i32::MAX as f64);
     // SAFETY: `video` wraps a freshly-allocated `AVCodecContext` we hold by value and have not opened
     // yet; `as_mut_ptr()` returns that non-null, aligned, exclusively-owned context. Writing the plain
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/cursor_blend.cu b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/cursor_blend.cu
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/cursor_blend.cu
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/cursor_blend.cu
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/cursor_blend.ptx b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/cursor_blend.ptx
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/cursor_blend.ptx
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/cursor_blend.ptx
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/mod.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/mod.rs
similarity index 97%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/mod.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/mod.rs
index 152ee532..140e9296 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/mod.rs
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
 use super::{ChromaFormat, Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use ffmpeg::format::Pixel;
 use ffmpeg::util::frame::Video as VideoFrame;
 use ffmpeg::{codec, encoder, Dictionary};
 use ffmpeg_next as ffmpeg;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::os::raw::c_int;
 use std::ptr;
 
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ impl NvencEncoder {
         // hwdevice/hwframes contexts and set `pix_fmt = CUDA` on the raw encoder context
         // *before* open (NVENC derives the device from `hw_frames_ctx`).
         let cuda_hw = if cuda {
-            let cu_ctx = crate::zerocopy::cuda::context().context("shared CUDA context")?;
+            let cu_ctx = pf_zerocopy::cuda::context().context("shared CUDA context")?;
             // SAFETY: `CudaHw::new` (an `unsafe fn`) requires libav initialized (the `ffmpeg::init()`
             // above ran) and a valid `CUcontext`; `cu_ctx` is the shared importer context from
             // `zerocopy::cuda::context()?`, non-null on the `Ok` path. `nvenc_pixel` is a valid `Pixel`
@@ -722,12 +722,7 @@ impl NvencEncoder {
     /// device pointer with a bounded table, so a fresh pointer every frame would thrash/overflow
     /// it — the pool recycles a small set of pointers. The extra copy is device-local (~8 MB at
     /// 1080p, sub-millisecond on the GPU) and keeps the host fully off the pixel path.
-    fn submit_cuda(
-        &mut self,
-        buf: &crate::zerocopy::DeviceBuffer,
-        pts: i64,
-        idr: bool,
-    ) -> Result<()> {
+    fn submit_cuda(&mut self, buf: &pf_zerocopy::DeviceBuffer, pts: i64, idr: bool) -> Result<()> {
         let frames_ref = self
             .cuda
             .as_ref()
@@ -735,7 +730,7 @@ impl NvencEncoder {
             .frames_ref;
         // The device→device copy below uses our shared context directly; make it current on the
         // encode thread (ffmpeg pushes its own around the pool alloc, so order is fine).
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().context("CUDA context current (encode thread)")?;
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().context("CUDA context current (encode thread)")?;
         // SAFETY: `frames_ref` is the non-null CUDA frames ctx from `self.cuda` (unwrapped via
         // `.context(..)?` above), and the shared CUDA context was just made current on THIS thread
         // (`make_current()?`), the precondition for the device-pointer copies below.
@@ -770,11 +765,11 @@ impl NvencEncoder {
             let copy_res = if buf.yuv444 {
                 let dsts = core::array::from_fn(|i| {
                     (
-                        (*f).data[i] as crate::zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr,
+                        (*f).data[i] as pf_zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr,
                         (*f).linesize[i] as usize,
                     )
                 });
-                crate::zerocopy::cuda::copy_yuv444_to_device(buf, dsts)
+                pf_zerocopy::cuda::copy_yuv444_to_device(buf, dsts)
             } else if self.want_444 {
                 ffi::av_frame_free(&mut f);
                 bail!(
@@ -783,15 +778,15 @@ impl NvencEncoder {
                      CPU 4:4:4 path on this compositor"
                 );
             } else if buf.is_nv12() {
-                let y_ptr = (*f).data[0] as crate::zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
+                let y_ptr = (*f).data[0] as pf_zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
                 let y_pitch = (*f).linesize[0] as usize;
-                let uv_ptr = (*f).data[1] as crate::zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
+                let uv_ptr = (*f).data[1] as pf_zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
                 let uv_pitch = (*f).linesize[1] as usize;
-                crate::zerocopy::cuda::copy_nv12_to_device(buf, y_ptr, y_pitch, uv_ptr, uv_pitch)
+                pf_zerocopy::cuda::copy_nv12_to_device(buf, y_ptr, y_pitch, uv_ptr, uv_pitch)
             } else {
-                let dst_ptr = (*f).data[0] as crate::zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
+                let dst_ptr = (*f).data[0] as pf_zerocopy::cuda::CUdeviceptr;
                 let dst_pitch = (*f).linesize[0] as usize;
-                crate::zerocopy::cuda::copy_device_to_device(buf, dst_ptr, dst_pitch)
+                pf_zerocopy::cuda::copy_device_to_device(buf, dst_ptr, dst_pitch)
             };
             if let Err(e) = copy_res {
                 ffi::av_frame_free(&mut f);
@@ -827,7 +822,7 @@ impl Drop for NvencEncoder {
 /// Probe whether this NVIDIA GPU + driver + libavcodec can actually encode HEVC **4:4:4** (Range
 /// Extensions). Opens a tiny real `hevc_nvenc` 4:4:4 session — the exact path [`NvencEncoder::open`]
 /// takes for a live 4:4:4 stream — and reports whether it succeeded. HEVC-only; the result is cached
-/// by the caller ([`crate::encode::can_encode_444`]). A GPU/driver/ffmpeg without RExt 4:4:4 fails
+/// by the caller ([`crate::can_encode_444`]). A GPU/driver/ffmpeg without RExt 4:4:4 fails
 /// the open here, so the host resolves the session to 4:2:0 before the Welcome (honest downgrade).
 pub fn probe_can_encode_444(codec: Codec) -> bool {
     if codec != Codec::H265 {
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
index dd35c0ea..59261447 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ use super::nvenc_core::{
 };
 use super::nvenc_status;
 use super::{ChromaFormat, Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
-use crate::zerocopy::cuda::{self, InputSurface};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
+use pf_zerocopy::cuda::{self, InputSurface};
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::ptr;
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ impl NvencCudaEncoder {
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub fn open(
         codec: Codec,
-        _format: crate::capture::PixelFormat,
+        _format: pf_frame::PixelFormat,
         width: u32,
         height: u32,
         fps: u32,
@@ -1253,8 +1253,8 @@ impl Drop for NvencCudaEncoder {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
-    use crate::zerocopy::cuda::DeviceBuffer;
+    use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
+    use pf_zerocopy::cuda::DeviceBuffer;
 
     fn nv12_frame(w: u32, h: u32, i: u32) -> CapturedFrame {
         // Content is uninitialized device memory — NVENC encodes it fine; this smoke test asserts the
@@ -1281,7 +1281,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_smoke_rfi_anchor() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
 
         let mut enc = NvencCudaEncoder::open(
             Codec::H265,
@@ -1358,7 +1358,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_yuv444() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
         let mut enc = NvencCudaEncoder::open(
             Codec::H265,
             PixelFormat::Yuv444,
@@ -1403,7 +1403,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_reconfigure_no_idr() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
         let mut enc = NvencCudaEncoder::open(
             Codec::H265,
             PixelFormat::Nv12,
@@ -1510,7 +1510,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_codec_switch_reopen() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
         for (leg, codec) in [
             Codec::H265,
             Codec::Av1,
@@ -1552,7 +1552,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_dirty_teardown_reopen() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
         for round in 0..3 {
             let mut enc = open_h265();
             for f in 0..4u32 {
@@ -1581,7 +1581,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn nvenc_cuda_open_failure_diagnosis_and_recovery() {
         const W: u32 = 1280;
         const H: u32 = 720;
-        crate::zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
+        pf_zerocopy::cuda::make_current().expect("shared CUDA context current");
         try_api().expect("nvenc api");
         let shared = cuda::context().expect("shared ctx");
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/pyrowave.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/pyrowave.rs
index 2af97f1d..42b6c929 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/pyrowave.rs
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@
 // Every unsafe block in this module carries a `// SAFETY:` proof (parent module enforces it).
 
