Laggy 4k remote direct play from every client

Plex Media Server
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1

Server Version#4.63.0
Player Version#ANY

Hello There!
So im struggling with a very annoying problem for a long time!
I searched a lot, i did a lot of change (hardware, software), with no success.
The main problem can be read in the tittle. Watching 4K content REMOTELY from my PLEX media server is not possible, because it is very laggy without no reason. Locally it works without any problem!

Thigs to know:
Server capabilities:
-Win10 pro
-I3-8100T
-8GB RAM
-Latest Plex server is installed on an SSD
-Gigabit network port of course on the motherboard

Server Internet connection:
I bought an 500/150mbps connection from my provider, and they can provide it:
[Speedtest by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test]

Clients:
-I tested it on Nvidia shield 2017, Xiaomi mibox 4s (with usb gigabit adapter), and on a high end gaming notebook, and all have the same result. BUFFERING, playing, BUFFERING.
-All of the client machines have CAT6 cables, 1 place have 1000/1000 connection, the other one have 500/100 internet connection.

The funny thing is that i had that clue, that this problem is not related to my internet speed, and i think i proved it. I asked my friend to go to my server from remote, and play one of my star wars movie, and in the meanwhile i opened two different network bandwidt monitoring software just to check the dataflow realtime. Here is the result:

bandwidth meter test
bandwidth meter test981Ă—510 157 KB

bitmeter test
bitmeter test1014Ă—493 25.7 KB

Explanation of the pictures:
The high peak on the begining is when he started playing the movie. It went up until 76.6mbps +, then it dropped, and the avarage was around 20-25mbps. But even, on his client he saw that magical “buffering” text. And this is the point what is absolutelly confusing me. If my server, and my internet is capable to send the data faster then the avarage 20-25mbps, then why is it buffering and why it isn’t goes up?

I even downloaded the plex logs, and some other zip, which is called “plex media server databases”. Maybe it will help you, to help me.
Plex Media Server Databases_2021-10-25_19-51-33.zip (9.3 MB)
Plex Media Server Logs_2021-10-25_19-51-25.zip (2.9 MB)

PLEASE help me solve this problem, i really run out of ideas.
If you need anything from me, please do not hesitate to tell me.
Thanks,
Zsolt

Oh, one more pic:

network ok
network ok1280Ă—1024 73 KB

It is Hungarian, but it basically tells that everything is OK with the remote connection.

1 Like
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Please, any plex dev, can you give me at least some hint, where to look at?

1 Like
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I used to have the same issue and I have a gigabit up connection. It turned out that the user was playing a 4k file with pgs subtitles turned on. This was causing the the server to transcode the file and burn in subtitles. Disabling the subtitles, immediately everything direct played and no more buffering issues.

The other problem was the remote play setting on the client. It basically was seeing 1080p without looking at the bitrate. I would check those two items.

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I checked it on the management board. There were no subtitle at all, and there were no transcode at all. Not even on the audio.

My only hope is to change to ubuntu OS. Others says that the plex server is more relaible on ubuntu.

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