At present I am using a refurbished desktop PC as my media server. It is an 2012 Pentium i5’ with 4gb RAM, 1 tb HDD, and only USB 2.0 ports. I store most of my video files on an external HDD that is 10 years or more old and probably a USB 2.0-only device. I have 2 people participating in my network, but they rarely use it. My ISP is Comcast which says they give me 200 mbs download, but only 10 mbs upload. It also has a 1 tb data cap.
To date, I have seen no lags or limits from this low-end media server configuration, nor have I exceeded my data cap as nearly all usage is my own, within my LAN. However, my requirements will likely change. I anticipate adding 3 or 4 new “users” who might actually use my PLEX installation. I plan to dump Comcast soon and go to Toast.net fiber which will give me 100+mbs download but, more importantly, 100 mbs upload and NO cap.
I am considering purchase of a new (actually refurbished) desktop PC to use as my primary PLEX server. It will be a Pentium i7, with either 8 or 16 gb RAM, an 3 tb HDD large enough that I will need no external HDD storage of media files, and also have USB 3.0 ports. It will also have a 240 gb SSD.
Do you think I will see improvements worth the $300 purchase price? Will I avoid possible bottlenecks from the new users? Given that my weakest link, the ISP upload speed, will be increased 10X, will there be a need for the more capable server?
Please share your thought.