 use super::vk_util::{color_range, find_mem, import_rgb_dmabuf, make_plain_image, pixel_to_vk};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
-use crate::encode::{EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
+use crate::{EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
 use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 use ash::vk;
 use ash::vk::Handle as _;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
 use pyrowave_sys as pw;
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::os::fd::AsRawFd;
@@ -637,10 +637,7 @@ impl PyroWaveEncoder {
     /// Records the small upload (only when the bitmap `serial` changed) + layout transition into
     /// `cmd`, ahead of the CSC dispatch that samples binding 3. Encode is synchronous, so the single
     /// shared image never races a prior frame; the first use transitions it to SHADER_READ_ONLY.
-    unsafe fn prep_cursor(
-        &mut self,
-        cursor: Option<&crate::capture::CursorOverlay>,
-    ) -> Result<[i32; 4]> {
+    unsafe fn prep_cursor(&mut self, cursor: Option<&pf_frame::CursorOverlay>) -> Result<[i32; 4]> {
         let dev = self.device.clone();
         let cmd = self.cmd;
         let img = self.cursor_img;
@@ -748,7 +745,7 @@ impl PyroWaveEncoder {
     /// Import a dmabuf with per-buffer caching — same policy as `vulkan_video.rs::import_cached`.
     unsafe fn import_cached(
         &mut self,
-        d: &crate::capture::DmabufFrame,
+        d: &pf_frame::DmabufFrame,
         cw: u32,
         ch: u32,
     ) -> Result<(vk::Image, vk::ImageView, bool)> {
@@ -1303,7 +1300,7 @@ impl Drop for PyroWaveEncoder {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::capture::PixelFormat;
+    use pf_frame::PixelFormat;
 
     fn cpu_frame(w: u32, h: u32, pts_ns: u64, fill: [u8; 4]) -> CapturedFrame {
         let mut buf = vec![0u8; (w * h * 4) as usize];
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/rgb2yuv.comp b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/rgb2yuv.comp
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/rgb2yuv.comp
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/rgb2yuv.comp
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/rgb2yuv.spv b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/rgb2yuv.spv
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/rgb2yuv.spv
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/rgb2yuv.spv
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vaapi.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vaapi.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vaapi.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vaapi.rs
index 0feee5d5..4634cdca 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vaapi.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vaapi.rs
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
 use super::{Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, DmabufFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use ffmpeg::format::Pixel;
 use ffmpeg::{codec, encoder, Dictionary};
 use ffmpeg_next as ffmpeg;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, DmabufFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::ffi::{CStr, CString};
 use std::os::fd::AsRawFd;
 use std::os::raw::c_int;
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ impl DmabufInner {
         fps: u32,
         bitrate_bps: u64,
     ) -> Result<Self> {
-        let drm_fourcc = crate::zerocopy::drm_fourcc(format)
+        let drm_fourcc = pf_frame::drm_fourcc(format)
             .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("no DRM fourcc for {format:?} (VAAPI zero-copy)"))?;
         let node = render_node();
         // SAFETY: libav is initialized (`VaapiEncoder::open` ran `ffmpeg::init()` before
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vk_util.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vk_util.rs
similarity index 98%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vk_util.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vk_util.rs
index 96cff023..a24fc1cc 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vk_util.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vk_util.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 //! when the PyroWave backend arrived so the two don't fork copies.
 // Every unsafe block carries a `// SAFETY:` proof (parent module enforces it).
 
-use crate::capture::PixelFormat;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use ash::vk;
+use pf_frame::PixelFormat;
 
 pub(crate) fn color_range(layer: u32) -> vk::ImageSubresourceRange {
     vk::ImageSubresourceRange {
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn import_rgb_dmabuf(
     device: &ash::Device,
     ext_fd: &ash::khr::external_memory_fd::Device,
     mem_props: &vk::PhysicalDeviceMemoryProperties,
-    d: &crate::capture::DmabufFrame,
+    d: &pf_frame::DmabufFrame,
     cw: u32,
     ch: u32,
 ) -> Result<(vk::Image, vk::DeviceMemory, vk::ImageView)> {
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vulkan_video.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vulkan_video.rs
index 19afc4a9..994a92f3 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/linux/vulkan_video.rs
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@
 #![allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 
 use super::vk_util::{color_range, find_mem, make_plain_image, make_view, pixel_to_vk};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
-use crate::encode::{Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
+use crate::{Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
 use anyhow::{bail, Context, Result};
 use ash::vk;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::os::fd::AsRawFd;
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ impl VulkanVideoEncoder {
         &mut self,
         slot: usize,
         compute_cmd: vk::CommandBuffer,
-        cursor: Option<&crate::capture::CursorOverlay>,
+        cursor: Option<&pf_frame::CursorOverlay>,
     ) -> Result<[i32; 4]> {
         let dev = self.device.clone();
         let img = self.frames[slot].cursor_img;
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ impl VulkanVideoEncoder {
     /// Import a packed-RGB dmabuf as a SAMPLED VkImage (explicit DRM modifier). Caller destroys.
     unsafe fn import_dmabuf(
         &self,
-        d: &crate::capture::DmabufFrame,
+        d: &pf_frame::DmabufFrame,
         cw: u32,
         ch: u32,
     ) -> Result<(vk::Image, vk::DeviceMemory, vk::ImageView)> {
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ impl VulkanVideoEncoder {
     /// true only on a first import (caller uses UNDEFINED old-layout to preserve modifier-tiled data).
     unsafe fn import_cached(
         &mut self,
-        d: &crate::capture::DmabufFrame,
+        d: &pf_frame::DmabufFrame,
         cw: u32,
         ch: u32,
     ) -> Result<(vk::Image, vk::ImageView, bool)> {
@@ -2680,8 +2680,8 @@ unsafe fn build_parameters_av1(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{build_h265_rps_s0, pick_recovery_slot, VulkanVideoEncoder};
-    use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
-    use crate::encode::{Codec, Encoder};
+    use crate::{Codec, Encoder};
+    use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 
     /// The RFI anchor picker: newest resident wire strictly older than the loss; empty/newer
     /// slots never qualify.
@@ -2761,7 +2761,7 @@ mod tests {
     /// the reference-slot RFI end-to-end; returns the AUs. Wire frame [`SMOKE_LOST`] is "lost", one
     /// normal P referencing it is still encoded (the in-flight window), then frame [`SMOKE_ANCHOR`]
     /// is the clean recovery anchor referencing pre-loss frame 3 (no IDR).
-    fn run_smoke(codec: Codec) -> Vec<crate::encode::EncodedFrame> {
+    fn run_smoke(codec: Codec) -> Vec<crate::EncodedFrame> {
         let env_dim = |k: &str, d: u32| {
             std::env::var(k)
                 .ok()
@@ -2782,7 +2782,7 @@ mod tests {
             [120, 200, 80, 255],
             [80, 120, 200, 255],
         ];
-        let mut aus: Vec<crate::encode::EncodedFrame> = Vec::new();
+        let mut aus: Vec<crate::EncodedFrame> = Vec::new();
         for (i, c) in colors.iter().enumerate() {
             if i == SMOKE_ANCHOR {
                 // The client reports wire frame SMOKE_LOST lost → the next frame must re-anchor
@@ -2836,7 +2836,7 @@ mod tests {
     /// concealment the client's freeze hides) and NONE at the anchor — a complaint about the
     /// anchor's reference (frame 3 / POC 3) means reference retention regressed and the "clean"
     /// re-anchor ships corruption.
-    fn dump_smoke(aus: &[crate::encode::EncodedFrame], ext: &str) {
+    fn dump_smoke(aus: &[crate::EncodedFrame], ext: &str) {
         let Ok(home) = std::env::var("HOME") else {
             return;
         };
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc_core.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/nvenc_core.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc_core.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/nvenc_core.rs
index a119e6f0..f970c089 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc_core.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/nvenc_core.rs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ pub(super) unsafe fn apply_low_latency_config(cfg: &mut nv::NV_ENC_CONFIG, c: Lo
     // when the GPU advertises custom-VBV support — else keep the preset default.
     if c.custom_vbv {
         // ~1-frame VBV by default; PUNKTFUNK_VBV_FRAMES scales it (parity with AMF/VAAPI/QSV).
-        let vbv = ((c.bitrate as f64 / c.fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::encode::vbv_frames_env())
+        let vbv = ((c.bitrate as f64 / c.fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::vbv_frames_env())
             .clamp(1.0, u32::MAX as f64) as u32;
         cfg.rcParams.vbvBufferSize = vbv;
         cfg.rcParams.vbvInitialDelay = vbv;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc_status.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/nvenc_status.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc_status.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/nvenc_status.rs
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/sw.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/sw.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/sw.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/sw.rs
index 84b3e9a5..df056192 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/sw.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/sw.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
 use super::{EncodedFrame, Encoder};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{bail, ensure, Context, Result};
 use openh264::encoder::{
     BitRate, Complexity, Encoder as Oh264, EncoderConfig, FrameRate, FrameType, IntraFramePeriod,
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@ use openh264::encoder::{
 };
 use openh264::formats::YUVSlices;
 use openh264::OpenH264API;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 
 pub struct OpenH264Encoder {
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ fn num_threads() -> u16 {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
+    use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 
     /// The BT.709 limited-range anchor points: reference white → (235,128,128), black →
     /// (16,128,128), pure red's Cr must hit the positive extreme 240 (it does exactly:
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/amf.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/amf.rs
index 3265c0cc..1c4f3484 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/amf.rs
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
 use super::{ChromaFormat, Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::ptr;
@@ -1334,7 +1334,7 @@ impl AmfEncoder {
     /// same shape every backend ships. Shared by [`apply_static_props`](Self::apply_static_props)
     /// and [`Encoder::reconfigure_bitrate`] so a dynamic retarget rescales the buffer it opened with.
     fn vbv_bits(&self, bps: u64) -> i64 {
-        ((bps as f64 / self.fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::encode::vbv_frames_env())
+        ((bps as f64 / self.fps.max(1) as f64) * crate::vbv_frames_env())
             .clamp(1.0, i32::MAX as f64) as i64
     }
 
