Home Ecosystem Migration from WHS to Plex

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Hello Everyone,

I’m a bit new to the whole Plex ecosystem but have been reading up on it for the last few weeks to try and get a handle on everything. This is probably going to be a bit of a long post so I appreciate you reading through it and sticking out to the end.

Let me start with my current setup. I have WHS 2011 running on a server rack in the basement. The server provides HD content (mostly 720p and 1080p movies and TV shows) to the HTPC that is also on the same rack which is connected to a Yamaha receiver (also on the rack) that is then connected to the Living Room TV using HDMI over Cat6. The PC in my office is also hooked up the WHS but mostly for backups rather than any content so this is mostly out of scope for now. Both the WHS and the HTPC are quite old but have served me well during this time.

The specs for the WHS are:
CPU: Quad Core Q8200 2.34 GHz
Motherboard: Asus P5QE
RAM: 4GB
Video Card: NVidia 7600GS
HDD(s): OS Drive is 60GB SSD
And an assortment of 16 1TB to 3TB drives pooled together using the StableBit Drivepool plugin for WHS.
Storage Controller(s): Two Marvell 94XX SAS/SATA Raid Controllers (not using RAID, simply JBOD)
Case: Norco 4224

Specs for the HTPC are:
CPU: Quad Core Q8200 2.34 GHz
Motherboard: Asus P5E
RAM: 4GB
Video Card: NVidia GeForce GT710
HDD(s): OS Drive is 120GB SSD

Now the plan going forward is to migrate away from WHS and to PlexServer with PlexPlayers at the end points. I’m also planning on adding in a 2nd 4k cable player/HTPC in the Home Theater room. As such my plan is this:

Step 1:
Convert the existing WHS to a FreeNAS for storage. I would probably also add in some ram to get up to 8GB but otherwise I would keep things relatively the same. Couple of questions here:

  1. Are there any other changes/upgrades I should be making at this time? Maybe move to the LSI 9207-8i HBA cards?
  2. Will I have enough horsepower here to put PlexServer? If not then what would I need to do to get it up to snuff? The intent would be to all the transcoding being done at the end points rather than the Server.

Step 2a:
Scrap the existing HTPC and replace it with an NVidia Shield for the Living Room TV.
Step 2b:
If the converted NAS box isn’t enough for PlexServer then I could convert this HTPC into a dedicated PLex Server box again with all transcoding happening and the end points. I would then still put an NVidia Shield in for the Living Room TV.

Step 3:
Build a new HTPC for the Home Theater Room to serve up content to a 4k TV and dolby atmos 7.1.4 receiver. The specs for this rig would be:

Case: HDPlex H5 gen 2
PSU: NanoATX 400W
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Motherboard: Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX (only mobo I could find with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.3 and HDR support)
RAM: 16 GB DDR4 3000
HDD(s): OS Drive WD Blue SN550 250GB SSD

Alternatively I could also go with a Nvidia Shield here but would lose some of the HTPC flexibility for future gaming etc.

Couple final details to add:

  • the house is prewired with Cat6 to all locations
  • running 3 Eero Pros (1 in each of the basement, main floor and 2nd floor)
  • While most of the components will be in the basement on the server rack, the home theater room has a media closet for the HTPC, AVR etc.

If you’ve read through the whole thing and are still here, thank you!! Now what are your thoughts on my approach? Anything to change or add? You thoughts and input is much appreciated.

TIA!
Martin (Plex Noob)

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Step 1 failure in understanding - The clients do not transcode. The Server transcodes. That’s the way Plex works.

Your server CPU is very dated. You’ll not get the performance you want from that unless you convert all your media to the lowest common denominator codecs to reduce chances of transcoding.

You’re looking at needing a 6th generation Intel processor or newer if you have to do transcoding to your clients. I think… don’t quote me on this…

Intel processors with Nvidia graphics cards will get you the best performance.

See here https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

and here https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/

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Thanks for the reply. That does seems contrary to what I read here though:

https://support.plex.tv/articles/201373793-is-plex-media-server-on-a-nas-right-for-me/

Transcoding and Media

Transcoding is the process of converting media from one format to another. For many other applications, when trying to play a media file that is in a format not supported by a given playback device, it will simply stop and say it cannot play it. However, with Plex it will still play, and that’s due to the transcoder.

The Plex Media Server will analyze the media when it’s added to your library and detect the format and details of the media such as encoding, bitrate, etc. When playing media on any device with Plex, the following process happens:

  • Before a Plex app tries to play content, it requests the media information from the Server
  • Using the media information together with the current settings (such as stream quality, Direct Play, and Direct Stream settings), the Plex app determines whether it can play the media directly (Direct Play) or whether it will need help from the Server.
  • If the Plex app needs help, then the Server will automatically transcode the content as appropriate to a format that the Plex app can play.
  • The media will then play in the Plex app, and continue playing as long as the CPU doing the transcoding is fast enough to transcode the media at a rate that is equal to or faster than it is being watched.

