I’m running a Fedora 30 server on a MSI MS-7917 (Z97 Gaming 5) motherboard, with an Intel Core i5-4690K CPU and 8 GB RAM. The server runs headless and mainly serves as a NAS server for my movie and TV collection. I’ve put a bunch of 4K media on the server, and most of it streams fine to my AppleTV 4K, but it always seems to transcode it, although I’ve read that it should direct stream it. The AppleTV is connected via GB ethernet, so it’s not a question of latency in WiFi. Regardless, when the media starts up, the 4k content can take a minute or more to actually queue up and play.
I’m not necessarily wanting to buy a whole new server. It’s several years old, but functions just fine other than the 4K content. I’m looking for advice on a graphics card that will enable hardware transcoding for my server and speed up the transcoding until the ATV Plex app properly works with direct streaming.
I’ve read through the FAQ on hardware acceleration, but it doesn’t really provide any advice on specific hardware.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/
I’m thinking that an Nvidia 1050 should be sufficient, but are there better options that will give me more bang for my buck. I also don’t one that gets too hot, as I’m already running 8 HDD in my enclosure. Would upgrading my RAM make any difference?
Thanks for any advice in advance.
Enable the Enhanced player in the tvOS Plex app and it should direct play/direct stream practically any media file pushed its way.
Yeah, I’ve done that. It still doesn’t direct play.
your server status should tell you exactly what is happening, whether its the video or audio transcoding, or both.
atv4k does not pass through HD audio, so your first option is to simply use a different audio stream (IE dolby digital/dts 5.1 or stereo audio).
to get any benefit from 4k media, you want to avoid transcoding at all. direct play.
I don’t know anything about fedora, or how well HA works on that system, but assuming it does, then a 1050 should be sufficient for a couple 4k transcodes (which ideally you want to avoid in the first place), depending the video ram.
system ram won’t help unless your running out of ram from other applications, or need extra ram for disk caching of slow disks.
finally, you should be aware that gpu is not the miracle problem solver of 4k, it will only help with decode/encode of video, your system still has to be able to keep up with all the other things involved, including audio transcoding and subtitles, which are both single threaded so will be limited by your cpu capability.
you should carefully review the following threads.
Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k - a FAQ - General / General Discussions - Plex Forum
Video Encode and Decode GPU Support Matrix | NVIDIA Developer
nVidia Hardware Transcoding Calculator for Plex Estimates
It very well could be the audio stream that’s the problem. I haven’t touched that in any settings. Is there a way to set the default audio for 4K streaming? Is that something I need to do on the tvOS app or on the server?
TrueHD will have to be transcoded by your CPU. That should be able to handle the job for a direct stream/transcoded to FLAC playback by the AppleTV 4K.
So, I’m looking at one of my recent additions. Avengers: Endgame.
Under audio:
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Codec TRUEHD
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Channels 8
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Bitrate 4777 kbps
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Language English
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Audio Channel Layout 7.1
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Bit Depth 24
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Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
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Title Surround 7.1
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Display Title English (TRUEHD 7.1)
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Codec AC3
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Channels 6
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Bitrate 640 kbps
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Language English
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Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)
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Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
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Title Surround 5.1
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Display Title English (AC3 5.1)
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Codec AC3
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Channels 2
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Bitrate 320 kbps
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Language English
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Audio Channel Layout stereo
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Sampling Rate 48000 Hz
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Title Stereo
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Display Title English (AC3 Stereo)
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Codec PGS
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Bitrate 34 kbps
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Language English
-
Display Title English (PGS)
So you’re saying , TrueHD is likely the reason the whole thing is being transcoded. In order to avoid transcoding, I need to switch to AC3, correct? When and where is the best/easiest to do this? Is there a way to default that?
Select it during preplay or remux it with AC3 audio track first.
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@tamorgen may I ask how did you get 4K deciphered content on your server in order to get stream afterwards. Thank you
@number8.1
You must have a 4k rip compatible bluray drive and applicable software, like makemkv.
Unless they have managed to work around it since last I checked, not all 4k bluray drives can rip 4k.
Google is your friend, where you will find an abundance of info.
@tamorgen see what achilles posted.
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TeknoJunky is spot on. The MakeMKV forums are a good resource for making backups of your owned media, including 4k Bluray.
Achille/TeknoJunky,
So, maybe I’m missing something, but why can’t the Plex enhanced player decode TrueHD on AppleTV 4K? I love the Plex platform, but I read others mention Infuse Pro, and Direct Play works without issue. I know it costs money, but I’m a LIfetime PlexPass member, so I’m not opposed to that. Is this something Plex is actively working on, or are customers just being told it’s not possible? I’m not trying to be snarky or anything, I’m genuinely curious. If Infuse can do it, and read the Plex library, I can’t see why Plex doesn’t have the same capability.
because apple does not provide support for truehd.
infuse is entirely different from plex, like VLC it has it’s own decoding routines and capabilities. they are what can be known as ‘thick’ clients, capable of stuff on their own.
plex relies more on the native capabilities of the device, and uses the server to convert (ie transcode), whenever necessary to a compatible format.
infuse decodes the audio to flac/wave format, it does not pass through the truehd directly. It can’t because the hardware simply doesn’t support that.
Slight correction, Plex’s enhanced player for tvOS/iOS could be considered a “thick client” in most respects.
What makes it possible for Infuse to support the level of TrueHD they do on Apple TV is that they license the codecs to do so.
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true, but does any plex client (other than perhaps the desktop PC clients plex/pmp) do any actual software audio decoding of any audio codec to the equivalent PCM ?
to me, the division between ‘thick’ client and ‘thin’ client is whether the client decodes locally via software, instead of relying on the server to transcode to a device natively compatible format.
So why doesn’t Plex license codecs? Again, for Plex pass members who pay, it would make sense. For $54, I can get a lifetime Infuse Pro license, and get Direct Play for 4K. I just installed it on my ATV 4K, and it’s working perfectly. Plex is reporting both video and audio as Direct Play. It even recognizes that Infuse is playing it.
Which is why so many people use Infuse 
As far as why Plex does anything, they typically don’t discuss that much ;^)
I can understand that. It just would be nice to have one application that works and not have to involve a second app, second subscription.
I don’t like switching between apps long term. I’m a creature of habit and I’m getting too old to be switching to new fads like a teenager. For years, I ran Windows Media Center and used MyMovies for my collection management. I think I tried Plex along the way, a much earlier version, and it didn’t work very well. One day MyMovies just wasn’t working for me anymore, and I jumped on Plex and haven’t looked back. I think the difference to me was running a HTPC versus the AppleTV. Power consumption, much smaller form factor, etc. Plus Windows 10 did away with WMC, so they lost me there.
I hope Plex doesn’t go down that road that WMC and MyMovies did. It works really well with my AppleTV and my server, but the 4K content is an issue. Hopefully they’ll fix the enhanced player and I’ll be back to one interface.
unless apple decides to support atmos and direct passthrough for the apple tv 4k (or any future device), the only current solution for HD audio is still nvidia shield.
which isn’t perfect, but it’s what we have.
Close but not quite?
From: Early access for Plex Pass users to new Apple TV & iOS Video Player - #13 by sergiou87
Which is the ultimate aim of the enhanced player, I believe 
