debian 12.11
system memory size: 31GiB, 2 15.5 GiB cards
cpu: Intel® Core™ i7-7500U CPU @ 2.70GHz, version: 6.142.9, size: 3268MHz, capacity: 3500MHz, width: 64 bits
no graphics card whatsoever
computer can play h.265 and equivalent without troubles, provided video file is no higher than 1080 p.
Computer can play av1 files no higher than 1080 p only if I shut every other application down. If for example I run a browser and an av1 file with either mpv or vlc, system shuts down.
Can I put all that memory to use and avoid overloading the cpu?
It sounds like you are also possibly overheating. You don’t have hardware decoding for av1 on that computer so it’s all cpu work. But from my extensive use and testing with AV1 there is nothing about your hardware that should fail to play back 1080p 30fps av1 video.