@@ -1777,7 +1777,7 @@ fn probe_can_encode_on(device: &ID3D11Device, codec: Codec) -> bool {
 /// encoder at 10-bit (Main10 profile / `*ColorBitDepth` 10, P010 input)? The driver rejects the
 /// profile/depth props on VCN generations that can't encode them, so a successful tiny `Init` is
 /// the honest per-codec answer — read *before* the Welcome by
-/// [`crate::encode::can_encode_10bit`] so the negotiated bit depth matches what the session's
+/// [`crate::can_encode_10bit`] so the negotiated bit depth matches what the session's
 /// encoder will really open. H.264 is always `false` (High10 is not a VCN mode — the session
 /// open bails on it too).
 pub fn probe_can_encode_10bit(codec: Codec) -> bool {
@@ -1881,8 +1881,8 @@ fn selected_adapter_device() -> Option<ID3D11Device> {
     // `D3D11CreateDevice` (explicit adapter + UNKNOWN driver type, or NULL adapter + HARDWARE)
     // fills `device` only on success. Everything drops with its COM wrapper.
     unsafe {
-        let adapter: Option<IDXGIAdapter1> = crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid()
-            .and_then(|luid| {
+        let adapter: Option<IDXGIAdapter1> =
+            pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid().and_then(|luid| {
                 let factory: IDXGIFactory4 = CreateDXGIFactory1().ok()?;
                 factory.EnumAdapterByLuid(luid).ok()
             });
@@ -2785,7 +2785,7 @@ mod tests {
                 height: h,
                 pts_ns: 1 + i as u64,
                 format: fmt,
-                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(crate::capture::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
+                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(pf_frame::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
                     texture: tex.clone(),
                     device: device.clone(),
                 }),
@@ -2856,8 +2856,8 @@ mod tests {
         );
         drop(native);
 
-        let mut ffmpeg = crate::encode::ffmpeg_win::FfmpegWinEncoder::open(
-            crate::encode::ffmpeg_win::WinVendor::Amf,
+        let mut ffmpeg = crate::ffmpeg_win::FfmpegWinEncoder::open(
+            crate::ffmpeg_win::WinVendor::Amf,
             Codec::H265,
             PixelFormat::Nv12,
             w,
@@ -2970,7 +2970,7 @@ mod tests {
                         height: h,
                         pts_ns: base + i as u64,
                         format: PixelFormat::Nv12,
-                        payload: FramePayload::D3d11(crate::capture::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
+                        payload: FramePayload::D3d11(pf_frame::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
                             texture: tex.clone(),
                             device: device.clone(),
                         }),
@@ -3111,7 +3111,7 @@ mod tests {
                 height: h,
                 pts_ns: 1 + i as u64,
                 format: PixelFormat::P010,
-                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(crate::capture::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
+                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(pf_frame::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
                     texture: tex.clone(),
                     device: device.clone(),
                 }),
@@ -3258,7 +3258,7 @@ mod tests {
                 height: h,
                 pts_ns: i,
                 format: PixelFormat::Nv12,
-                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(crate::capture::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
+                payload: FramePayload::D3d11(pf_frame::dxgi::D3d11Frame {
                     texture: tex.clone(),
                     device: device.clone(),
                 }),
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
index 1402648d..f362a6b8 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
 use super::{ChromaFormat, Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder};
-use crate::capture::{dxgi::D3d11Frame, CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
 use ffmpeg::format::Pixel;
 use ffmpeg::{codec, encoder, Dictionary};
 use ffmpeg_next as ffmpeg;
+use pf_frame::{dxgi::D3d11Frame, CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::os::raw::{c_int, c_uint, c_void};
 use std::ptr;
 use windows::core::Interface;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/nvenc.rs
similarity index 99%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/nvenc.rs
index a53e96b8..d0b36131 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/enc/windows/nvenc.rs
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ use super::nvenc_core::{
 };
 use super::nvenc_status;
 use super::{ChromaFormat, Codec, EncodedFrame, Encoder, EncoderCaps};
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, Context, Result};
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, FramePayload, PixelFormat};
 use std::collections::{HashMap, VecDeque};
 use std::ffi::c_void;
 use std::ptr;
@@ -1568,7 +1568,7 @@ impl Drop for NvencD3d11Encoder {
 }
 
 /// Probe whether the active NVIDIA GPU can encode HEVC **4:4:4** (`NV_ENC_CAPS_SUPPORT_YUV444_ENCODE`).
-/// HEVC-only; the result is cached by the caller ([`crate::encode::can_encode_444`]) and read *before*
+/// HEVC-only; the result is cached by the caller ([`crate::can_encode_444`]) and read *before*
 /// the Welcome so the host advertises the chroma it can really encode (honest downgrade to 4:2:0 on a
 /// card without it). See [`probe_encode_cap`] for the throwaway-session mechanics.
 pub fn probe_can_encode_444(codec: Codec) -> bool {
@@ -1580,7 +1580,7 @@ pub fn probe_can_encode_444(codec: Codec) -> bool {
 
