diff --git a/vp9/encoder/vp9_pickmode.c b/vp9/encoder/vp9_pickmode.c
index f8a5e6ae7..860716209 100644
--- a/vp9/encoder/vp9_pickmode.c
+++ b/vp9/encoder/vp9_pickmode.c
@@ -202,6 +202,248 @@ static int combined_motion_search(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
   return rv;
 }
 
+static void block_variance(const uint8_t *src, int src_stride,
+                           const uint8_t *ref, int ref_stride,
+                           int w, int h, unsigned int *sse, int *sum,
+                           int block_size, unsigned int *sse8x8,
+                           int *sum8x8, unsigned int *var8x8) {
+  int i, j, k = 0;
+
+  *sse = 0;
+  *sum = 0;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < h; i += block_size) {
+    for (j = 0; j < w; j += block_size) {
+      vp9_get8x8var(src + src_stride * i + j, src_stride,
+                    ref + ref_stride * i + j, ref_stride,
+                    &sse8x8[k], &sum8x8[k]);
+      *sse += sse8x8[k];
+      *sum += sum8x8[k];
+      var8x8[k] = sse8x8[k] - (((unsigned int)sum8x8[k] * sum8x8[k]) >> 6);
+      k++;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+static void calculate_variance(int bw, int bh, TX_SIZE tx_size,
+                               unsigned int *sse_i, int *sum_i,
+                               unsigned int *var_o, unsigned int *sse_o,
+                               int *sum_o) {
+  const BLOCK_SIZE unit_size = txsize_to_bsize[tx_size];
+  const int nw = 1 << (bw - b_width_log2_lookup[unit_size]);
+  const int nh = 1 << (bh - b_height_log2_lookup[unit_size]);
+  int i, j, k = 0;
+
+  for (i = 0; i < nh; i += 2) {
+    for (j = 0; j < nw; j += 2) {
+      sse_o[k] = sse_i[i * nw + j] + sse_i[i * nw + j + 1] +
+          sse_i[(i + 1) * nw + j] + sse_i[(i + 1) * nw + j + 1];
+      sum_o[k] = sum_i[i * nw + j] + sum_i[i * nw + j + 1] +
+          sum_i[(i + 1) * nw + j] + sum_i[(i + 1) * nw + j + 1];
+      var_o[k] = sse_o[k] - (((unsigned int)sum_o[k] * sum_o[k]) >>
+          (b_width_log2_lookup[unit_size] +
+              b_height_log2_lookup[unit_size] + 6));
+      k++;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+static void model_rd_for_sb_y_large(VP9_COMP *cpi, BLOCK_SIZE bsize,
+                                    MACROBLOCK *x, MACROBLOCKD *xd,
+                                    int *out_rate_sum, int64_t *out_dist_sum,
+                                    unsigned int *var_y, unsigned int *sse_y,
+                                    int mi_row, int mi_col, int *early_term) {
+  // Note our transform coeffs are 8 times an orthogonal transform.
+  // Hence quantizer step is also 8 times. To get effective quantizer
+  // we need to divide by 8 before sending to modeling function.
+  unsigned int sse;
+  int rate;
+  int64_t dist;
+  struct macroblock_plane *const p = &x->plane[0];
+  struct macroblockd_plane *const pd = &xd->plane[0];
+  const uint32_t dc_quant = pd->dequant[0];
+  const uint32_t ac_quant = pd->dequant[1];
+  const int64_t dc_thr = dc_quant * dc_quant >> 6;
+  const int64_t ac_thr = ac_quant * ac_quant >> 6;
+  unsigned int var;
+  int sum;
+  int skip_dc = 0;
+
+  const int bw = b_width_log2_lookup[bsize];
+  const int bh = b_height_log2_lookup[bsize];
+  const int num8x8 = 1 << (bw + bh - 2);
+  unsigned int sse8x8[64] = {0};
+  int sum8x8[64] = {0};
+  unsigned int var8x8[64] = {0};
+  TX_SIZE tx_size;
+  int i, k;
+
+  // Calculate variance for whole partition, and also save 8x8 blocks' variance
+  // to be used in following transform skipping test.
+  block_variance(p->src.buf, p->src.stride, pd->dst.buf, pd->dst.stride,
+                 4 << bw, 4 << bh, &sse, &sum, 8, sse8x8, sum8x8, var8x8);
+  var = sse - (((int64_t)sum * sum) >> (bw + bh + 4));
+
+  *var_y = var;
+  *sse_y = sse;
+
+  if (cpi->common.tx_mode == TX_MODE_SELECT) {
+    if (sse > (var << 2))
+      tx_size = MIN(max_txsize_lookup[bsize],
+                    tx_mode_to_biggest_tx_size[cpi->common.tx_mode]);
+    else
+      tx_size = TX_8X8;
+
+    if (cpi->sf.partition_search_type == VAR_BASED_PARTITION) {
+      if (cpi->oxcf.aq_mode == CYCLIC_REFRESH_AQ &&
+          cyclic_refresh_segment_id_boosted(xd->mi[0].src_mi->mbmi.segment_id))
+        tx_size = TX_8X8;
+      else if (tx_size > TX_16X16)
+        tx_size = TX_16X16;
+    }
+  } else {
+    tx_size = MIN(max_txsize_lookup[bsize],
+                  tx_mode_to_biggest_tx_size[cpi->common.tx_mode]);
+  }
+
+  assert(tx_size >= TX_8X8);
+  xd->mi[0].src_mi->mbmi.tx_size = tx_size;
+
+  // Evaluate if the partition block is a skippable block in Y plane.
+  {
+    unsigned int sse16x16[16] = {0};
+    int sum16x16[16] = {0};
+    unsigned int var16x16[16] = {0};
+    const int num16x16 = num8x8 >> 2;
+
+    unsigned int sse32x32[4] = {0};
+    int sum32x32[4] = {0};
+    unsigned int var32x32[4] = {0};
+    const int num32x32 = num8x8 >> 4;
+
+    int ac_test = 1;
+    int dc_test = 1;
+    const int num = (tx_size == TX_8X8) ? num8x8 :
+        ((tx_size == TX_16X16) ? num16x16 : num32x32);
