Server Version#: (will be latest version) Windows - 1.22.3.4392-d7c624def
I am looking to build from scratch a windows 10 Plex Server and want to make sure I get the best parts for Plex.
I will also be using this pc for a gaming PC but that will be a secondary purpose.
I mostly have 1080p media but DO have some 4k movies and anticipate having more in the future.
I have done a bunch of research and am somewhat confused as to whether I should go with an Intel CPU and GPU that takes advantage of Quicksilver so I can use hardware transcoding or if, as I’d kind of like to do, get a screaming fast AMD CPU / GPU and ditch quicksilver and let the CPU handle everything.
As far as I can tell the AMD route gives PLEX no hardware transcoding ability. BUT if it’s a fast enough CPU, with fast enough RAM/SSD, etc. perhaps that makes up for no hardware transcoding.
My research is telling me that AMD CPUs are outpacing even the most up to date Intel’s at this point in time and I’m very tempted to just go that route.
Does anyone have experience with this and could let me know if I’m about to make a huge mistake?
Kinda don’t want to buy a bunch of expensive Intel stuff just to allow PLEX to have the transcoding if I can get a screamer for the rest of what I want.
thanks.
An i5-10600k will run circles around an equivalently priced Ryzen using the iGPU. You still want some CPU power for non-hardware-accelerate tasks but a modern i5 or last 8th/9th gen i7 is more than enough.
Not an intel fanboy - when AMD was the more ‘bang for buck’ option I always went with them, but I’ve never gone top of the line and right now with intel prices tanking the are a good value proposition.
EDIT: Actually if you also plan on gaming on the machine as well, you might run into issues with hardware transcoding. I’ve only ever run dedicated plex servers, but I am pretty sure it uses the default GPU. Meaning that if you instal a dedicated GPU, plex will use that. Maybe someone can confirm if there is a workaround to force per to use the iGPU even if it’s not the default…
understood.
I’ve actually been looking at the Ryzen 9 5900X.
If the AMD CPU doesn’t have ‘G’ it doesn’t have graphics built in (I’m sure you know).
That being the case, is there any scenario where PLEX can access a graphics card GPU on an AMD motherboard or is that strictly an Intel Quicksync thing as it appears to be?
I’m not sure about the amd igpu - I’ve only ever heard of intel quick sync for iGPU hardware transcoding with Plex. See my edit above about the gaming caveat.