 /// Probe whether the active NVIDIA GPU can encode `codec` at **10-bit**
 /// (`NV_ENC_CAPS_SUPPORT_10BIT_ENCODE` against the codec's own GUID — HEVC Main10 / AV1 10-bit).
-/// The result is cached by the caller ([`crate::encode::can_encode_10bit`]) and read *before* the
+/// The result is cached by the caller ([`crate::can_encode_10bit`]) and read *before* the
 /// Welcome so the negotiated bit depth — and the HDR label derived from it — matches what NVENC
 /// will really emit. The session-open path re-checks the same cap as a belt-and-braces guard
 /// ([`NvencD3d11Encoder::probe_caps`]'s 8-bit fallback).
@@ -1622,8 +1622,8 @@ fn probe_encode_cap(codec: Codec, cap: nv::NV_ENC_CAPS) -> bool {
         // Probe on the SELECTED render adapter — the GPU the session will actually encode on
         // (web-console preference / PUNKTFUNK_RENDER_ADAPTER / max VRAM). The OS default adapter
         // (NULL) can be the *other* GPU on a hybrid box, answering for hardware we won't use.
-        let adapter: Option<IDXGIAdapter1> = crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid()
-            .and_then(|luid| {
+        let adapter: Option<IDXGIAdapter1> =
+            pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid().and_then(|luid| {
                 let factory: IDXGIFactory4 = CreateDXGIFactory1().ok()?;
                 factory.EnumAdapterByLuid(luid).ok()
             });
@@ -1692,7 +1692,7 @@ fn probe_encode_cap(codec: Codec, cap: nv::NV_ENC_CAPS) -> bool {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::capture::{dxgi::D3d11Frame, CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
+    use pf_frame::{dxgi::D3d11Frame, CapturedFrame, FramePayload};
     use windows::Win32::Graphics::Direct3D11::{
         D3D11_BIND_RENDER_TARGET, D3D11_SUBRESOURCE_DATA, D3D11_TEXTURE2D_DESC, D3D11_USAGE_DEFAULT,
     };
@@ -1760,7 +1760,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             }
             let adapter = adapter.expect("no hardware DXGI adapter");
-            let (device, _ctx) = crate::capture::dxgi::make_device(&adapter).expect("make_device");
+            let (device, _ctx) = pf_frame::dxgi::make_device(&adapter).expect("make_device");
 
             let bytes = probe_pattern(W as usize, H as usize);
             let init = D3D11_SUBRESOURCE_DATA {
@@ -1860,7 +1860,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }
             }
             let adapter = adapter.expect("no hardware DXGI adapter");
-            let (device, _ctx) = crate::capture::dxgi::make_device(&adapter).expect("make_device");
+            let (device, _ctx) = pf_frame::dxgi::make_device(&adapter).expect("make_device");
 
             let bytes = probe_pattern(W as usize, H as usize);
             let init = D3D11_SUBRESOURCE_DATA {
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode.rs b/crates/pf-encode/src/lib.rs
similarity index 96%
rename from crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode.rs
rename to crates/pf-encode/src/lib.rs
index 70b3f18a..93fa5e24 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-encode/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,21 +2,27 @@
 //! B-frames off. The backend is per-GPU: NVENC on NVIDIA (`*_nvenc`, accepts `bgr0` and does
 //! RGB→YUV on the GPU, so no host-side CSC) and VAAPI on AMD/Intel (`*_vaapi`; the CPU-input
 //! fallback swscales RGB→NV12, the zero-copy path imports the capture dmabuf straight into a
-//! VA surface). One [`Encoder`] trait, selected in [`open_video`].
+//! VA surface). One [`Encoder`] trait, selected in [`open_video`]. Extracted into a subsystem crate
+//! (plan §W6): depends on the shared frame vocabulary (`pf-frame`) + zero-copy plumbing
+//! (`pf-zerocopy`), never on capture — the capture→encode edge is one-way.
+// Scaffold: some backend paths + trait defaults are defined ahead of the per-feature build that
+// uses them (mirrors the host crate root's allow before the extraction).
+#![allow(dead_code)]
 // Every unsafe block in this module tree carries a `// SAFETY:` proof; enforce it (unsafe-proof
-// program). As a parent module this also covers the child modules (encode::windows/linux::*).
+// program). As a parent module this also covers the child modules (windows/linux backends).
 #![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
 
-use crate::capture::{CapturedFrame, PixelFormat};
 use anyhow::Result;
+use pf_frame::{CapturedFrame, PixelFormat};
 
+#[path = "enc/codec.rs"]
 mod codec;
-pub(crate) use codec::*;
+pub use codec::*;
 
 impl Codec {
     /// The `quic` codec bitfield the host can currently **emit** on the punktfunk/1 native path,
     /// given the resolved encode backend — the same GPU-aware advertisement GameStream builds for
-    /// Moonlight ([`crate::gamestream::serverinfo`]), in `quic::CODEC_*` bits. The GPU-less software
+    /// Moonlight (the host `gamestream::serverinfo`), in `quic::CODEC_*` bits. The GPU-less software
     /// encoder (openh264) produces H.264 only; the probed backends (Linux VAAPI, Windows AMF/QSV)
     /// advertise exactly what the GPU encodes ([`vaapi_codec_support`] / [`windows_codec_support`] —
     /// AV1 encode is narrow, an old iGPU might lack HEVC); NVENC keeps the Moonlight-validated
@@ -30,7 +36,7 @@ impl Codec {
         // client explicitly prefers it (resolve_codec ignores the bit in its ladder). Advertised
         // whenever the backend could open: AMD/Intel capture hands raw dmabufs it imports
         // directly, and an NVIDIA-auto host's PyroWave sessions flip capture to CPU RGB
-        // per-session instead ([`crate::session_plan::SessionPlan::output_format`]) — the EGL→CUDA
+        // per-session instead (the host `session_plan::SessionPlan::output_format`) — the EGL→CUDA
         // frames the `auto` GPU path would deliver are NVENC-only. Only a software/GPU-less pref
         // keeps the bit off (no Vulkan device to open).
         #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "pyrowave"))]
@@ -159,7 +165,7 @@ pub fn open_video(
     }))
 }
 
-/// Ties the [`crate::gpu`] live-session record to the encoder's lifetime; pure delegation
+/// Ties the `pf_gpu` live-session record to the encoder's lifetime; pure delegation
 /// otherwise.
 struct TrackedEncoder {
     inner: Box<dyn Encoder>,
@@ -699,7 +705,7 @@ fn linux_auto_is_vaapi() -> bool {
 /// packed-RGB fourcc — advertised by the capture when the pyrowave passthrough is active
 /// (the VAAPI LINEAR-only policy starves it on Mutter+NVIDIA, which allocates tiled only).
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "pyrowave"))]
-pub(crate) fn pyrowave_capture_modifiers(fourcc: u32) -> Vec<u64> {
+pub fn pyrowave_capture_modifiers(fourcc: u32) -> Vec<u64> {
     pyrowave::capture_modifiers(fourcc)
 }
 
@@ -918,13 +924,13 @@ pub fn can_encode_10bit(_codec: Codec) -> bool {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Windows backend selection (the analogue of the Linux nvidia_present / linux_zero_copy_is_vaapi
 // logic). NVIDIA → NVENC, AMD → AMF, Intel → QSV; `auto` (default) reads the vendor of the
-// SELECTED render adapter (crate::gpu — web-console preference / env pin / max VRAM), so the
+// SELECTED render adapter (pf_gpu — web-console preference / env pin / max VRAM), so the
 // backend always matches the GPU the capture ring and virtual display sit on.
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub(crate) enum WindowsBackend {
+pub enum WindowsBackend {
     Nvenc,
     Amf,
     Qsv,
@@ -943,7 +949,7 @@ enum GpuVendor {
 /// render adapter's vendor). Shared by [`open_video`] and the GameStream codec advertisement so
 /// both agree.
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub(crate) fn windows_resolved_backend() -> WindowsBackend {
+pub fn windows_resolved_backend() -> WindowsBackend {
     // Resolved ONCE in HostConfig (Goal-1) — was re-read from PUNKTFUNK_ENCODER on every call.
     match pf_host_config::config().encoder_pref.as_str() {
         "nvenc" | "hw" | "nvidia" | "cuda" => WindowsBackend::Nvenc,
@@ -961,18 +967,18 @@ pub(crate) fn windows_resolved_backend() -> WindowsBackend {
 
