I have a Synology DS916+ and the check box to enable hardware transcoding isn’t present under settings. I’ve been reading around the forums and can’t quite piece together what I need to do to get my box to use hardware transcoding with Plex. I have Plex Pass and the latest PMS (1.12.0.4829-6de959918) and current DSM as well. Can someone please give me a simple explanation on how to get this working, aka “enabling hardware transcoding for dummies?” Thanks!
Did you install the 32 bit or the 64 bit package?
If you downloaded PMS from Synology’s Package Center, it does not have hardware transcoding support.
Please download directly from http://plex.tv/downloads, selecting the 64 bit version
next peform a “Manual Install” in Package Center
If you need to uninstall before installing the 64 bit version, do not worry about your existing library, I do not delete the metadata when uninstalling the software. It will be intact when the 64 bit version starts.
Thanks both - I re-downloaded the 64-bit version of PMS from the plex website (not sure if I was running 64 or 32 bit previously), and I know have the hardware transcoding option. Much appreciated.
ChuckPA, curious on this, installed PMS last night on new NAS via the Package install (Xpenology aka Synology/DSM), you saying we should rather uninstall and re-install directly from PLEX ?
G
If you installed PMS on a XPEnology-based NAS all bets are off. There’s no way of knowing what the hardware is.
If you have a 64 bit SPK for Synology, hardware transcoding is only tested and known to work on Synology boxes.
Anything you download from Synology will not include Hardware transcoding because they only offer the 32 bit version
Thanks for this thread, I had literally no idea that on my DS916+ Plex was not running the 64-bit version and didn’t have hardware transcoding enabled. Perhaps 32-bit Plex could include a notification saying “If you have a Synology, you may want to install the 64-bit version for h/w transcoding” for new users in future?
We’ve been asking Synology to reinstate downloading the correct version of PMS to 64 bit systems but those requests have fallen on deaf ears.
To them: “32 bit works on a 64 bit system so it doesn’t matter”
As for notification, All over this forum are instructions to go to Settings - Server - Transcoder and Enable hardware acceleration where available.
So I understand your request:
If on a 32 bit system, where hardware transcoding is not enabled, the box should be present but “grayed out” and not active?
Yes, that would be a good hint. I didn’t even know it was an option - I switched to Plex this year after hearing it finally supports hw transcoding on Synology, but it was only by chance I looked in the forums.
Having a section with a checkbox saying "Hardware transcoding can be enabled if you have a Plex Pass and upgrade to the 64-bit version " would save having to have it plastered all over the forums. 
Thanks. Submitted!
I have a 916+ and I have installed the 64bit DSM6.0 + version from the Plex website and I dont see an option to enable hardware acceleration… what am I missing???
Never mind, I am a moron 
. You need to select it under advanced options.
