I’m looking for a replacement for my 4U Windows 2012 server that houses both my Plex server and storage. I want something far more compact (we’re downsizing), so I figured this would be a great place to get some advice.
I have Tivo minis at all the TVs, so the client side is covered.
So far, it looks like the Nvidia Shield Pro and a NAS would be a pretty good option. The QNAP TS-453B and Synology DS918+ seem to be really good options. I’m hoping to hear about some first hand experiences or suggestions.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks chenks! I was just reading that, but I wasn’t aware before today! So you’d go with the Synology over the QNAP? Mind if I ask why you prefer Synology? I haven’t found anything on either that pushes me in either direction. Synology does seem to have an extra year (3 vs 2) of protection.
Raspberry Pi + WD Easystore if you don’t need transcoding or only minimal transcoding (use direct play). Cost of this setup with one 10TB drive and Pi equipment will be less than just the Synology alone. IMO the only reason anyone would ever need a NAS is if they had more than 20TB of movies/tv.
If your movies aren’t of higher quality, use that beast 4U to transcode up quality with something like Handbrake or another higher quality software and dump them to another drive. I’d recommend consolidating the drives on your 4U to single drives anyway.
Second vote for the 918+ both for media storage and hosting PMS. I have a couple of WD Red 8TBs, soon to add a couple more 10TBs.
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I use the TS-453Be and it is rock solid. Honestly it is a question of what you are comfortable with.
Oh and if you go NAS with either of the above use the native server do not use docker
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Docker containers run at “native” speed… Containers are not VMs. Perhaps you say this because the Docker version is giving people problems??
I say this because ChuckPA has stated this specifically in these forums, for QNAP and Synology he recommends to use the native server.
It is not about speed, if I understood his previous post(s) on this it is about using a process that is not the best operational choice, effectively a “misuse” of a process not best designed for the PMS server.
Thanks for the info. My purpose is to ditch the beast, both for space (we’re downsizing), maintenance, and for electrical cost.
What is “Native server” vs “Docker”?
Sorry, but I’m totally new to NAS’s for personal use. We use the all the time at work of course, but that’s for storage, backup, etc., but not for home video use.
Thanks!
QNAP and Synology have a Plex application as part of their OS package, that is the native server.
Several other NAS boxes do as well.
If you take QNAP, you cannot use hardware (QSV) transcoding when running PMS in docker. You have to use the native package supplied by either QNAP or Plex. And without hw transcoding, you are in real issues with those low-spec NASes.
Thanks for all the information! I’m guessing that the native package on the QNAP TS-453Be and Synology 918+/1019+ transcode well to TVs? I’ll be playing back movies on our Tivo devices.
Thanks again!
I have native Plex running on my 918+ feeding a Vizio 65" and a TCL 40" and the occasional Android smartphone with no problems. I’d suggest you configure your clients to take an original quality feed wherever possible. There’s no point in transcoding to something less than original unless absolutely necessary.
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Yes, one small note though, the TS-453Be does have issues with X265 transcoding and 4K is a challenge sometimes not with direct play though, but i doubt its much different with 918+ and 1019+.
Other then that its awesome Fast and expandable with a PCIE card for both m2 ssd & nic upgrades.
1st rule of 4k, always use direct play.
I encode everything to h.264 / AC3 5.1 mp4 container and almost every device direct plays them and I have never had any issues, roku on some shared users will need a transcode and that is also no issue. Oh I also burn all my forced .srts right into the video so I have no problems with forced subtitles either.
Truth be told 99.9999% of the people can tell absolutly no difference between lossless audio and AC3 5.1, same is true for 1080p as h.264. I have found no one who could tell the difference between the blu ray player and my plex version both for audio and video.
That is with a Sony 75 inch UHD tv and a Yamaha audio receiver with speakers to match.
Will I need to buy 1 or 2 M.2 NVMe SSD for this NAS setup? If so, what size would you suggest? These?
Thanks again!
I have DS918+ and it’s working very good. I use to record from my surveillance camera, plex server and files storage. In my opinion the DS1019+ doesn’t worth it because it’s the same hardware of DS918+ just with 1 HDD bay more. The NVMe is useless for Plex media server. My suggestion, don’t get NVMe. The Asustor 5304T has a little better hardware and flexibility but, the support and the community on synology is a lot bigger.
Thanks everyone. I bought the 1019+, 3 10 TB WD Red drives and I went ahead and got one 500 GB NVMe since it was only $88. Now to set it up this weekend and start moving data!
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Not only, but mainly. I’ll look into creating a Windows VM on it as well.
Hi everyone and thanks for all your comments.
I’m also thinking about buying a NAS, and my first option is the Synology DS918+. I’m going to use it mainly as a PMS, sharing my Plex content with some of my friends. But, do you know how many 4k streams and transcoding can it manage?
