Trying to find out how the system actually works, not code-depth of course but generally.
I have a server that holds my video files, i have a client that is connected to my tv.
1 - Does the client request the data from the server which then sends it a copy of the file or is the data sent in chunks?
2 - Does the client do any buffering like the Apple TV3 did?
3 - Is the output i see on my tv rendered by the client graphics device or the servers’?
4 - Where and how and what does “transcoding” come into play, i keep reading about it but can’t find where it would be applied?
5 - Which machine would do the transcoding?
6 - I am using MP4 files, would these have been “transcoded” already by handbrake when i created them?
7 - Does the client machine’s CPU do any real work or is it the server’s CPU that does the work?
Apologies for the many questions but i am attempting to figure out how it all plays together.
Great system though 
HI,
1) chunks if transcoded, or "the file" if not
2) Yes
3) Client
4) Transcoding is done if your client device does not support the format the media you want to play is in.
5) The server
6) mp4 describes only the container type of the media, and not the video or audio codecs used by the media (which are the most important parts) - so having "mp4" files really means very little and does not provide enough info to give a meaningful answer. "using Handbrake" at least implies your files have H.264 video, which is *generally* the most compatible type (understand also, there are many different types of H.264)
7) Depends on the client, and on the media you are trying to play on it.
You might want to have a read of this, aimed at selecting a NAS device but will give more detail about your questions here -> http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/FAQ:_Plex_Media_Server_and_NAS#I_do_plan_to_run_PMS_on_a_NAS.2C_but_what.27s_this_.22transcoding.22_thing_all_about.3F_Give_me_all_the_details_and_don.27t_hide_the_fine_print.21
Many thanks,that just about explains it all really B)
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