How fast my processor has to be in order to play 4k UHD 2160p movies on my TV?

General Discussions
1

I have downloaded a 4K UHD movie (around 45GB) and I am trying to play it on my Plex but I am not able to get it to work properly. When I play the movie for first time it takes like 3~4 min to load. Even if it start as 4K and a good quality after a few minutes and intermittently the movie lost the original quality and looks ugly a few seconds after I got a message saying the network and/or the computer are not fast enough to play such file.

However I am able to play the movie locally using the web application and it goes fine at “4k” with no gaps.

Here is a few things that might help to fix and/or understand my issue and give me a recommendation:

CPU:

Cores: 6
Threads: 12
Name: Intel Core i7 5820K
Specification: Intel Core i7-5820K CPU @ 3.30GHz

RAM:
32GB DDR4

Video:

Model: nVidia GeForce GTX 970
Memory: 4095 MB

About the downloaded movie:

Format                      : Matroska
Format version        : Version 4 / Version 2
File size                     : 48.4 GiB
Overall bit rate mode       : Variable
Overall bit rate            : 58.6 Mb/s
Writing application         : mkvmerge v27.0.0 ('Metropolis') 64-bit
Writing library             : libebml v1.3.6 + libmatroska v1.4.9

Video
ID                          : 1
Format                      : HEVC
Format/Info                 : High Efficiency Video Coding
Commercial name             : HDR10
Format profile              : Main 10@L5.1@High
Codec ID                    : V_MPEGH/ISO/HEVC
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate                    : 43.9 Mb/s
Width                       : 3 840 pixels
Height                      : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio        : 16:9
Frame rate mode             : Constant
Frame rate                  : 23.976 (24000/1001) FPS
Color space                 : YUV
Chroma subsampling          : 4:2:0 (Type 2)
Bit depth                   : 10 bits
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)          : 0.221
Stream size                 : 36.2 GiB (75%)
Writing library             : ATEME Titan File 3.8.16 (4.8.16.0)      
Default                     : Yes
Forced                      : No
Color range                 : Limited
Color primaries             : BT.2020
Transfer characteristics    : PQ
Matrix coefficients         : BT.2020 non-constant
Mastering display color pri : Display P3
Mastering display luminance : min: 0.0001 cd/m2, max: 1000 cd/m2

Audio #1
ID                          : 2
Format                      : MLP FBA 16-ch
Format/Info                 : Meridian Lossless Packing FBA with 16-channel presentation
Commercial name             : TrueHD with Dolby Atmos
Codec ID                    : A_TRUEHD
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Variable
Bit rate                    : 4 746 kb/s
Maximum bit rate            : 7 335 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 1 200.000 FPS (40 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossless
Delay relative to video     : 32 ms
Stream size                 : 3.92 GiB (8%)
Language                    : English
Default                     : Yes
Forced                      : No
Number of dynamic objects   : 13
Bed channel count           : 1 channel
Bed channel configuration   : LFE

Audio #2
ID                          : 3
Format                      : DTS XLL
Format/Info                 : Digital Theater Systems
Commercial name             : DTS-HD Master Audio
Codec ID                    : A_DTS
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Variable
Bit rate                    : 4 058 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : C L R LFE Lb Rb Lss Rss
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 93.750 FPS (512 SPF)
Bit depth                   : 24 bits
Compression mode            : Lossless
Delay relative to video     : -1 ms
Stream size                 : 3.35 GiB (7%)
Language                    : English
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #3
ID                          : 4
Format                      : AC-3
Format/Info                 : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                    : A_AC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 640 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 6 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                   : 16 bits
Compression mode            : Lossy
Delay relative to video     : 31 ms
Stream size                 : 541 MiB (1%)
Language                    : English
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #4
ID                          : 5
Format                      : AC-3
Format/Info                 : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                    : A_AC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 320 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 2 channels
Channel layout              : L R
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                   : 16 bits
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 270 MiB (1%)
Language                    : English
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #5
ID                          : 6
Format                      : AC-3
Format/Info                 : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                    : A_AC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 640 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 6 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                   : 16 bits
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 541 MiB (1%)
Language                    : French
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #6
ID                          : 7
Format                      : E-AC-3
Format/Info                 : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital Plus
Format profile              : Blu-ray Disc
Codec ID                    : A_EAC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 1 024 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 865 MiB (2%)
Language                    : French
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #7
ID                          : 8
Format                      : E-AC-3
Format/Info                 : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital Plus
Format profile              : Blu-ray Disc
Codec ID                    : A_EAC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 1 024 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 865 MiB (2%)
Language                    : Spanish
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #8
ID                          : 9
Format                      : E-AC-3
Format/Info                 : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital Plus
Format profile              : Blu-ray Disc
Codec ID                    : A_EAC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 1 024 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 865 MiB (2%)
Language                    : German
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

