I am running PMS on Ubuntu Linux 18.04 on a Lenovo ThinkCentre M92 tower. The Intel CPU is too old for hardware transcoding.
Can I just pop an Nvidia graphics card into the computer and get hardware transcoding? If so, what models of Nvidia cards are recommended?
You sure? Specifics? Quick google shows that system should have a 2xxx or 3xxx series Intel CPU.
Both Sandy and Ivy can do AVC transcoding, as seen here:
I used to use a MacMini with a 2xxx cpu for a while when hw transcode was in beta, and got a 8100 when it all settled in. And the 2xxx did great for basics.
As long as you stick with x264/h264/AVC files at 1080p or less, should be no issue.
Yes dropping a graphics card in and enabling transcoding should take the pressure off your cpu and you’ll see a performance increase. I’ve used a gt 710 to start but I’m currently using a GT 1650.
My tower has a Core i5 660. That’s a Clarkedale processor.
EDIT: I have an M90P not an M92P.
Does the 1650 get you anything over the 710 for H.264 encoding?
I’m looking at this page:
According to that page, it sounds like I HAVE TO have a Sandy Bridge or better CPU. Is this right, or can I just pop an NVIDIA card in my old computer and I am good to go?
essentially yes.
but like most things, the details matter.
for the content you have, or want to use, you need a gpu that supports that content’s codecs.
In general, and for future-proofing, you would likely want something that supports x265/hevc codec (what is used in 4k content).
so at a minimum, you would want a 7000 series intel cpu + 600 series intel igpu, or an nvidia 1050 or higher gpu.
@ [INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k you will find a wealth of info and discussion in regards to gpu transcoding, while most of it is 4k centric, the basics apply to all transcoding.
finally, keep in mind that a new gpu in an old computer, may help for video transcoding, it will not help audio transcoding, nor any other non-video-transcoding workload that the system performs, so in many instances, the overall performance will be limited by the cpu, or even the local storage capabilities.
Everything right now is h.264. So I went to Best Buy and bought a PNY Nvidia GeForce GT 710 for $59. Now my CPU utilization in top has dropped from 210% in top to 20% or less (I assume 210% is 2 cores at 100% plus the third core.
Sometime in 2021, I will upgrade to new hardware and then will future-proof myself. But, for now, I’m content with the GT 710. I had a GT960 in an old computer that died. I was thinking of using that, but I can’t find the computer. I may have thrown it out.
glad it worked out for you as well!
Always good when things are “snappier.”
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
