# Limit Plex RAM usage

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415>\
**Category:** Plex Media Server\
**Tags:** server-synology\
**Created:** [May 12, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415 "2024-05-12T14:03:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mcury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@mcury](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mcury)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415/1 "2024-05-12T14:03:47Z")

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Server Version#: 1.40.2.8395

I’m using a Synology DS218+ with 6GB of RAM.  
Configured my temp transcode directory to _/tmp_, which greatly increases the performance.

But, it seems that 4GB is not enough for a smooth playback, after 10 or 15 minutes depending on the media, I get an error and have to restart the stream. When troubleshooting it, found that RAM is being full utilized.

I would like to ask if there is an option for the amount of memory RAM that Plex can use for transcode.  
If there is such option, I would like to set it to 4GB maximum.  
I suppose that by setting this limit would fix my memory issue, and also swap usage.

Thanks.

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**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 2:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415/2 "2024-05-12T14:51:11Z")

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In most cases, the core issue isn’t RAM.

PMS will run very well in 1 GB of RAM. ( I have a 1 GB ARMv8 system which works great).

The problem we face is the I/O speed – AND – the media itself.

Linux, by its nature, will buffer everything in RAM so it will look like only 100-200 MB are free. This is 100% normal.

Here’s my completely idle Linux NAS (64 GB of RAM) which shows less than 2GB free

```auto
[~] # free -m
             total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 64228 62284 1944 378 2906 53082
-/+ buffers/cache: 6296 57932
Swap: 31016 2 31014
[~] # 

```

Look how much is “cached” (buffered). 53GB. That’s memory Linux will try to use if it can but can drop it for whatever purpose instantly if needed (it’s read-only data which is safe to ‘drop’)

Let’s set that aside for a minute.

That said, the issue isn’t RAM unless its defective or you’ve got other things also running which are using it all. In almost all cases, It’s the playback itself with the content.

Would you please do the following so I can see what’s happening?

1. In Plex/web browser, **Settings - SERVER - General - Show Advanced**  
– Make certain [DEBUG logging](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/#toc-1) is enabled  
– Make certain VERBOSE logging is disabled  
– SAVE button and restart PMS if you make changes

2. Temporarily change your Transcoder Temp back to the default (which means it uses the HDD)

3. If you can let it run until failure, Please do so

4. When it fails, Please download the [server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) ZIP file (Settings - Server - Troubleshooting - Download Logs)

5. Attach the ZIP file it gives you

6. Now play something which causes the problem.

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**Author:** ![mcury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@mcury](https://forums.plex.tv/u/mcury)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2024, 11:34am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415/3 "2024-05-14T11:34:39Z")

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Thanks for the detailed answer, ChuckPa.  
Unfortunately, after the problem raised in the post, I deleted the video which was causing problems.

I’m trying now to reproduce it with other video files, but with no joy.

Can I keep this post open for a week ? If I can’t reproduce it by then, I close this one and open a new one.

Really thanks.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2024, 11:35am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/limit-plex-ram-usage/877415/4 "2024-08-12T11:35:40Z")

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