Help me to buy hardware for Plex Server

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Hello,
want to buy some cheap hardware (computer) for Plex Server. It will be installed with Ubuntu 18.04 Server.

Currently I have some old computer (HP) with i5 3570, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD.
Plex works fine if 1-2 persons watch movies at the same time.
I have all movies/tv shows in Full HD.

What I want?

  • watch movies/tv shows at 3-4 devices at the same time (laptop, mobile devices, TV), playing locally and remotely
  • buy or build computer for that
  • it must be silent computer with not very high electrical consumption
  • in server will be installed Unifi Controller and 3-4 other services.

Budget is about $300-400.

What can you recommend please?
As I wrote, I can buy some refurbished computer or build own if you recommend me components.

Thank you.

2

any -3xxx family will not hardware transcode HEVC nor will it transcode 4k.
For HEVC, you need at least a -6xxx (8 bit)
for HEVC HDR (aka UHD) you need at least a -7xxx processor.

Respectfully, for that budget, you’ll be very hard pressed.
While components are readily available, they are not commodity pricing.

3

ok possible to give me any hardware tips?

4

Look at your Clients ability to Direct Play not Transcode will help your situation. Save your files in a format that will not Trans code.

5

I don’t want to encode movies. I download movie, change title via filebot and that’s it.

What about this?
Model: Dell Optiplex 7040 SFF
Procesor: Intel i5-6500 3.20GHz LGA1151 Skylake 6MB Cache 65W / Average CPU Mark 7247
Pamäť: 8GB DDR4
Harddisk: 256GB Samsung PM951 M.2 NVMe SSD
Grafika: Intel® HD Graphics 530

7

There are generally a good range of file format available for download, I rarely encode. I just know what is universal acceptable not to transcode.

9

I have no issue with my devices, 4K is only one that may cause a problem.

h.264 mkv, generally DTS or AC3 audio

11

That was my point earlier, you need to find out and then practice what will not Trans code. I did and I’m really happy with the results.

Good Practice = avoid Trans coding

13

Well I must have jagged it then.

3 ipads and 2 LG OLEDB8

As I said 4K is my only issue and there in a Library of there own. The LG will handle those.

14

Much like many have said, increase your budget!

Although, you could get some rather nice second hand enterprise equipment for that kinda budget. Ok, so my storage has so far cost around £1300, but the server itself was around £400 or so…

15

Ok, can increase budget to $500

16

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