4K transcoding - hw accelleration

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Server Version#: 1.13.5.5291

Hey guys,

So, here’s the thing:
I wanted to test 4k on my Samsung 65Q7F (2017) and it worked perfectly!
I then got another movie, but couldn’t get rid of the buffering. After a lot of searching, I read about system requirements for 4k streaming, where I realized it might be my system that’s just not capable.
I then came over hardware acceleration and I noticed that the first 4k movie use hw when transcoding, while the other doesn’t.

I compared both and found these differences: (Movie 1: Justice League. Movie 2: Matrix)

  • Bitrate

    1. 29390/28494kbps
    2. 41858/40450kbps (higher)

  • Height

    1. 2160
    2. 1600 (lower)

  • Aspect ratio:

    1. 1.78
    2. 2.35 (higher)

image
image1041×481 142 KB

Maybe if I can get all my 4k movies to use hw acceleration that I will be able to stream without buffering? Is that possible? I realize I should upgrade my CPU, but are there any other ways, like converting the files before adding them to Plex?

Here’s my system
Intel i7-4770K @ 3.50GHz
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
32 GB RAM @ 1866MHz

The files are stored on a WD Red Pro 4TB HDD, 7200rpm, 64mb cache
Benchmark:
Sequential (MB/s) - Read: 150, Write: 144
Random (IOPS) - Read 244, Write: 244

Windows and Plex stored on a Samsung SSD 840 PRO
Sequential (MB/s) - Read: 4,361, Write: 4,471
Random (IOPS) - Read 117,187, Write: 92,285

The computer/server is connected to my router through Wi-Fi.
Adapter: ASUS PCE-AC88
Router: ASUS RT-AC88U
Connection speed is currently at 1.6 Gbps

I really hope someone can help me out here! Big thanks in advance!

2

Hey guys,

I forgot to mention, and you probably saw it, that in the screenshots I was playing from my desktop (same as server location).

Plex says “Direct Stream” when I play on my Samsung TV. The only option I have is to reduce the quality down to 1080p. There’s nothing in between. Are there anything I can do to get rid of the buffering?

3

Alright, so I finally figured out the problem: Subtitles.

Disabling Subtitles enabled Direct Play.

Though, I still have no idea why the two files differed. Was it because of the bitstream…?

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