Right now I’m using an old Asus g71g-A2 laptop with Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 (2.53 GHz), 6 GB Memory, and NVIDIA GeForce 9800M running Mint Xfce. I use x11 to VPN in and do things. This server hosts files, performs downloading tasks, hosts subsonic, and hosts Plex. This machine has started to really struggle (obviously) in the last 12 months, but previous was pretty strong surprisingly. I got way more time out of it than I thought.
I’m streaming 1-2 streams at a time to either a plex launched browser window or Roku (mostly Roku) but will be adding a third stream across the local gigabit LAN. Mixed files AVI/MKV/MP4 usually between 1.5gig and 3.6gig at 720 or 1080. One of the streams always has subtitles (mandatory).
I’m considering a Lenovo S30 with the option of an e5-1650 or e5-2667 and 16gb ram. I will be running ubuntu server now with something like Webmin.
On paper, for both cpus the PassMark score is like 7 times as powerful, but will it actually be more powerful and perform as I hope it can? Sometimes there is a technical aspect I don’t understand that, in this case, might affect transcoding and I was hoping if there was someone might speak up?
By the Plex/PassMark standard measurement system (2000 pm score per 1080 stream plus a bit more with subtitles), I have enough score… but… theoretical vs reality… is this a decent buy? It’s probably my best bet right now and I have to do something right now. (I was considering choking it to 720 or spending sometime re-ripping the 1tb we have so far to a 720p form that won’t require so much transcoding…
What do you think?
Anyone familiar with these chips?
Well, the server I have is 14 years old and gets only a 1590 PassMark. The new server is only about $300 shipped. Also, the current server is the same machine I would have available to do the re-encoding. I do plan to re-encode on the new server but expect it to go exponentially faster and I was hoping it would build in some future proofing with the 11,000 some PassMark score. as I need it to also handle downloading and other file serving and music streaming via SubSonic.
The only issue is I’m not super familiar with Xeons. I assume a PassMark score is a PassMark score, but maybe it isnt. I thought a more experienced head could weigh in with their expertise.
It’s also the machine running PMS and houses the RAID.
Something more like this?
DELL XPS 8700 DESKTOP | INTEL CORE i7-4790 3.60GHZ | 1TB | 16GB RAM
I think this gets a 9995 PassMark and is roughly the same price
No. No 4k. Max 1080p. 3 or 4 streams simultaneous max, rare. Normally 2 streams. And honestly about half my library is 720p. I do plan to re-encode. Serve Subsonic (one stream) but when that stream is going it’ll most likely on be one video stream going. Serve files, download files. The encoding will take place in off hours when no one is watching.
The Xeon 1650 and the i7 systems are the same price.
4-5 years down the road I’ll upgrade.
This system will have no graphical interface, no x windows. Just webmin or something comparable running so as not to eat up processing power
Hey, i guess I’m blind, but where the heck is the High Code setting at?
What about constant vs variable framerate?
Oh well… huh… in the version I have on linux the preset did not contain the two settings you mentioned. High Code 4.0 (it was auto) and Ref Frames 4 or 5 (set to 2).
