# Buffering when transcoding
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629
**Category:** Plex Media Server
**Tags:** server-linux
**Created:** [June 7, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629 "2025-06-07T16:16:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BumbleSloth](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BumbleSloth)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629/1 "2025-06-07T16:16:03Z")
Server Version#: Version 1.41.7.9823
Player Version#: All
Good evening folks!
Currently trying to optimize my Plex settings to get the maximum performance out of it. I have some users who struggle with buffering so I am primarily trying to address that.
The setup is as follows:
Ubuntu 64-bit VM running on proxmox.
Proxmox has a Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2680 v4 @ 2.40GHz on the host, and the Plex VM has 1 socket and 20 cores given to it. The VM also has 32GB of RAM given to it, but it can easily get more if needed.
I also have an old GTX970 passed through to it, but I get that this thing probably doesn’t help at all being so old.
For network I am running 750/750mbit wired so that should be no issue.
When running files natively, 4K direct streaming both remote and local I have no issues what so ever. I get problems when trying to go from 4K → 1080p using transcoding.
Transcoder settings:
Transcoder quality: Auto
Transcoder temp directory: a tmpfs folder(RAM)
Transcoder default throttle buffer: 1200 (Randomly picked number)
x264 preset: very fast
HDR tone mapping enabled, as hable.
Hardware acceleration when available: enabled
Hardware-accelerated video encoding: Enabled
Transcoding device: Auto.
This is the output from Tautulli when I try to perform the same stream as one of my users:
```
Product
Plex Web
Player
Firefox
Quality
10 Mbps 1080p (9.4 Mbps)
Stream
Transcode (Speed: 1.2)
Container
Converting (MKV MP4)
Video
Transcode (HEVC 4k HLG -> H264 1080p SDR)
Audio
Transcode (English - EAC3 5.1 -> AAC Stereo)
Subtitle
Transcode (English - SRT ASS)
Location
LAN: 192.168.1.45
Bandwidth
9.9 Mbp
```
I know that the CPU is fairly old, but I would still expect it to handle this without any issues. Does anyone have any suggestions for where to start debugging?
Thank you very much!
---
### Author:  [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629/2 "2025-06-07T16:25:50Z")
Disable tone mapping and try again.
I would expect the CPU to be able to handle transcoding only without tone mapping.
> **[Intel Xeon E5-2680 v4 Benchmark](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel%2BXeon%2BE5-2680%2Bv4%2B%40%2B2.40GHz&id=2779)**
You will need a newer GPU, I suppose.
---
### Author:  [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)
#### Post date: [June 7, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629/3 "2025-06-07T17:51:12Z")
To add to Otto,
1. I have an E5-2690v4 . Don’t expect it to do any HEVC transcoding
2. I have it paired with the Nvidia P2200.
( A popular internet retailer is selling this for $220 USD. Prices have dropped)
---
### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [September 5, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/buffering-when-transcoding/921629/4 "2025-09-05T17:51:56Z")
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