# \[Feature request\] Optimize from external PC(s) **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [February 3, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941 "2016-02-03T11:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xcom923](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/xcom923/32/6727_2.png) [@xcom923](https://forums.plex.tv/u/xcom923)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/1 "2016-02-03T11:54:45Z")
OK I have a NAS as my plex server and before that I had a netbook. They work great as long as you have plenty of storage (currently sitting at 6TB). The problem I run into is playback can be very stuttery for certain files that are not using Plex’s new Optimize feature. As you all know NAS devices are under-powered but are rarely the only or even best devices for trans-coding. So I suggest, either by a separate program or just built into the plex app, a way for the server to talk to a separate PC and have them download a source file and “Optimize” it and send it back to the server’s storage. Example. I have a 1080p (5.1 surround sound) MKV file that needs to be optimized to 720p (stereo) MP4 for playback on a phone or maybe streaming to some TVs that don’t play well with MKV. I have a laptop that could do this process in moments (the server would take hours) but it’s not on my wifi network all the time since I bring it with me. I come home and plex goes in for a sync. It sees a job that needs to be done now that I’m inside the network with the main server and downloads the files needed for the job. Then processes them (does the optimization work) and uploads the “Optimized” files to where plex puts it’s Optimized files, and let’s the server know it’s progress. The general idea is that more PCs could even share the work load. If multiple PCs are listed as being able to do this (since they would first have to tell the Plex server that they are able to do this optimization, and only while inside the same network as the server in question) It will be up to the plex server to divide the work based on past speed times (in other words give more work to the PC that can do it faster) and also re-assign work when a PC leaves the network. So if I were to take my gaming laptop out of the house, my wife’s laptop could take over. \*A side benefit to this feature would be that optimization could still happen while the plex server is in use. Under-powered Plex servers have a function to stop optimizing while playing so that the stream is stable. If external optimization was happening it wouldn’t matter if the main server was doing any optimization, the tasks could still be completed without any interference. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/2 "2016-02-03T12:38:08Z")
I am pretty sure that this is a duplicate of > **[Feature Request: Separate computer for transcoding vs. streaming](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/61278/feature-request-separate-computer-for-transcoding-vs-streaming)** > > OK, so here’s a feature request of mine. I’d like the ability to have a computer other than the one hosting my Plex Media Server to do the transcoding for Plex Sync. My rationale is that a lot of users use Plex with an HTPC, which generally only... ---
**Author:** ![xcom923](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/xcom923/32/6727_2.png) [@xcom923](https://forums.plex.tv/u/xcom923)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/3 "2016-02-03T12:43:34Z")
> @OttoKerner said: > I am pretty sure that this is a duplicate of > [https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/61278/feature-request-separate-computer-for-transcoding-vs-streaming](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/61278/feature-request-separate-computer-for-transcoding-vs-streaming) I suppose, but the mothod I’m talking about uses an existing feature. Plus the one you mentioned is from 2013 and hardly any views. I know I cant say much since I just started this post but I’d like to say that mine is more detailed. If I need to re-post under his I can but I see this as different enough to post it as a separate feature (2 solutions to the same problem as it were) ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/4 "2016-02-03T12:47:18Z")
There are actually at least 4 similar feature requests in here. All more detailed than the first one. This is not so much about the implementation details but more about not to spread the votes. And the [rules for this subforum](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/139657/how-to-create-a-feature-request "rules for this subforum") clearly state to search first before posting a new request. ---
**Author:** ![xcom923](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/xcom923/32/6727_2.png) [@xcom923](https://forums.plex.tv/u/xcom923)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/5 "2016-02-03T13:03:02Z")
> @OttoKerner said: > There are actually at least 4 similar feature requests in here. All more detailed than the first one. This is not so much about the implementation details but more about not to spread the votes. > > And the [rules for this subforum](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/139657/how-to-create-a-feature-request "rules for this subforum") clearly state to search first before posting a new request. how did you search? when I initially searched for optimized or external PC I didn’t find anything. I was aware that you are supposed to search but being that I didn’t find anything when I did how was I supposed to handle that? Since you found 4 would you be willing to post those links? ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2016, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/6 "2016-02-03T13:11:12Z")
I cheated. Since ‘optimize’ was not a thing before a few weeks ago, my search term was ‘transcode’. But it is really the same thing. > **[PMS Team Transcoding](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/110342/pms-team-transcoding)** > > For those familiar with Cinema 4D software, there is a way to utilize the CPU power of multiple machines to render 3D animations via what they call “Team Rendering”. Basic setup: 1 primary render machine with C4D installed Unlimited # of... > **[distribute transcoding/cpu intense tasks to other devices](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/165608/distribute-transcoding-cpu-intense-tasks-to-other-devices)** > > just wondering if it would be a good idea to have an option to distribute transcoding and other heavy tasks to other devices, can be other servers or just plex client app.   so with that enabled, the plex server don't have to be powerful, it can a... > **[Feature Request: Outsource Transcoding to another PC](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/156992/feature-request-outsource-transcoding-to-another-pc)** > > Hello   Can you make it possible to source the transcoding engine out, that i can start it on annother PC, when i need more power than my NAS gives to me? It would be very nice, because sometimes i have problems to watch on my mobile devices or... > **[Clustering or Off Loading Transcoding](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/123983/clustering-or-off-loading-transcoding)** > > Would be great if you could off load transcoding onto another server or cluster PMS instances. Regardless, some type of load balancing would be required. > **[Distributed Transcoding/Scaling](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/121215/distributed-transcoding-scaling)** > > I realize this is a longshot but right now my plex server is a quad socket system and it's barely keeping up with user load, looking at 8 socket systems and they are just astronomically expensive which got me thinking about the huge surplus of cheap... > **[Feature: Load Balancing Multiple Transcoding Servers](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/202039/feature-load-balancing-multiple-transcoding-servers)** > > I find that frequently i have more people on the server than the server can handle. It would be nice to have multiple servers that the main server would farm transcoding out to. I know i could build a beefier machine but i think i can get more from... > **[\[Feature Request\] Transcoding Server](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/198567/feature-request-transcoding-server)** > > Hello: I’ve been running Plex on Synology devices for several years… the DS211j and then the DS214play. I’m considering moving to the DS415+ for 2 reasons: I’m running out of disk space and either need to add an external enclosure to my 214, or... > **[Remote Transcoder LAN/WAN?](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/198230/remote-transcoder-lan-wan)** > > I got a fast computer but my nas is slow, a solution would be offload transcoding like this Can you guys please fix some kind of ide? ofc it would be plex pass only that would be a win win situation! > **[\[Feature Request\] Distributed MIMD Transcoding](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/178560/feature-request-distributed-mimd-transcoding)** > > Have quite a few end points (devices) around your lifestyle (home/toilet/ethnic fermentation shanty)? Feeling bored, lacking inspiration? Don’t just use your underperformed, lonesome NAS box to transpire (a lengthy biological process) on... ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/7 "2021-01-14T16:36:45Z")
Early 2021 clean-up: multi-duplicate ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2021, 12:45am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/feature-request-optimize-from-external-pc-s/133941/8 "2021-06-10T00:45:15Z")