Oh I just noticed that setting. I think I have access to it already because I have a Plex pass. i’ll turn it on a do some more testing. Thanks!
The setting option is not visible unless you have acess to it and you have compatible hardware in the server 
That’s a good sign then 
I have enabled ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’ and initial tests look promising. Thanks for all your support.
I have a Synology DS918+ and Plex Pass. How can I help? Can someone show a detailed list on how to load it? I’ll be happy to test it.
Install PMS 1.9.3 (current Plex Pass) , Settings - Server - Transcoder - Enable Hardware Acceleration
Adjust for maximum fun.
OK, Done. Got some type of permission issue. Plex can not see my videos.
Go to the Control Panel - Shared Folders
For each of your media shares, Add user plex to the permissions list. 
Done! Working like a champ! I’ll report back in a few days on how it goes. Thx!
We aim to please.
If we can’t , we just take aim.
Hi, i’m looking to purchase this NAS (DS718+) so i’m looking forward to any reviews you can do 
@Devo-McDuff said:
That’s a good sign thenI have enabled ‘Use hardware acceleration when available’ and initial tests look promising. Thanks for all your support.
So far I really like it. It jumps every now and again when streaming really high quality content with Plex but I tested the same content hosted on a dual core 2GHz i7 MacBook Air that I was previously using to host Plex and that jumps even more. It was 4K content but I haven’t got a 4K TV and the codec was HEVC which it doens’t natively support so was being transcoded. Everything else I’ve tried so far has been flawless. I’ll be permanently running Plex off this. I was going to get a Mac Mini to run it if Apple ever release a new one but probably won’t bother now.
I’m playing with Cloud Station and Docker now to get move value out of it. I also use it for Time Machine backups which works well.
If you have any specific questions I’d be happy to give my input.
Out of interest, if we run Plex Server in a docker container, does it still need to check the cpu config e.g. Apollolake
If you do use Docker, hw transcoding will not work unless you know precisely what you’re doing. Synology controls permission with udev. udev is not used in Plex’s Docker image and, as a direct result, there is no /dev/dri directory which HW transcoding needs.
You’re far better off using the Synology native package. The metadata is just as, if not more, portable because it’s a plain ZIP file and not wrapped in a container with obfuscated object ID directory names
Good Morning.
We have a new Synology DS918. The Plex Media Server is installiert. Installation works Fine. The Diskstation says its running. The Problem is, i can‘t configure the Server. I can Start the Web application. But then He is searching for a Server. Normally i can Setup nie the Folders and so. It Seemann like we habe the Media Server application innige diskatation, but when a Start it, its only a Player.
Can someone help ?
Best regards
- Control Panel - Shared Folders: Make certain user
plexcan read your media shares - Open
http://ip.address.of.synology:32400/webin your browser. Perform the first-run setup wizard
I’ve been trying to follow this thread as I’m interested in the DS918+. So is it accurate to say that the hardware transcoder in the DS918+ IS working with Plex? (someone made the comment earlier that the hardware transcoder in the Synology will never work for anything other than their own DS Video app…) If it is working, does anyone have any idea of how many streams it can transcode simultaneously? (and the resulting CPU load)
@ultratek said:
I’ve been trying to follow this thread as I’m interested in the DS918+. So is it accurate to say that the hardware transcoder in the DS918+ IS working with Plex? (someone made the comment earlier that the hardware transcoder in the Synology will never work for anything other than their own DS Video app…) If it is working, does anyone have any idea of how many streams it can transcode simultaneously? (and the resulting CPU load)
Yes, it is accurate to say Hardware Transcoding is supported on the DS918+.
System memory is your first limiter. If too little, there won’t be enough for the video buffers (processing areas). Second, the H.264 input bit rate versus the output specification (resolution and bitrate) determines how much of the GPU will be utilized. You must remember, on some GPUs, hardware transcoding odd input/output configs is actually slower than software. This is because of the difference between GPU clock frequency and CPU clock frequency
@ChuckPA said:
If you do use Docker, hw transcoding will not work unless you know precisely what you’re doing. Synology controls permission withudev.udevis not used in Plex’s Docker image and, as a direct result, there is no/dev/dridirectory which HW transcoding needs.You’re far better off using the Synology native package. The metadata is just as, if not more, portable because it’s a plain ZIP file and not wrapped in a container with obfuscated object ID directory names
Is this something that Synology could address, or is it a big thing for them to resolve?
has anyone got the DS418 unit with its Realtek RTD1296 CPU?
interested know how this performs with plex, and if it can do transcoding at all or is it best go for the ds918+
the ds418 looks more than enough for me price wise really but worried if it do hardware transcoding within plex hmmm
@jaywerrett said:
has anyone got the DS418 unit with its Realtek RTD1296 CPU?interested know how this performs with plex, and if it can do transcoding at all or is it best go for the ds918+
the ds418 looks more than enough for me price wise really but worried if it do hardware transcoding within plex hmmm
The DS418’s ARM CPU is not an Intel CPU with Intel Quick Sync Video.
There will be no hardware transcoding with any ARM CPU.
Edit: My personal opinion is to go with the Intel-based units. ARM CPUs do not perform any transcoding well. Software transcoding isn’t supported