 /// True if the session's resolved encode backend produces GPU-resident frames (so the capturer should
 /// hand GPU surfaces straight through rather than CPU-stage them) — only the GPU-less software encoder
-/// wants CPU staging. This is the single source for [`crate::capture::OutputFormat`]'s `gpu` bit:
+/// wants CPU staging. This is the single source for [`pf_frame::OutputFormat`]'s `gpu` bit:
 /// resolving it in `encode` and threading it *into* the capturer (rather than having `capture` re-derive
 /// the backend) keeps the capture→encode dependency one-way, so the two can never disagree on whether
 /// frames are GPU-resident (plan §2.4 / §W4).
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub(crate) fn resolved_backend_is_gpu() -> bool {
+pub fn resolved_backend_is_gpu() -> bool {
     !matches!(windows_resolved_backend(), WindowsBackend::Software)
 }
 /// Linux/other: every backend but the GPU-less software encoder (openh264) is GPU-resident. Config-backed
 /// (mirrors `session_plan::resolve_encoder`; the NVENC vs VAAPI split is auto-detected in [`open_video`]).
 #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
-pub(crate) fn resolved_backend_is_gpu() -> bool {
+pub fn resolved_backend_is_gpu() -> bool {
     !matches!(
         pf_host_config::config().encoder_pref.as_str(),
         "software" | "sw" | "openh264"
@@ -980,16 +986,16 @@ pub(crate) fn resolved_backend_is_gpu() -> bool {
 }
 
 /// True if the resolved encode backend can ingest a full-chroma (RGB) source and CSC it to 4:4:4 itself —
-/// the *encoder* half of the 4:4:4 capture gate ([`crate::capture::capturer_supports_444`]). Only Windows
+/// the *encoder* half of the 4:4:4 capture gate (the host capture `capturer_supports_444`). Only Windows
 /// direct-NVENC does (measured on-glass: ARGB + `chromaFormatIDC=3` → true 4:4:4); AMF/QSV can't. On Linux
 /// the 4:4:4 source is the capturer's own (portal RGB → `yuv444p`), independent of the auto-detected
 /// backend, so the gate never consults this there.
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub(crate) fn resolved_backend_ingests_rgb_444() -> bool {
+pub fn resolved_backend_ingests_rgb_444() -> bool {
     windows_resolved_backend() == WindowsBackend::Nvenc
 }
 #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
-pub(crate) fn resolved_backend_ingests_rgb_444() -> bool {
+pub fn resolved_backend_ingests_rgb_444() -> bool {
     false
 }
 
@@ -1095,7 +1101,7 @@ pub fn windows_codec_support() -> CodecSupport {
 /// degrading a live sibling's encode. NVENC is the only backend with hard session caps today
 /// (GeForce consumer limit); AMF/QSV equivalents follow the same seam when they grow accounting.
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub(crate) fn can_open_another_session() -> bool {
+pub fn can_open_another_session() -> bool {
     #[cfg(feature = "nvenc")]
     {
         nvenc::can_open_another_session()
@@ -1108,62 +1114,65 @@ pub(crate) fn can_open_another_session() -> bool {
 
 // Goal-1 stage 6: GPU/CPU encoders confined to `encode/windows/` (NVENC, native AMF, AMF/QSV
 // ffmpeg, software) and `encode/linux/` (NVENC/CUDA + VAAPI); `#[path]` keeps the
-// `crate::encode::*` module names flat.
+// `crate::*` module names flat.
 // Native AMF (direct SDK, design/native-amf-encoder.md): compiled unconditionally on Windows —
 // no build feature, the driver-installed amfrt64.dll resolves at runtime like NVENC's DLL.
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-#[path = "encode/windows/amf.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/windows/amf.rs"]
 mod amf;
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "windows", feature = "amf-qsv"))]
-#[path = "encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs"]
 mod ffmpeg_win;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+#[path = "enc/linux/mod.rs"]
 mod linux;
 // Direct-SDK NVENC on Linux (CUDA input; design/linux-direct-nvenc.md) — real RFI + recovery anchor
 // + reset() lever the libavcodec `linux::NvencEncoder` can't express. Opt-in behind
 // `PUNKTFUNK_NVENC_DIRECT` until on-glass validated; the `.so` resolves at runtime like the Windows
 // path, so `--features nvenc` stays safe on a driver-less/AMD Linux box.
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "windows", feature = "nvenc"))]
-#[path = "encode/windows/nvenc.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/windows/nvenc.rs"]
 mod nvenc;
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "nvenc"))]
-#[path = "encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs"]
 mod nvenc_cuda;
 // Actionable `NVENCSTATUS` → cause mapping shared by both direct-NVENC backends, so a failed
 // session open logs "update/reboot the driver" instead of the old misleading "(no NVIDIA GPU?)".
 #[cfg(all(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"), feature = "nvenc"))]
-#[path = "encode/nvenc_status.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/nvenc_status.rs"]
 mod nvenc_status;
 // Platform-agnostic direct-SDK NVENC glue (`NvStatusExt`/`nv_ok`, `codec_guid`) shared by both
 // `nvEncodeAPI` backends — the byte-identical Tier-2 leaves (plan §2.2). Sibling of `nvenc_status`.
 #[cfg(all(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"), feature = "nvenc"))]
-#[path = "encode/nvenc_core.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/nvenc_core.rs"]
 mod nvenc_core;
 // Shared libavcodec glue (`pixel_to_av`, swscale consts) for the three libav backends — Linux
 // NVENC + VAAPI and Windows AMF/QSV — so the byte-identical pieces live once (plan §2.2, Tier 2).
 #[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", all(target_os = "windows", feature = "amf-qsv")))]
+#[path = "enc/libav.rs"]
 mod libav;
 // Software (openh264) H.264 encoder — the GPU-less path on BOTH Windows and Linux (a headless /
 // GPU-less test box, or a fallback when no hardware encoder is available). Platform-agnostic: it
 // consumes CPU RGB `CapturedFrame`s and the statically-bundled openh264 build.
 #[cfg(any(target_os = "windows", target_os = "linux"))]
+#[path = "enc/sw.rs"]
 mod sw;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
-#[path = "encode/linux/vaapi.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/vaapi.rs"]
 mod vaapi;
 // Raw Vulkan Video HEVC encode on Linux (AMD/Intel; design/linux-vulkan-video-encode.md) — real RFI
 // via explicit DPB reference slots (the app owns the DPB), the open-stack twin of the direct-NVENC
 // path. Does an on-GPU RGB→NV12 compute CSC since capture delivers packed-RGB dmabufs. Opt-in behind
 // `PUNKTFUNK_VULKAN_ENCODE` until on-glass validated; needs `--features vulkan-encode`.
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "vulkan-encode"))]
-#[path = "encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/vulkan_video.rs"]
 mod vulkan_video;
 // Vendored `VK_KHR_video_encode_av1` bindings (host-only) — the AV1 encode structs our pinned
 // `ash 0.38.0+1.3.281` predates (finalized Vulkan 1.3.290). Copied verbatim from ash-master's
 // generated code rather than bumping `ash` (which breaks the SDL/Vulkan client). Consumed by
 // `vulkan_video.rs` via `super::vk_av1_encode`.
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "vulkan-encode"))]
-#[path = "encode/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/vk_av1_encode.rs"]
 mod vk_av1_encode;
 // Small ash leaf helpers shared by the Linux Vulkan encode backends (dmabuf import, image/memory
 // utilities) — extracted from `vulkan_video.rs` when the PyroWave backend arrived.
@@ -1171,13 +1180,13 @@ mod vk_av1_encode;
     target_os = "linux",
     any(feature = "vulkan-encode", feature = "pyrowave")
 ))]
-#[path = "encode/linux/vk_util.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/vk_util.rs"]
 mod vk_util;
 // PyroWave — the opt-in wired-LAN intra-only wavelet codec (design/pyrowave-codec-plan.md §4.3):
 // pure Vulkan compute via the vendored `pyrowave-sys`, sub-ms encode, every frame a keyframe.
 // Explicit-only behind PUNKTFUNK_ENCODER=pyrowave; EXPERIMENTAL until CODEC_PYROWAVE lands.
 #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "pyrowave"))]
-#[path = "encode/linux/pyrowave.rs"]
+#[path = "enc/linux/pyrowave.rs"]
 mod pyrowave;
 
