Can a Xeon E3-1270 handle a 4K H.265 stream?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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My Xeon E3-1270 has a CPU PassMark score of 8,238.

I am considering ripping my 4K Blu-ray Discs to 4K HDR H.265 MKV files but I want to make sure the CPU could transcode one, ready for playback on a Chromecast Ultra.

What do you think?

If needs be, I can get a Core i7-3770K, which is one of the fastest LGA 1155 CPUs, and has a 9,506 PassMark CPU score (14% faster than my E3-1270).

EDIT: Just found this article. It’s suggests a CPU with a PassMark CPU score of around 17,000 for a 4K HDR transcode - but that’s based on 50 Mbps bitrates. Mine would only be around 15 Mbps.

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Although I don’t currently run 4K as none of my rig supports it, I have been reading up on it and from everything I’ve read so far, it’s never a great idea to transcode 4K as it takes soooo much grunt to do so.

It would be better to find out what your client supports and see if you can Mux your 4K file so it Direct Plays.

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Unfortunately, I only have a standard 1080p Chromecast, so I was hoping the server could transcode it down from 4K HDR to 1080p SDR.

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If your kit doesn’t support 4K, then you are asking your PMS server to work as hard as hell for no reason at all.

I’d suggest converting it with HandBrake to 1080p. Currently, I convert all my movies to 14 Mbps H264, or 7 Mbps 10bit H265, depending on how much space I might want to save.

That way, it will also usually fit UP my internet connection for remote clients, without the need to transcode.

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There is ZERO benefit to trying to watch 4k/hdr on a 1080/sdr client. And worse is all the problems and headaches it causes.

Just stick with a regular bluray 1080 or 720 rip.

see also @ [INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k for a lot more info and discussion regarding 4k.

1 Like
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I’m not doing it for a current benefit, I’m future-proofing my video files so I don’t have to rip them twice.

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Fair enough, although it would have been useful to mention that in your initial post :grinning:

If this is the case, then all I can say is give it a go and see how well your rig handles it.

Me personally, I don’t really have enough storage space to consider doing that yet, and I still have to replace my TV, AVR and HTPC before I can even be 4K capable.

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Hi, I was searching around the web, and came across this forum thread on compatability. Thought you should read it. The answer in that thread is you go to Intel® Desktop Compatibility Tool and input your motherboard model number, and it tells you what compatible CPU’s for it. Also they talked about how you may need to upgrade your bios to get the CPU to run. Here is a list of CPU’s that fit LGA1155

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You need a Kaby Lake or Apollo Lake CPU to HW transcode 4K HEVC Main 10 HDR. When it comes to decoding 4K HEVC Main 10 HDR, the brutal truth is even a lowly NUC6CAYH or NUC7JPYH will outperform any Xeon system without QSV. The key is all about getting a CPU with the 6th generation of Intel QuickSync Video ASIC for HW transcoding.

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@Achilles The Celeron G3930 is a Kaby Lake CPU, which should, in theory, contain Intel Quick Sync Video v6, is that correct?

If so, would that handle such streams? (even though the PassMark CPU score is awful (3,036, compared to 8,238 of my Xeon E3-1270).

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Unless you plan to get a plex pass, GPU transcoding is irrelevant.

So in that case, you will need CPU power, so buy the highest passmark cpu that will fit in your system.

Which, for 4k transcodes @ ~17k passmark each, may well be difficult or impossible.

In either case, and in spite of your desire to only rip once, you are simply making it difficult for yourself.

Rip 4k once, don’t play it unless you can direct play it.

Rip the 1080 with it, use that until you have direct play 4k clients.

Otherwise, you will simply have to pay the piper. 4k isn’t cheap, ripping, storage, playback, conversion. $$$$$$

1 Like
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@King_Mustard What @TeknoJunky stated is correct. I missed the fact that you are not a Plex Pass user

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