New Hardware for Plex Server 4K Transcoding + Tone Mapping

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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If I posted in the wrong section, please move once :slight_smile:

Since my current PC is getting on in years (AMD A10 5700) and apparently the motherboard has also gone something new.

Since I’m currently also looking for a decent device for a Plex server including 4K transcoding and tone mapping, the new PC should also be used for this.

Because of the power costs I would like to do without a GPU but use only the iGPU instead.

Now the Plex site says that tone mapping is only supported on Linux and Docker, so I’m toying with the idea of running an Ubuntu VM for the Plex server since the main OS will be Windows 10.

In another thread I was advised to buy an Intel 10Gen Cpu as they still support GVT-G, which allows you to set up multiple vGPU without having to pass through the GPU passthrough.

The 11Gen only supports SR-IOV which, as far as I have read, only plays a role in the enterprise sector.

So far I understand all this, but I wonder if I provide the vGPU for the VM, is it still powerful enough to transcode 4k including tone mapping ?

Does anyone have experience with this ?

For the config I first chose a 10700k, but since you can never have enough performance, I’m thinking about a 10850k because of the 2 additional cores. Or does a 10900 non K make more sense ?

The more power consumption should be within limits.

Does anyone have a suggestion which chipset I should take, regarding power consumption ? Because I don’t want to run OC I don’t need a Z board. So there are still B560 and H570 to choose from. Is it possible to undervolt both ?

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Regarding Intel 11th gen processors, transcoding/tonemapping, & Linux:

Intel Xe graphics (Tiger Lake) are not yet supported when running Linux. There are problems with the Intel supplied video drivers and also some new Plex development work required.

Details:

Looks like Rocket Lake has issues as well:

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I had already read the thread. As it reads, it will certainly take some time until the drivers run properly in Linux and everything is adapted by the Plex team.

Then it makes sense to buy one of the 10Gen.

Just wanted to know if there are problems with transcoding and tone mapping with Windows as the main system and Plex in the Ubuntu VM. But it seems to work so that the Ubuntu VM can use Quick Sync.
Because Linux as the main system I wanted to avoid.

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Any Plex folks here that can give a rough estimate on when HEVC HDR hardware transcoding will be supported for 11gen Intel procs on Ubuntu?

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Follow the NUC 11 / Iris Xe thread.

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Honestly I would think it would make more sense to get an 11th gen as it will certainly be more capable once the bugs are all ironed out. Unless your going to be doing a ton of HDR transcoding right now. I would think most folks are direct playing most of their content with some occasional transcoding. Also I may get corrected on this but Plex is not a CPU hog unless you are trying to do some sort of software transcoding. So spending a bunch of money on a higher end CPU for strictly Plex doesn’t make much sense especially in the case of Intel with Quick Sync. Personally I would look at i5-11400 or maybe i5-11600 run my Plex server in Windows and just know that the ability to transcode HDR content will come in time.

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@FordGuy61

Do you know if there are also problems under Ubuntu with a NUC8 with Coffee Lake i7-8559U and Iris Plus 655 ? Or does that run ?

@Blkbyrd

Newer is always better, at least when it comes to technology, but who knows how long the problems with the lack of CPU support in Plex will last…
Since my plasma TV and PC monitors still work, I won’t be buying a new 4k TV or monitor for the time being. But I will save the movies in 4k for later :slight_smile:
At some point they have to break :wink:

Yesterday I looked at benchmarks and performance values and I think I will buy 2 separate systems, because the 10900K draws too much power even when idle. Depending on the motherboard about 70Watt. A NUC consumes less than 10W at idle. After 2 years, the NUC would be paid by the saved electricity.
Since there are unfortunately still problems with 4K transcoding and tone mapping with the new CPUs with Comet Lake, Tiger Lake and Rocket Lake, I will probably go for a NUC8 with Coffee Lake i7-8559U and Iris Plus 655. The system should then have enough power for the Plex server and later possibly for Openhab.
At least I think it’s the best decision and that even a noob can make it work under Ubuntu :slight_smile:

Or what do you think ?

And as an office system, possibly an AMD 5700G APU.

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AFAIK that works fine. The problems with hardware transcoding + HDR tonemapping started with 11th gen Intel CPUs, due to Intel shipping a buggy Linux video driver. From what I’ve read, anything 7th - 10th gen is OK.

Note that I run Plex on a Synology DS918+, so I’ve no direct experience with Plex on Ubuntu. I was passing along the info regarding the Xe graphics to help avoid any nasty surprises. No fun to lay out $$$ for a new 11th Gen NUC then find out you have to wait to get hardware accelerated transcoding/tonemapping.

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Then I did everything right by ordering a NUC8 with Coffee Lake CPU. Especially since I find 312€ ok for it. Now I just hope that Amazon also delivers when the part is available.

Well what I have read here in the forum so to the 10th Gen Intel Cpu seems to still work as you say. But you have to compile at least his graphics driver itself. As a beginner you can fail if no one helps you.

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Fixed that for you. :slight_smile:

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