 #[cfg(test)]
diff --git a/crates/pf-frame/src/dxgi.rs b/crates/pf-frame/src/dxgi.rs
index 7d0993a3..479833e1 100644
--- a/crates/pf-frame/src/dxgi.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-frame/src/dxgi.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ pub fn pack_luid(luid: LUID) -> i64 {
 /// adapter). Used at open and on every ACCESS_LOST: a device created on one desktop cannot sustain a
 /// duplication on a *different* desktop (perpetual ACCESS_LOST), so the secure-desktop switch needs a
 /// device made while the thread is attached to that desktop.
+///
+/// # Safety
+/// `adapter` must be a live `IDXGIAdapter1` for the duration of the call. The fn calls the D3D11 /
+/// DXGI FFI (`D3D11CreateDevice`, GPU scheduling-priority hardening) but forms no lasting alias to
+/// `adapter`; the returned device/context are the sole owners of the new COM objects.
 pub unsafe fn make_device(adapter: &IDXGIAdapter1) -> Result<(ID3D11Device, ID3D11DeviceContext)> {
     let mut device: Option<ID3D11Device> = None;
     let mut context: Option<ID3D11DeviceContext> = None;
diff --git a/crates/pf-gpu/src/lib.rs b/crates/pf-gpu/src/lib.rs
index 61090e82..b663482c 100644
--- a/crates/pf-gpu/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-gpu/src/lib.rs
@@ -914,3 +914,39 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 }
+
+/// Pick the render GPU LUID the Windows pipeline is created on: the IDD-push capturer's
+/// shared-texture ring, the IddCx `SET_RENDER_ADAPTER` pin, and (via the captured frame's device)
+/// NVENC/AMF/QSV all follow this one decision — see [`selected_gpu`] for the precedence (operator
+/// preference > `PUNKTFUNK_RENDER_ADAPTER` substring > max `DedicatedVideoMemory`). A configured
+/// preference that doesn't match a present GPU falls back to auto selection (with a warning) rather
+/// than returning `None`, so a stale preference never stops the host from streaming.
+///
+/// Lives here (not in a host module) so BOTH the capture and encode subsystem crates depend on it
+/// as a peer of GPU selection instead of the orchestrator — the plan's `windows/adapter.rs`, folded
+/// into `pf-gpu` (plan §W6). It was historically the SudoVDA backend's, then the host's
+/// `win_adapter.rs`; the LUID-shaped view of [`selected_gpu`] plus the per-decision logging.
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn resolve_render_adapter_luid() -> Option<windows::Win32::Foundation::LUID> {
+    match selected_gpu() {
+        Some(sel) => {
+            tracing::info!(
+                adapter = sel.info.name,
+                vram_mb = sel.info.vram_bytes / (1024 * 1024),
+                source = sel.source.tag(),
+                "render adapter selected"
+            );
+            if sel.source == PickSource::PreferenceMissing {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    "the preferred GPU is not present — auto-selected the adapter above \
+                     (fix or clear the preference in the web console)"
+                );
+            }
+            Some(sel.info.luid())
+        }
+        None => {
+            tracing::warn!("no suitable render adapter found for SET_RENDER_ADAPTER");
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml b/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
index 156b3fef..cb7cba0b 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ pf-frame = { path = "../pf-frame" }
 # Windows display-topology helpers (CCD/GDI mode-set, PnP monitor devnodes, display-change watch),
 # extracted to a leaf crate (plan §W6). Empty on non-Windows, so it lives in the main deps.
 pf-win-display = { path = "../pf-win-display" }
+# Video encode backends (NVENC/VAAPI/AMF/QSV/Vulkan-Video/PyroWave/openh264) behind one Encoder
+# trait, extracted to a subsystem crate (plan §W6). The host's nvenc/amf-qsv/vulkan-encode/pyrowave
+# features forward here (see [features]); the heavy encoder deps (ffmpeg-next, the NVENC SDK,
+# openh264, pyrowave-sys) moved with it.
+pf-encode = { path = "../pf-encode" }
 # M3 native control plane (the `punktfunk/1` QUIC handshake; data plane stays native-thread UDP).
 quinn = "0.11"
 anyhow = "1"
@@ -102,14 +107,7 @@ log = "0.4"
 # crate vendors libopus (cmake-built from source — no system lib, no vcpkg), so it builds on Windows
 # MSVC too (needs CMake + NASM, both on the box). Both platforms that have an audio-capture backend.
 [target.'cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "windows"))'.dependencies]
-# PyroWave (opt-in wired-LAN wavelet codec) — vendored codec + bindgen'd C API, only compiled
-# under `--features pyrowave`. Stub-empty on other targets, so the cfg here is belt-and-braces.
-pyrowave-sys = { path = "../pyrowave-sys", optional = true }
 opus = "0.3"
-# Software H.264 encoder — the GPU-less encode path on both Linux and Windows (and a fallback when no
-# hardware encoder is available). The default `source` feature statically compiles OpenH264 (BSD-2) —
-# no system lib, builds on MSVC; nasm on PATH adds the SIMD fast path.
-openh264 = "0.9"
 
 [target.'cfg(target_os = "linux")'.dependencies]
 # `screencast` gates the ScreenCast portal module; `remote_desktop` adds the RemoteDesktop
@@ -117,16 +115,7 @@ openh264 = "0.9"
 # `open_pipe_wire_remote` is unconditional, so ashpd's own `pipewire` feature is not
 # needed — we drive PipeWire with the `pipewire` crate below.
 ashpd = { version = "0.13", features = ["screencast", "remote_desktop"] }
-ffmpeg-next = "8"
 libc = "0.2"
-# Direct-SDK NVENC on Linux (design/linux-direct-nvenc.md): the RAW `sys::nvEncodeAPI` types only —
-# the entry points are resolved at RUNTIME from the driver's `libnvidia-encode.so.1`
-# (encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs), NOT link-imported, so the same binary starts fine on AMD/Intel
-# Linux boxes (no NVIDIA driver) and falls through to VAAPI/software. `ci-check` = vendored
-# bindings + cudarc `dynamic-loading` (no CUDA toolkit/headers at build); we never call the crate's
-# cudarc — CUDA is driven through the existing `zerocopy::cuda` dlopen table. Same crate + feature
-# as the Windows target dep (Cargo.toml, windows target section) so the `sys` structs never drift.
-nvidia-video-codec-sdk = { version = "0.4", features = ["ci-check"], optional = true }
 # Must match the pipewire crate ashpd 0.13 links (libspa/pipewire-sys `links` key is
 # unique per build), i.e. 0.9 — NOT the 0.10 the setup doc mentions.
 pipewire = "0.9"
@@ -254,20 +243,6 @@ winreg = "0.56"
 roxmltree = "0.21"
 # WASAPI loopback audio capture (default render endpoint -> 48 kHz stereo f32 for the Opus path).
 wasapi = "0.23"
-# Virtual Xbox 360 gamepad: the in-tree XUSB companion UMDF driver (packaging/windows/xusb-driver),
-# driven over shared memory from inject/windows/gamepad_windows.rs — no ViGEmBus dependency.
-# NVENC hardware encoder (NVENC SDK, D3D11 input). The SDK pins `cudarc` with
-# `cuda-version-from-build-system` (a build-time CUDA-toolkit probe); its `ci-check` feature switches
-# cudarc to `dynamic-loading` (loads nvcuda.dll at runtime — nothing needed at build), which is how
-# the crate builds on docs.rs/CI. We enable it so the GPU-less VM/CI compiles; the DirectX NVENC path
-# never calls CUDA at runtime, so the pinned CUDA bindings version is irrelevant.
-nvidia-video-codec-sdk = { version = "0.4", features = ["ci-check"], optional = true }
-# AMD (AMF) + Intel (QSV) hardware encode on Windows via libavcodec — the analogue of the Linux
-# VAAPI backend (`src/encode/ffmpeg_win.rs`). Optional + behind the `amf-qsv` feature because it
-# link-imports the FFmpeg libs at build time (needs a `FFMPEG_DIR` with the AMF/QSV encoders — the
-# same BtbN gpl-shared tree the Windows client uses) and pulls the shared `avcodec/avutil/...` DLLs
-# at runtime. `ffmpeg-sys-next` auto-detects the FFmpeg version (7.x/avcodec-61 or 8.x/62).
-ffmpeg-next = { version = "8", optional = true }
 # Shared host<->driver wire contract for the pf-vdisplay IddCx virtual-display backend
 # (vdisplay/pf_vdisplay.rs): the control-plane IOCTL codes + `#[repr(C)] Pod` request/reply structs,
 # defined ONCE so host<->driver ABI drift is a compile error. `bytemuck` serializes those structs
@@ -275,32 +250,29 @@ ffmpeg-next = { version = "8", optional = true }
 pf-driver-proto = { path = "../pf-driver-proto" }
 bytemuck = { version = "1.19", features = ["derive"] }
 