### Is Your Content Supported?

If you wish to have your content play directly without transcoding, then you need to be sure that the device and Plex app you wish to use support your content. If you’ll be using more than one Plex app, be sure that they all support your content.

#### Plex Media Player

The Plex media Player desktop application will typically always play content directly if you’re using it with a local Plex Media Server. This app can play nearly any kind of content:

** mp4, mkv, avi, and other containers*
** H.264, DivX, XviD, MPEG-2, and other video codecs*
** MP3, AAC, AC-3, DTS, and other audio codecs*
** SRT, ASS, VOBSUB, PGS, and other subtitle formats*

Note that if you’re trying to use Plex Media Player with a remote Server, you may still require transcoding if your network connection is not fast enough to support streaming the file in full quality.

The way I read that is that if the Plex Media Player will direct play the file (as in without any transcoding) when it has enough horsepower to do so and if it doesn’t then it will “ask” the server for help.

So I guess I should have stated that I would rely on the Players to direct play the content rather than have the server transcode it. 99% of my content is in MKV format so I don’t envision there being that much of an ask on CPU for Transcoding. Espcially since both the Nvidia Shield and the proposed HTPC should have more than enough HP to handle it.

Or am I way off base again?

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The client (player) will direct play the file when it can correctly play the embedded codecs of the file (audio & video). Horsepower has very little to do with it. If it cannot play the embedded codecs, the server must do the transcode. That’s where the horsepower, or optimally, hardware accelerated transcoding via Intel or Nvidia comes into play. You do need a Plex Pass for that.

Mkv is a container, not a codec. You can rip DVDs, BluRay, 4K all into mkv containers, but their codecs vary wildly. You either need the horsepower or appropriate Intel / Nvidia card on the server to transcode it on the fly, or you need to preconvert your media to a format that won’t cause transcoding when the video is requested on the client.

AFAIK, the only client that can direct play everything is Plex Media Player for Windows / Mac. Any other client may have codecs it cannot direct play. Again, don’t quote me, but I think this is pretty darn close…

For the HTPC, CPU isn’t what is primarily needed to a great extent. You need a graphics card capable of handling and rendering the high bitrates you’re proposing with 4K content.

My answers are only as good as they pay me. So… as I’m unpaid…

My experience only goes so far, as I only host DVD, and OTA DVR in 480/720/1080. I don’t have any BluRay or higher content. My server is only one generation newer than yours. I’m running a 1st generation Xeon. It works for my content, and codecs, but would not work for what you are proposing.

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You also might want to read this: [INFO] Plex, 4k, transcoding, and you - aka the rules of 4k

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Actually, it is the Nvidia Shield.

Plex for Win/Mac will direct play HDR media, but it tone maps the video to SDR.

The Shield is the only off the shelf Plex client that supports 4K HDR video AND bitstreams (passthrough) the audio formats you’ll find on DVD & Blu-ray discs, including TrueHD + Atmos and dts:X.

Other Plex clients, such as the Roku Ultra, AppleTV 4K, and Amazon FireStick 4K, support HDR video, but do not bitstream/passthrough TrueHD + Atmos or dts:X audio.

If you do go with a Shield, get the Shield Pro. The non-pro (tube) model is not as capable (less RAM & other constraints). The Plex client is less reliable on the tube model. Search the forum for “Shield tube” or similar terms and you’ll see the reports.

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Thanks for the clarifying info. Appreciated. :slight_smile:

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@Uh_Oh is correct.

The media will direct play if the Plex client supports the video/audio formats. If the client does not support the formats, Plex Media Server will transcode the video or audio to a supported format. If the Plex server does not have enough horsepower to transcode in real time, the user will experience buffering, or the playback may simply fail.

There are some exceptions, where the audio may be transcoded by the Plex client, but that is not always the case.

Example: An AppleTV 4K cannot bitstream TrueHD audio to an attached receiver/soundbar. Instead of transcoding on the Plex Server, the AppleTV 4K converts TrueHD to PCM before sending it to the attached AVR/soundbar. Since the conversion takes place on the ATV4K, not the server, the Plex server still considers the audio to be direct played, not transcoded.

Regarding CPU selection:

Direct playing requires very little CPU power. I run Plex on a Synology NAS with a Celeron CPU. It happily direct plays 4K HDR media without issue.

Transcoding is another issue. Transcoding video is very process intensive. Without a Plex Pass to take advantage of a GPU (Hardware Accelerated Streaming), CPU requirements greatly increase. A Ryzen 5 3600 will be able to transcode multiple 1080p streams, but only one 4K stream. See What kind of CPU do I need for my Server? for additional details.

You’ll have to review your list of clients and media types to determine the best CPU for your system.