+    const unsigned int *sse_tx = (tx_size == TX_8X8) ? sse8x8 :
+        ((tx_size == TX_16X16) ? sse16x16 : sse32x32);
+    const unsigned int *var_tx = (tx_size == TX_8X8) ? var8x8 :
+        ((tx_size == TX_16X16) ? var16x16 : var32x32);
+
+    // Calculate variance if tx_size > TX_8X8
+    if (tx_size >= TX_16X16)
+      calculate_variance(bw, bh, TX_8X8, sse8x8, sum8x8, var16x16, sse16x16,
+                         sum16x16);
+    if (tx_size == TX_32X32)
+      calculate_variance(bw, bh, TX_16X16, sse16x16, sum16x16, var32x32,
+                         sse32x32, sum32x32);
+
+    // Skipping test
+    x->skip_txfm[0] = 0;
+    for (k = 0; k < num; k++)
+      // Check if all ac coefficients can be quantized to zero.
+      if (!(var_tx[k] < ac_thr || var == 0)) {
+        ac_test = 0;
+        break;
+      }
+
+    for (k = 0; k < num; k++)
+      // Check if dc coefficient can be quantized to zero.
+      if (!(sse_tx[k] - var_tx[k] < dc_thr || sse == var)) {
+        dc_test = 0;
+        break;
+      }
+
+    if (ac_test) {
+      x->skip_txfm[0] = 2;
+
+      if (dc_test)
+        x->skip_txfm[0] = 1;
+    } else if (dc_test) {
+      skip_dc = 1;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (x->skip_txfm[0] == 1) {
+    int skip_uv[2] = {0};
+    unsigned int var_uv[2];
+    unsigned int sse_uv[2];
+
+    *out_rate_sum = 0;
+    *out_dist_sum = sse << 4;
+
+    // Transform skipping test in UV planes.
+    for (i = 1; i <= 2; i++) {
+      struct macroblock_plane *const p = &x->plane[i];
+      struct macroblockd_plane *const pd = &xd->plane[i];
+      const TX_SIZE uv_tx_size = get_uv_tx_size(&xd->mi[0].src_mi->mbmi, pd);
+      const BLOCK_SIZE unit_size = txsize_to_bsize[uv_tx_size];
+      const int sf = (bw - b_width_log2_lookup[unit_size]) +
+          (bh - b_height_log2_lookup[unit_size]);
+      const BLOCK_SIZE bs = get_plane_block_size(bsize, pd);
+      const uint32_t uv_dc_thr = pd->dequant[0] * pd->dequant[0] >> (6 - sf);
+      const uint32_t uv_ac_thr = pd->dequant[1] * pd->dequant[1] >> (6 - sf);
+      int j = i - 1;
+
+      vp9_build_inter_predictors_sbp(xd, mi_row, mi_col, bsize, i);
+      var_uv[j] = cpi->fn_ptr[bs].vf(p->src.buf, p->src.stride,
+                             pd->dst.buf, pd->dst.stride, &sse_uv[j]);
+
+      if (var_uv[j] < uv_ac_thr || var_uv[j] == 0) {
+        if (sse_uv[j] - var_uv[j] < uv_dc_thr || sse_uv[j] == var_uv[j])
+          skip_uv[j] = 1;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // If the transform in YUV planes are skippable, the mode search checks
+    // fewer inter modes and doesn't check intra modes.
+    if (skip_uv[0] & skip_uv[1]) {
+      *early_term = 1;
+    }
+
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (!skip_dc) {
+#if CONFIG_VP9_HIGHBITDEPTH
+    if (xd->cur_buf->flags & YV12_FLAG_HIGHBITDEPTH) {
+      vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(sse - var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                                   dc_quant >> (xd->bd - 5), &rate, &dist);
+    } else {
+      vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(sse - var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                                   dc_quant >> 3, &rate, &dist);
+    }
+#else
+    vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(sse - var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                                 dc_quant >> 3, &rate, &dist);
+#endif  // CONFIG_VP9_HIGHBITDEPTH
+  }
+
+  if (!skip_dc) {
+    *out_rate_sum = rate >> 1;
+    *out_dist_sum = dist << 3;
+  } else {
+    *out_rate_sum = 0;
+    *out_dist_sum = (sse - var) << 4;
+  }
+
+#if CONFIG_VP9_HIGHBITDEPTH
+  if (xd->cur_buf->flags & YV12_FLAG_HIGHBITDEPTH) {
+    vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                                 ac_quant >> (xd->bd - 5), &rate, &dist);
+  } else {
+    vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                                 ac_quant >> 3, &rate, &dist);
+  }
+#else
+  vp9_model_rd_from_var_lapndz(var, num_pels_log2_lookup[bsize],
+                               ac_quant >> 3, &rate, &dist);
+#endif  // CONFIG_VP9_HIGHBITDEPTH
+
+  *out_rate_sum += rate;
+  *out_dist_sum += dist << 4;
+}
+
 static void model_rd_for_sb_y(VP9_COMP *cpi, BLOCK_SIZE bsize,
                               MACROBLOCK *x, MACROBLOCKD *xd,
                               int *out_rate_sum, int64_t *out_dist_sum,
@@ -799,6 +1041,7 @@ void vp9_pick_inter_mode(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
   int ref_frame_skip_mask = 0;
   int idx;
   int best_pred_sad = INT_MAX;
+  int best_early_term = 0;
   int ref_frame_cost[MAX_REF_FRAMES];
   vp9_prob intra_inter_p = vp9_get_intra_inter_prob(cm, xd);
   vp9_prob ref_single_p1 = vp9_get_pred_prob_single_ref_p1(cm, xd);
@@ -906,6 +1149,7 @@ void vp9_pick_inter_mode(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
     PREDICTION_MODE this_mode = ref_mode_set[idx].pred_mode;
     int64_t this_sse;
     int is_skippable;
+    int this_early_term = 0;
 