Audio #9
ID                          : 10
Format                      : E-AC-3
Format/Info                 : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital Plus
Format profile              : Blu-ray Disc
Codec ID                    : A_EAC3
Duration                    : 1 h 58 min
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 1 024 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 8 channels
Channel layout              : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 865 MiB (2%)
Language                    : Italian
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No

It’s possible to play this movie on my PC? Do I need to change any settings on my Plex Server?

2

It’s hard to say “how much power” exactly, but HEVC files, especially high bitrate 4K ones, require lots of it. Your cpu, 5th gen, doesn’t support HEVC decoding in hardware… Ideally you’d get a kaby lake or more recent gen cpu which has the hardware on board to make this possible.

Alternatively, a pretty recent video card would help if you’re running your server on windows…

But really what you want is a 4K capable client that will direct play the file. In this case, a 4K HEVC file with DTS HD would work with an Nvidia ShieldTV or a HTPC that had the right hardware. Such a client would make it very easy for your server to send the file untouched.

Alternatively, use the ac3 audio stream, that’s easier to play for most clients such as Roku 4Ks and AppleTVs

3 Likes
3

If you are trying to play 4K, you should be direct streaming. If you are direct streaming, you don’t need any special CPU/GPU as you are not transcoding so it’s irrelevant, while you are playing the video, check in plex if you are direct playing or transcoding, if you are transcoding, that is your issue. Figure out how to stop that from happening.

2 Likes
4

@ComplexMediaPlex this is how my configuration looks like, I am missing something?

2018-10-19_21-39-42

2018-10-19_21-40-50

5

What are you playing back the media with? Plex Media Player on that same machine?

Also, try setting transcoder quality to the fast option instead.

6

This is all irrelevant. It has to do with your player, why is your player not direct playing. Has nothing to do with your server. (did you check if you are / are not direct playing?)

7

@KarlDag I am using an AppleTV with Plex installed there, both the PC where Plex Server is running and the Apple TV are connected to the same network and both are wired. Using your suggestion for the audio I am able to keep the same high resolution but the playing stop a lot of times making impossible to watch the movie.

@ComplexMediaPlex I am not sure about the answer for your question but what I do see on the movie settings at the AppleTV is “Play Original Quality” however I am seeing the transcoder using like 50% of the CPU and at least 2GB of memory RAM.

8

Then you are transcoding. Your CPU usage should be virtually nothing.

9

@ComplexMediaPlex is there any way to avoid the transcoding? I can’t find a setting where say not to transcoding

2018-10-19_22-22-11
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See there, the movie stopped once again and that’s how my resources behaves

10

In Plex web, in the “now playing” section, if you put your mouse cursor over the image of the file you’re playing back (during playback on the AppleTV), what does it say for audio and video? Screenshot?

11

What @KarlDag said. Once you confirm it is indeed transcoding, I’m sure some googling around about forcing direct play on apple tv will help you. Also, google around to make sure the audio + HEVC is even direct playable to an apple tv.

12

@KarlDag here … it’s transcoding I am afraid

2018-10-19_22-24-46

13

Apparently is an Apple TV issue :fearful: :thinking:

I have found the following (thanks to @ComplexMediaPlex search suggestion):

I will try my Roku 4k and see if it behaves the same

14

Yup, for what it’s worth (I don’t own an AppleTV) I read a post by @elan recently, Plex’s CTO, talking about such things and he said he made an executive decision that an option to “force direct play” should be reintroduced on AppleTV because of this issue. I thought it was done, can you find that option in the AppleTV app?

15

@KarlDag this is all I could find on the app …

IMG_3547
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IMG_3549
IMG_3549612Ă—816 65.5 KB

16

Scroll down to advanced, is allow direct play on?

1 Like
17

@ComplexMediaPlex yes it’s enabled

18

:neutral_face: I got the same issue with the Roku …

2018-10-19_22-51-45

IMG_3551

Do I need any codecs installed on my PC?

19

Which AppleTV do you have?

Only the Apple TV 4K supports 4K HEVC playback.

If you’ve an earlier model the video will transcode.

2 Likes
20

You can see from the Roku, you are forcing direct play but still transcoding. Im assuming you just don’t have a device that supports 4k hevc