Edit: The Ryzen 5 3600 is a nice CPU. Note that it does not contain any graphics, so you will need a graphics card. If the system will be used only as a Plex server (not a client), you could go with a very basic card. You can add a beefier card at a later date if needed to take advantage of hardware accelerated streaming or if needed for other purposes such as gaming.

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Thanks for the additional info guys. This is starting to come together.

Regarding running Plex Server on my NAS (converted from WHS) if all I’m doing is direct playing via a Shield Pro then I should have enough CPU power there to not have any issues. So that resolves question 2 from Step 1. How about question 1?

  1. Are there any other changes/upgrades I should be making at this time? Maybe move to the LSI 9207-8i HBA cards?

As a reminder from above the specs for the WHS are:
CPU: Quad Core Q8200 2.34 GHz
Motherboard: Asus P5QE
RAM: 4GB
Video Card: NVidia 7600GS
HDD(s): OS Drive is 60GB SSD
And an assortment of 16 1TB to 3TB drives pooled together using the StableBit Drivepool plugin for WHS.
Storage Controller(s): Two Marvell 94XX SAS/SATA Raid Controllers (not using RAID, simply JBOD)
Case: Norco 4224

Sounds like the suggestion is to replace the existing HTPC with a Shield Pro in the living room even though that room is only capable of 1080p at this time. Eventually I may upgrade to a 4K TV and AVR but that won’t be for a while.

Now for the Home Theater room it sounds like a Shield Pro is also the way to go since Plex on Windows tone maps to HDR to SDR. I would have expected a Plex HTPC with the proper hardware etc. to be able to handle HDR no problem. If that is indeed the case then the point you make about the Ryzen 5 3600 not containing any graphics is moot since an HTPC in that room won’t get me HDR. I guess a more appropriate processor would have been the Ryzen 5 3400G (https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX77407).

My only concern in going with a Shield Pro in the Home Theater room is that I then lose some of the versatility of an HTPC (like gaming) that the Shield Pro can’t provide.

Is there no way to set up Plex on an HTPC to handle HDR without tone mapping to SDR? Is it a Plex limitation or a hardware imitation?

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It is a limitation of the version of mpv, the video player used in Plex for Mac/Win and Plex Media Player.

See thread linked below. It references Plex Media Player. It should apply to Plex for Mac/Win as well, since both use mpv.

The thread is a year old, but there has been nothing in the product announcements to suggest anything has changed. Plex for Mac/Win PMP

One other possibility is Kodi with the Plex for Kodi or the Plex Kodi Connect plugin. I do not use such a setup so I do not know if it will support HDR. You can look in the Plex for Kodi section of the forum for details.

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Why?

I would spend $0 on either PC. The CPU is 12 years old. It will struggle to transcode 720p video. It might struggle to transcode TrueHD audio. Also, given the chipset on the motherboard, the throughput of the system will be very limited compared to a more modern PC.

You should be able to run Plex Media Server on it to stream movies & tv shows as long as they direct play.

You can try running Plex Media Player or Plex for Windows on the HTPC and see how well it works. It should play H.264 video OK. However, you could have issues with H.265/HEVC video. The video card does not support HEVC, so processing will hit the CPU.

An alternative to the Shield is a Amazon FireStick 4K. TrueHD audio will be transcoded on the Plex server (which could be an issue), but Dolby Digital and dts should direct play.

They’re not mutually exclusive. Use the Shield for streaming media - Plex, Netflix, etc. Use the PC as a Plex Media Server, Gaming PC, etc.

Using a Shield / Roku / AppleTV / etc as a Plex client will give you a better experience than using Plex for Windows or Plex Media Player.

Plex Media Player is in maintenance mode. It receives bug fixes, but no new features.

As mentioned in earlier posts, Plex for Win/Mac has limitations as well, such as no HDR playback.

The Plex apps for streaming boxes/sticks and smart TVs receive more attention. They generally get new features first and are updated more often than Plex for Mac/Win & PMP.

1 Like
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Your explanation makes sense as to why my current setup works for what I’ve got. I only have H.264 content, and it’s mostly DVD content, with some pre-transcoded OTA DVR content from my HDHR Extend. Unless something breaks, I’m not in the market for a new TV. I’ve got a 1080 and a 720 TV. They work, and that’s good enough for me. If my friends that I share with, don’t like my lower resolution content, they don’t have to watch it. Thanks for all the good info, @FordGuy61 You’ve elaborated on the details far more than I understand and know. :slight_smile:

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Yeah I think you’re right. the hardware has served it’s purpose so probably time to invest in something a bit more modern. I’ll have to do some reading regarding a decent Freenas build that I could run plex server on with the intent of direct playing any 4k content through a shield/firestick or other.

Also came across the Vero 4+ which could be a possible solution for local 4k content via Kodi. Then I could just use the LG webOS for 4K streaming from Netflix/Amazon etc.

You’ve provided me with a tonne of information, thank you very much!

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