+# The encode feature flags now FORWARD to the pf-encode subsystem crate (the heavy encoder deps —
+# ffmpeg-next, the NVENC SDK, openh264, pyrowave-sys — moved there, plan §W6). Selecting a feature
+# on the host turns on the matching backend inside pf-encode.
 [features]
 # PyroWave ships in every default build (the codec stays strictly opt-in per session — a client
 # must explicitly prefer CODEC_PYROWAVE; nothing changes for normal HEVC/AV1 sessions).
 default = ["pyrowave"]
-# NVENC hardware encode (Windows). OFF by default (it pulls the NVENC SDK crate); nothing is
-# needed at link time — the entry points are resolved at RUNTIME from the driver's
-# nvEncodeAPI64.dll (encode/windows/nvenc.rs `load_api`), so the same binary starts fine on
-# AMD/Intel-only boxes and falls through to AMF/QSV/software. Build the GPU host with
-# `--features nvenc`.
-nvenc = ["dep:nvidia-video-codec-sdk"]
-# AMD/Intel hardware encode on Windows (AMF/QSV via ffmpeg-next). OFF by default: it needs a
-# `FFMPEG_DIR` (BtbN lgpl-shared — includes `*_amf`/`*_qsv`; the GPL-only x264/x265 are never used,
-# so the LGPL build suffices and keeps the bundled DLLs LGPL, not GPL) at build time and bundles the
-# FFmpeg DLLs at runtime. Build the all-vendor GPU host with `--features nvenc,amf-qsv`.
-amf-qsv = ["dep:ffmpeg-next"]
-# Raw Vulkan Video HEVC encode on Linux (AMD/Intel) — real reference-frame-invalidation loss
-# recovery via explicit DPB reference slots (design/linux-vulkan-video-encode.md), the open-stack
-# twin of the direct-NVENC path. OFF by default; pulls NO new dependency (reuses the `ash` Vulkan
-# bindings already carried for the dmabuf zero-copy bridge). Runtime-gated further by
-# PUNKTFUNK_VULKAN_ENCODE (opt-in for now). Build the AMD/Intel RFI host with `--features vulkan-encode`.
-vulkan-encode = []
-# PyroWave — the opt-in wired-LAN intra-only wavelet codec (design/pyrowave-codec-plan.md).
-# Builds the vendored codec from source (crates/pyrowave-sys, CMake + bindgen; Linux/Windows —
-# the encoder backend itself is Linux-only, the Windows host just carries the library). ON by
-# default (see `default` above); sessions reach it only through explicit client opt-in.
-pyrowave = ["dep:pyrowave-sys"]
+# NVENC hardware encode (Linux CUDA + Windows D3D11). OFF by default; entry points resolved at
+# RUNTIME from the driver DLL/so, so the same binary starts fine on AMD/Intel boxes. Build the GPU
+# host with `--features nvenc`.
+nvenc = ["pf-encode/nvenc"]
+# AMD/Intel hardware encode on Windows (AMF/QSV via ffmpeg-next). OFF by default: needs a `FFMPEG_DIR`
+# (BtbN lgpl-shared with `*_amf`/`*_qsv`) at build and bundles the FFmpeg DLLs at runtime. Build the
+# all-vendor GPU host with `--features nvenc,amf-qsv`.
+amf-qsv = ["pf-encode/amf-qsv"]
+# Raw Vulkan Video HEVC/AV1 encode on Linux (AMD/Intel) — real reference-frame-invalidation loss
+# recovery via explicit DPB reference slots (design/linux-vulkan-video-encode.md). OFF by default;
+# reuses pf-encode's `ash` bindings (no new dep). Runtime-gated further by PUNKTFUNK_VULKAN_ENCODE.
+vulkan-encode = ["pf-encode/vulkan-encode"]
+# PyroWave — the opt-in wired-LAN intra-only wavelet codec (design/pyrowave-codec-plan.md). Builds
+# the vendored codec from source in pf-encode. ON by default (see `default`); sessions reach it only
+# through explicit client opt-in.
+pyrowave = ["pf-encode/pyrowave"]
 
 # Build-time icon/version-info embedding (build.rs; Windows dev/CI hosts only — Linux packaging
 # builds of this crate never execute the winresource block).
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
index b878720d..d0fa92ce 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::{GetCursorPos, SetCursorPos};
 // `DRV_STATUS_*` codes and the channel-delivery struct — lives in `pf_driver_proto`; both sides
 // `use` it, so a layout/code drift is a compile error (the proto has `const` size asserts).
 use frame::{
-    SharedHeader, DRV_STATUS_BIND_FAIL, DRV_STATUS_NO_DEVICE1, DRV_STATUS_OPENED,
-    DRV_STATUS_TEX_FAIL, MAGIC, RING_LEN, VERSION,
+    unpack_opened_detail, SharedHeader, DRV_STATUS_BIND_FAIL, DRV_STATUS_NONE,
+    DRV_STATUS_NO_DEVICE1, DRV_STATUS_OPENED, DRV_STATUS_TEX_FAIL, MAGIC, RING_LEN, VERSION,
 };
 
 /// `DXGI_SHARED_RESOURCE_READ | _WRITE` for `CreateSharedHandle`/`OpenSharedResourceByName`. Local (not
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ impl IddPushCapturer {
         // the driver HAVE drifted — identical twin GPUs whose max-VRAM tie moved between ADD and
         // this open, or a stale kept monitor across an adapter re-init — the driver reports
         // TEX_FAIL plus the adapter it actually renders on, and the rebind below reopens on that.
-        let luid = crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid().unwrap_or(LUID {
+        let luid = pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid().unwrap_or(LUID {
             LowPart: (target.adapter_luid & 0xffff_ffff) as u32,
             HighPart: (target.adapter_luid >> 32) as i32,
         });
@@ -935,15 +935,63 @@ impl IddPushCapturer {
             }
             if Instant::now() > deadline {
                 bail!(
-                    "IDD-push: driver_status={st} but no frame published within 4s (despite compose \
-                     kicks) — the virtual display is likely in a format/size the ring can't match \
-                     (fullscreen game?); falling back"
+                    "IDD-push: no frame published within 4s (despite compose kicks) — {}; \
+                     falling back",
+                    self.no_first_frame_diagnosis(st)
                 );
             }
             std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(20));
         }
     }
 