     if (!(cpi->sf.inter_mode_mask[bsize] & (1 << this_mode)))
       continue;
@@ -1066,8 +1310,18 @@ void vp9_pick_inter_mode(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
     } else {
       mbmi->interp_filter = (filter_ref == SWITCHABLE) ? EIGHTTAP : filter_ref;
       vp9_build_inter_predictors_sby(xd, mi_row, mi_col, bsize);
-      model_rd_for_sb_y(cpi, bsize, x, xd, &this_rdc.rate, &this_rdc.dist,
-                        &var_y, &sse_y);
+
+      // For large partition blocks, extra testing is done.
+      if (bsize > BLOCK_32X32 && xd->mi[0].src_mi->mbmi.segment_id != 1 &&
+          cm->base_qindex) {
+        model_rd_for_sb_y_large(cpi, bsize, x, xd, &this_rdc.rate,
+                                &this_rdc.dist, &var_y, &sse_y, mi_row, mi_col,
+                                &this_early_term);
+      } else {
+        model_rd_for_sb_y(cpi, bsize, x, xd, &this_rdc.rate, &this_rdc.dist,
+                          &var_y, &sse_y);
+      }
+
       this_rdc.rate +=
           cm->interp_filter == SWITCHABLE ?
               vp9_get_switchable_rate(cpi, xd) : 0;
@@ -1143,6 +1397,7 @@ void vp9_pick_inter_mode(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
       best_tx_size = mbmi->tx_size;
       best_ref_frame = ref_frame;
       best_mode_skip_txfm = x->skip_txfm[0];
+      best_early_term = this_early_term;
 
       if (reuse_inter_pred) {
         free_pred_buffer(best_pred);
@@ -1155,6 +1410,13 @@ void vp9_pick_inter_mode(VP9_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x,
 
     if (x->skip)
       break;
+
+    // If early termination flag is 1 and at least 2 modes are checked,
+    // the mode search is terminated.
+    if (best_early_term && idx > 0) {
+      x->skip = 1;
+      break;
+    }
   }
 
   mbmi->mode          = best_mode;