Server Version#: 1.25.5.5492
Player Version#: 8.29.1.30697 (420a2e38) (Shield)
Hello. I would like help with troubleshooting 4k files that play but start to buffer. This seems to happen more often with larger media files and I’d like to understand why.
Files (4k) under 20gb stream without issue but larger files tend to hitch after playing for a bit (8-10mins) and then get stuck in a buffering loop, where they will buffer, play a little then buffer again, making it unwatchable.
The file that I am most recently having trouble with is a 4k film:
Bitrate 70756 kbps HEVC
Size 71.5 gb
On the hardware and connection side, I have tried to eliminate any issues in regards to connection speed. So I would like to find out what I can do to resolve larger files buffering.
My setup is as follows.
4K TV (where we watch all our content)
Nvidia Shield unit. Connects via HDMI.
Router (BT Smart Hub 2). Connects to shield directly via ethernet.
Desktop PC with Plex Media Server. Connects to router directly via ethernet (10m cable, it’s in another room). PMS is installed on C drive M2 SSD 2TB with excess storage space. Cpu: i9-12900k, 32gb DDR5 RAM.
Files are played from a Toshiba x300 7200rpm 6TB HDD with excess storage space. Connected via SATA.
What’s the average bitrate of the file you’re attempting to stream and what’s the bandwidth of those different LAN connections?
I don’t have a SmartHub at hand but from what I remember many routers default to 100 Mbps Ethernet for power efficiency (requiring Gigabit Ethernet to be activated manually).
This sounds like a bandwidth problem. There may be a problem with ethernet negotiating full GB speed, according to tech specs it is meant to be able to be fast enough but there are lots of reports of problems. A suggestion is to put a decent ethernet switch between BT LAN port and your PC server. It will be better at negotiation. May also just be your cable. I don’t have a smart hub but have an older BT hub and its built in ethernet is pretty awful
Not sure of the average bitrate as it’s not something I normally pay attention to. Looking at some other 4k files they are between 15,000 - 30,000. So this file with the issue is clearly significantly more. I had hoped the hardware setup I had would be sufficient for any bitrate.
I have now checked the smarthub admin console page and it’s showing 1000/1000 locally. I also checked the receive/transmit of the network adaptor on the desktop and it’s showing 1000/1000.
I can’t find a way to check the network adaptor speed on the shield but it would be useful to know if it was at 100 or 1000. I’ve tried searching for this online but not seen a good answer for how to check the port speed for the shield.
Thanks for the tip. So if I use an ethernet switch, do I connect it to one LAN port on the BT router and then put everything else on LAN connections into the ethernet switch rather than LAN ports on the router? eg. PC server + Shield device (and any other devices with direct ethernet connection)
I am having the exact same issue as this. But I know for certain that it’s not a network bottleneck problem because the same files that can’t properly stream in Plex do properly stream in VLC. I created a post on /r/Plex about it, but haven’t really gotten anywhere there. The post is here and includes more details about my situation: https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/ucm5v8/plex_wont_play_files_over_a_certain_size/
Any more ideas? @harkodon , did you ever solve this issue?
Hi. The addition of the ethernet switch completely solved our buffering issue with 4k files over ethernet connection from the media server (desktop pc). I now have all ethernet connected devices going through the ethernet switch before the router. I purchased the TP-Link TL-SG105S for £12.99.