+    /// Name a first-frame timeout from the driver's own evidence — `driver_status` plus the live
+    /// OPENED detail word (proto `pack_opened_detail`) — instead of guessing. The three no-frames
+    /// states look identical from the host side but have disjoint causes and fixes; the lid-closed
+    /// field report burned days for lack of exactly this line. Appends a console-session hint when
+    /// the host itself is in the wrong session (display writes + input kicks can't work from there).
+    fn no_first_frame_diagnosis(&self, st: u32) -> String {
+        let what = match st {
+            // The delivery was never consumed: no swap-chain worker ran for this monitor at all.
+            DRV_STATUS_NONE => "the driver never attached — the channel delivery was never \
+                 consumed, so the OS ran no swap-chain worker for this monitor (display not \
+                 composed at all: console display-off / modern standby, or the mode commit \
+                 never reached the adapter)"
+                .to_string(),
+            DRV_STATUS_OPENED => {
+                // SAFETY: in-bounds, aligned u32 read of the live, owned shared-header mapping
+                // (same best-effort diagnostic access as the `driver_status` read in the caller);
+                // no reference into the shared region is formed.
+                let detail = unsafe { (*self.header).driver_status_detail };
+                match unpack_opened_detail(detail) {
+                    Some((0, _)) => "driver attached with a live swap-chain, but DWM composed \
+                         ZERO frames — an undamaged or powered-off desktop, and the compose \
+                         kicks didn't bite (synthetic input is blocked on the secure desktop)"
+                        .to_string(),
+                    Some((offered, mismatched)) => format!(
+                        "driver attached and DWM composed {offered} frame(s), but none matched \
+                         the ring — {mismatched} dropped for a size/format mismatch (the \
+                         display's actual mode differs from what the host sized the ring to: \
+                         a mid-open mode-set, a fullscreen game, or a stale GDI view)"
+                    ),
+                    // A pre-detail driver never stamps the live bit — say so rather than guess.
+                    None => "driver attached but published nothing; this pf-vdisplay build \
+                         predates attach diagnostics, so the cause can't be named — update the \
+                         driver for a precise line here"
+                        .to_string(),
+                }
+            }
+            other => format!("driver_status={other} (unexpected at this point)"),
+        };
+        match crate::interactive::console_session_mismatch() {
+            Some((own, console)) => format!(
+                "{what} [host is in session {own} but the console is session {console} — display \
+                 writes and input kicks cannot work from a non-console session; reconnect the \
+                 console or run via the installed service]"
+            ),
+            None => what,
+        }
+    }
+
     #[inline]
     fn latest(&self) -> u64 {
         // SAFETY: `self.header` is the live, owned shared-header mapping (page-aligned, sized for a
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/synthetic_nv12.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/synthetic_nv12.rs
index 666beb5f..3abe6101 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/synthetic_nv12.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/synthetic_nv12.rs
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ impl Capturer for SyntheticNv12Capturer {
 /// Calls DXGI factory/adapter enumeration; returns owned COM objects or an error.
 unsafe fn resolve_render_adapter() -> Result<IDXGIAdapter1> {
     let factory: IDXGIFactory4 = CreateDXGIFactory1().context("CreateDXGIFactory1")?;
-    if let Some(luid) = crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid() {
+    if let Some(luid) = pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid() {
         if let Ok(a) = factory.EnumAdapterByLuid::<IDXGIAdapter1>(luid) {
             return Ok(a);
         }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
index f1c5ecff..6ffcca93 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,13 @@ mod ddc;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 #[path = "linux/drm_sync.rs"]
 mod drm_sync;
-mod encode;
+// The video encode backends live in the `pf-encode` leaf crate (plan §W6); this shim keeps every
+// existing `crate::encode::*` path valid (the host is the sole consumer, via the negotiator + the
+// GameStream/native/mgmt planes). Feature flags (nvenc/amf-qsv/vulkan-encode/pyrowave) forward to
+// pf-encode from this crate's `[features]`.
+mod encode {
+    pub(crate) use pf_encode::*;
+}
 mod events;
 mod gamestream;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
@@ -67,9 +73,6 @@ mod spike;
 mod stats_recorder;
 mod stream_marker;
 mod vdisplay;
-#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-#[path = "windows/win_adapter.rs"]
-mod win_adapter;
 // The Windows display-topology cluster (CCD/GDI mode-set, PnP monitor devnodes, the display-change
 // watch) lives in the `pf-win-display` leaf crate (plan §W6); import the modules at the crate root
 // so every existing `crate::{win_display,monitor_devnode,display_events}::*` path stays valid.
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
index 98aa392c..7cadcc71 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
@@ -1445,12 +1445,12 @@ pub(crate) fn slot_id_for(client_fp: Option<[u8; 32]>, mode: (u32, u32)) -> u32
 /// The render-GPU pin (backend-neutral): IDD-push — the sole Windows capture path — runs NVENC on the
 /// render adapter, so it must always be pinned to the selected encoder GPU (a hybrid box would
 /// otherwise render on the wrong one). The selection itself (web-console preference >
-/// `PUNKTFUNK_RENDER_ADAPTER` > max VRAM) lives in [`crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid`].
+/// `PUNKTFUNK_RENDER_ADAPTER` > max VRAM) lives in [`pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid`].
 /// (This was gated on the removed `PUNKTFUNK_IDD_PUSH` knob — a dispatch disagreement, since capture
 /// stopped consulting it when DDA/WGC were removed.)
 fn resolve_render_pin() -> Option<LUID> {
     tracing::info!("IDD push: pinning the render GPU (SET_RENDER_ADAPTER)");
-    crate::win_adapter::resolve_render_adapter_luid()
+    pf_gpu::resolve_render_adapter_luid()
 }
 
 /// A reused monitor keeps the render GPU the driver was pinned to at its ADD — the pin is never
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_adapter.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_adapter.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index f5a03adc..00000000
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_adapter.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,44 +0,0 @@
-//! Backend-neutral DXGI adapter selection.
-//!
-//! The discrete render-GPU LUID picker used to live in the SudoVDA backend (`vdisplay::sudovda`) — a
-//! historical accident, since it is display-utility, not SudoVDA-specific. It lives here so the capturers
-//! (IDD-push) and the pf-vdisplay backend depend on it as a *peer* instead of reaching into the SudoVDA
-//! module — breaking that circular reach-in, which let the SudoVDA backend be dropped without losing this
-//! helper (audit §9 / Goal 2 — done). This is the plan's `windows/adapter.rs`.
-//!
-//! The selection logic itself now lives in [`crate::gpu`] (shared with the mgmt API's GPU
-//! endpoints): **operator preference (web console) > `PUNKTFUNK_RENDER_ADAPTER` substring > max
-//! `DedicatedVideoMemory`**, WARP/Basic-Render and indirect-display ghost twins always excluded.
-//! This wrapper is the LUID-shaped view of it, plus the per-decision logging (call sites are
-//! per-session, never per-frame).
-
-use windows::Win32::Foundation::LUID;
-
-/// Pick the render GPU LUID the pipeline is created on: the IDD-push capturer's shared-texture
-/// ring, the IddCx SET_RENDER_ADAPTER pin, and (via the captured frame's device) NVENC/AMF/QSV all
-/// follow this one decision — see [`pf_gpu::selected_gpu`] for the precedence. A configured
-/// preference that doesn't match a present GPU falls back to auto selection (with a warning)
-/// rather than returning `None`, so a stale preference never stops the host from streaming.
-pub(crate) fn resolve_render_adapter_luid() -> Option<LUID> {
-    match pf_gpu::selected_gpu() {
-        Some(sel) => {
-            tracing::info!(
-                adapter = sel.info.name,
-                vram_mb = sel.info.vram_bytes / (1024 * 1024),
-                source = sel.source.tag(),
-                "render adapter selected"
-            );
-            if sel.source == pf_gpu::PickSource::PreferenceMissing {
-                tracing::warn!(
-                    "the preferred GPU is not present — auto-selected the adapter above \
-                     (fix or clear the preference in the web console)"
-                );
-            }
-            Some(sel.info.luid())
-        }
-        None => {
-            tracing::warn!("no suitable render adapter found for SET_RENDER_ADAPTER");
-            None
-        }
-    }
-}