Hi, i’m kind of new at this “making my own media server thing”.
And i’ve got Plex running on my computer. But i just learned that i have to place it on my NAS. But, i have an really old NAS. And the menu/settings needs Flash, so now i can not find any way to install plex on my NAS. I hope somebody can help me with that. If i’m not mistaking is this medion lifecloud MD 86783 my NAS.
Thanks for reading my question!
You cannot run Plex Media Server on that NAS. It is too old.
It has a Marvell 88F6702 ARMv5 CPU. Plex Media Server requires at least an ARMv7 CPU.
If I might ask, what is the reason for moving Plex Media Server from your Windows PC?
There could be other devices that meet your needs. Many people use mini-PCs / NUCs for Plex Media Server. They are quite capable and do not draw as much power as a desktop PC.
If you need additional storage for your media, you might be able to use the NAS and keep Plex Media Server installed on the current PC.
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Hi! Thx for your reply. Like i said I’m kind of new at this. The reason is, because I found out that I need to run my pc to be able to run plex in house and externally. For me a ‘dub’ moment, so that’s why i am looking for a alternative for my old NAS. And not having my pc run all day. Do you have any suggestions for a mini pc or NUC and this will be a complete replacement for my NAS?
Remote Streaming
Remote access now requires a Plex Pass or a Remote Watch Pass. See Important 2025 Plex Updates.
TL;DR:
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If you have a Plex Pass, then you or anyone you share with can stream remotely from your server. If you have a Remote Watch Pass, then only you can stream remotely from your server. Anyone you share with would need their own Remote Watch Pass or Plex Pass.
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The above currently applies only to the Plex mobile apps (Android/iOS). However, it will eventually apply to all devices such as SmartTVs, streaming boxes/sticks (Apple, Roku, etc.), and PCs (web browser, Plex desktop apps),
Hardware
It depends on your requirements and your budget. Like most things, you can spend a little or a lot.
A simple solution would be a mini-PC to run Plex and an external USB hard drive to hold your media. Most mini-PCs have mobile CPUs, which means they do not draw much power.
Are you currently using the NAS? From what I saw online, due to its age, it was unclear if it could be used with Windows 10 or 11 PCs. If it can be used with Win10/11 PCs, then you could use it instead of an external USB drive.
Regarding which PC, it depends on your requirements.
TL;DR: Options:
- Intel CPU & Windows OS: An 11th gen or later Intel CPU with Quick Sync Graphics (no “F” model CPUs).
- Intel CPU & Linux OS: An 8th gen or later Intel CPU with Quick Sync Graphics.
- Nvidia GPU: Either AMD or Intel, either Windows or Linux. Nvidia 1050 Ti or newer GPU.
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Apple: I’m not familiar with running Plex on current Apple hardware (with their “M”, not Intel, CPUs. Many people use Macs and are very a happy with them.
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Streaming on your local network is usually not a problem. Most any recent PC will work.
Streaming remotely usually involves video transcoding at some point. Especially if streaming to devices with limited bandwidth (mobile devices, using a hotel/coffee shop internet, etc.).
If transcoding 1080p or lower resolution media, you can generally use the CPU.
If transcoding 4K HDR, you will need to use hardware accelerated transcoding, which uses the GPU, not the CPU, to transcode the video. This requires a Plex Pass.
Regarding specific hardware…
The reason for the 11th gen vs 8th gen on Windows vs Linux is due to driver limitations.
The mini-PCs with Intel N150 CPUs are quite popular. They are relatively inexpensive and sip power compared to desktop systems (idle ~10w). With a Plex Pass, they can transcode 4K HDR video. Without a Plex Pass, they will transcode one or two 1080p streams.
A general rule of thumb is 2000 Passmarks are needed to transcode 1080p video. You can google the cpu to find its Passmark rating. For example, search “Intel N150 passmark” and you’ll see the page showing it rated at 5478 Passmarks (the stronger the CPU, the higher the rating). Intel N150 Benchmark
Hopefully this is informative and not confusing. Write back with any questions.
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