Internal bit depth increase in video coding

An apparatus for coding video data comprising:

• a memory configured to store video data;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• code the video data using a first bit depth;
• determine whether to output the video data at the first bit depth or a second bit depth that is less than the first bit depth;
• determine whether the video data will be used as reference data when coding other video data;
• prior to storing the video data, in response to determining that the video data is to be output at the second bit depth and that the video data is not used as reference data, reduce the video data from the first bit depth to the second bit depth;
• and
• store the video data at the second bit depth.

An apparatus for coding video data comprising:

• means for coding video data using a first bit depth;
• means for determining whether to output the video data at the first bit depth or a second bit depth that is less than the first bit depth;
• means for determining whether the video data will be used as reference data when coding other video data;
• means for reducing, prior to storing the video data and in response to determining that the video data is to be output at the second bit depth and that the video data is not used as reference data, the video data from the first bit depth to the second bit depth;
• and
• means for storing the video data at the second bit depth.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

• code video data using a first bit depth;
• determine whether to output the video data at the first bit depth or a second bit depth that is less than the first bit depth;
• determine whether the video data will be used as reference data when coding other video data;
• prior to storing the video data, in response to determining that the video data is to be output at the second bit depth and that the video data is not used as reference data, reduce the video data from the first bit depth to the second bit depth;
• and store the video data at the second bit depth.