# First Plex Server **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393 "2017-12-29T02:05:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Poogzley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@Poogzley](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Poogzley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/1 "2017-12-29T02:05:26Z")
Hello, I am new to plex and looking to build my first server. šŸ™‚ My budget is around 300-500$ I am looking for a device that would be capable of transcoding 1080P video from Mkv files ( Blu-ray rips made with ā€œMake MKVā€ on default settings ) for 1 or 2 devices simultaneously. Although if it could handle more that would be great. I already have a NUC lying around that was given to me (Model NUC5CPYH) with a Celeron N3050 1.60 GHz processor. I was thinking of installing FreeNAS on it but is it powerful enough for the task? Is already seems very slow running Windows 10. Another option I looked into is getting a Mac Mini ( Model MGEM2LL/A 1.4 GHz OR MGEN2LL/A 2.6 GHz ) and hooking up a few external thunderbolt drives I already own. Or lastly, should I get a NAS and or build one? any recommendations? If I go with a prebuilt or custom made NAS I would be willing to pay a bit more in order to future proof my self and possibly support 4K. As mentioned before I am new to all this are my hopes unrealistic? ---
**Author:** ![adamstewiegreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/adamstewiegreen/32/17414_2.png) [@adamstewiegreen](https://forums.plex.tv/u/adamstewiegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/2 "2017-12-29T04:00:46Z")
I use a mac mini (2.6 Ghz) as both a server and home computer and it works flawlessly with 2 devices, no matter what is happening. It used to be hooked up to some USB 2 external HDDs but now I have a Drobo 5C (that, however, is above your price range). Both ways have worked great. I like this set up because its plug and play. Personally, I use my media server constantly (all the time, everyday, in house and remote access) and I see no reason why a good home computer canā€™t double as a plex server if there are only one or two people using it. ---
**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:** [December 29, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/4 "2017-12-29T14:01:44Z")
You are looking for a cpu with an overall passmark score of at least ~8000 points and a ā€˜single-thread ratingā€™ of at least 1350 points. Look up your prospective CPU at [https://www.cpubenchmark.net/](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/) ---
**Author:** ![Poogzley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@Poogzley](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Poogzley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/5 "2017-12-29T15:29:18Z")
@trumpy81 @OttoKerner Thank you for your help šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Poogzley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@Poogzley](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Poogzley)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/6 "2017-12-29T15:30:20Z")
@adamstewiegreen what year and/or model is your Mac Mini? ---
**Author:** ![adamstewiegreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/adamstewiegreen/32/17414_2.png) [@adamstewiegreen](https://forums.plex.tv/u/adamstewiegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 10:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/7 "2017-12-29T22:34:02Z")
late 2014, (believe it or not) the newest one currently available. It has a passmark score in the high 7000s. I have my system set up so that it almost never transcodes - and if it does itā€™s usually audio. ---
**Author:** ![Poogzley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@Poogzley](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Poogzley)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/8 "2017-12-31T00:38:43Z")
@adamstewiegreen Iā€™d assume you must be using the 2.8GHz i5 or 3.0GHz i7 model then is that correct? What media format and encoding tools do you use to avoid transcoding? ---
**Author:** ![adamstewiegreen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/adamstewiegreen/32/17414_2.png) [@adamstewiegreen](https://forums.plex.tv/u/adamstewiegreen)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2018, 10:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/9 "2018-01-01T10:14:20Z")
2.6GHz. I use handbrake encoding to h.264 in a mkv container - will probably switch to mp4 soon though (I did h.265 for a while but it lacks wider support and takes AGES to encode) that should play natively on most systems (mp4 though, not mkv) - audio is bit trickier - but audio transcoding isnā€™t an issue. I use an amazon firetv. I have kodi installed on it - and that will play anything - no transcoding (check out PlexKodiConnect, itā€™s good, although right now mine is running Emby because Embyā€™s kodi integration is tight!!). I use the plex software (mostly for Live TV/DVR) - and that is a bit of a dog - although (very very slowly) getting a little better. The big problem with the plex app is 5.1 audio getting played as 2.1. But firetvā€™s video codec support is fairly wide (much wider than say PS4 or Roku) as it includes both mp4 and mkv containers and also h.265 video. I also the web player and my Galaxy S7 (mostly music while driving though) ---
**Author:** ![Poogzley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@Poogzley](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Poogzley)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/10 "2018-01-02T00:26:36Z")
@adamstewiegreen Thanks for all the info! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/first-plex-server/219393/11 "2020-01-08T00:21:44Z")
Closed on January 8, 2020, 12:21am UTC