Hello Plex people !
Im Abe, i just started using plex not too long ago, i do have some questions and concerns about my setup and maybe anyway to improve all around and some specific technical issues im having. I hope this is the right place to proceed, if not please point me in the right direction. Thank you
Welcome to Plex and welcome to the forums!
Yes, this is the place to ask questions.
I would also suggest you go visit the support area, scroll to the bottom and click on Support. Then click on the section called FAQ & Support Articles. Lots of good info there. Please make sure you read the FAQs about reporting issues so you know what is needed to get you help.
Again, welcome!
So I’m not sure what happened but my pc keeps getting BSOD and I’ve tried to troubleshoot it but can’t so I thought it fixed itself on its own. I was watching plex on my home network, I got BSOD PC restarted as usual but this time a screen never seen in boot up said CPU OVERHEAT ! so I went into BIOS it reads 140-135 F, earlier I set the playback to “hurt my cpu” and high direct settings, I have an i7 2nd gen 2600 k stock cpu cooler thinking it would be no problem ?? Please help 
Why set it to make it hurt?
Yeah I know because you can.
If it is overheating when set to make it hurt.
What is the obvious thing to do.
Although I doubt that caused the issue.
I doubt plex has anything to do with it.
@spikemixture said:
Why set it to make it hurt?
Yeah I know because you can.
If it is overheating when set to make it hurt.
What is the obvious thing to do.Although I doubt that caused the issue.
I doubt plex has anything to do with it.
You could be right it may have not been plex, it has been happening for a while but never gave me a cpu overheat warning. I thought they had auto shutdown default settings so people dont burn their cpu.we’ll yes I’m going to set it to the highest if I can which I know my cpu can I have very large bluray files so I want to maximize the beauty of bluray on an oled. I guess maybe I need a better cpu cooler and or more thermal paste.
If you want to maximize the beauty on your OLED the CPU shouldn’t go beyond lukewarm (well, OK, it’s an i7 so perhaps a tad bit more…). Transcoding media in Plex caters for speed thus lessens the quality and makes the picture look worse. You need a client which can handle said file without Plex transcoding it and instead using direct play which is merely a file copy in its core. That way, the temperature will be lower since the load isn’t as high.
And if you do still want to replace the stock cooler, which is regardless a good idea mind you, please do note that you probably want less thermal paste - not more. If you add too much paste it will act as an insulater thus preventing heat being transferred correctly. If you venture beyond too much and go to the insane amount it can leak over to the motherboard and create havoc. Buy a high grade thermal paste, usually silver based, clean the old one out with the correct type of solvent and then apply the new with something quite sharp. I usually cut an old membership plastic card to spread it with (not my fingers…).
More thermal paste is not a good idea. Thermal past is ONLY designed to fill the small voids between the ‘flat’ surface of the cpu chip (in this case) and the ‘flat’ surface of the heatsink. Theoretically, these two ‘flat’ surfaces should be perfectly flat and thus provide maximum surface contact and therefore thermal transfer. Practically, they are not perfectly flat and this is where the thermal paste assists in thermal transfer by filling the small voids. However, when you apply too much paste, you are actually decreasing the thermal transfer away from the cpu chip and causing it to run hotter.
Thermal paste is very important. However, if too much is used resulting in a layer of paste that keeps the cpu metal from being in direct contact with the heatsink metal, it is to your detriment.
And this concludes your Physics lesson for the week. 
@Peter_W said:
If you want to maximize the beauty on your OLED the CPU shouldn’t go beyond lukewarm (well, OK, it’s an i7 so perhaps a tad bit more…). Transcoding media in Plex caters for speed thus lessens the quality and makes the picture look worse. You need a client which can handle said file without Plex transcoding it and instead using direct play which is merely a file copy in its core. That way, the temperature will be lower since the load isn’t as high.And if you do still want to replace the stock cooler, which is regardless a good idea mind you, please do note that you probably want less thermal paste - not more. If you add too much paste it will act as an insulater thus preventing heat being transferred correctly. If you venture beyond too much and go to the insane amount it can leak over to the motherboard and create havoc. Buy a high grade thermal paste, usually silver based, clean the old one out with the correct type of solvent and then apply the new with something quite sharp. I usually cut an old membership plastic card to spread it with (not my fingers…).
Thank you so much for your insightful reply everyone. I’m sorry I’m coming off such a noob, but it’s been years since I really got into technical details of things and I’m finding myself having to brush up and learn new things/things I forgot exactly how to do but know how to in theory. Lol yes I think I may put a Noctua cooling fan/heat sink, it’s kinda expensive but people say its amazing,probably my noob fault for sticking with stock cpu cooler. Well it’s playing over home network and I have direct play on. I want to create the ultimate super fast reliable in home network, I just need the blue prints to figure out what hardware I need and how to perfect my media server/plex setup. Im a high resolution/bluray file junkie and only aim for beautiful playback. Please anyone feel free to ask any questions. Thank you all.
I may add, that if you ever lift up the cooler from the cpu, you must clean both surfaces and apply fresh thermal paste.
So never, ever lift up your cooler unless you absolutely have to.
@sGarver said:
More thermal paste is not a good idea. Thermal past is ONLY designed to fill the small voids between the ‘flat’ surface of the cpu chip (in this case) and the ‘flat’ surface of the heatsink. Theoretically, these two ‘flat’ surfaces should be perfectly flat and thus provide maximum surface contact and therefore thermal transfer. Practically, they are not perfectly flat and this is where the thermal paste assists in thermal transfer by filling the small voids. However, when you apply too much paste, you are actually decreasing the thermal transfer away from the cpu chip and causing it to run hotter.Thermal paste is very important. However, if too much is used resulting in a layer of paste that keeps the cpu metal from being in direct contact with the heatsink metal, it is to your detriment.
And this concludes your Physics lesson for the week.
Haha thank you good sir, I never was great at physics lol I totally agree with you it’s just been so long sometimes I need direct instructions or u feel like I might brake something. So the pc is just sitting OFF I’m not sure how to tackle this and proceed without melting the cpu, do I order cooler/thermal paste/cleaner online open it up and do all that , or just buy cooler and install it ? It’s been 5 yrs never added more thermal paste.
@OttoKerner said:
I may add, that if you ever lift up the cooler from the cpu, you must clean both surfaces and apply fresh thermal paste.
So never, ever lift up your cooler unless you absolutely have to.
Thank you for that tip, I’ve been out of the game too long. Mind you all I usually shutdown my pc at night or when not in use, however since my gf needs plex for her shows, especially at night I have left the machine on running for 4+ days without switching it off,then this happens 
How to apply thermal paste:
Just to add more info about my setup, main rig is :
i7 2600k 3.4
16gb ram
GTX 560 ti
SSD 128 gb windows drive, external hd 6tb
Asus motherboard older
Aztec gaming case with 3 fans in front, 2 in back, big boy on top.
Win 10
VPN
FIOS Internet 75/75 mb
shot of bios info and temperatures:
No need to apologize at all for being a ‘noob’ - sorry on my part if I came of as ‘trying to make you feel bad’ or such. That wasn’t my intent.
You haven’t said which client is connected to your TV (or is it perhaps something running on the same computer as the server?) - but it doesn’t sound like your setting of Direct Play works if the CPU overheats. As I said, a Direct Play shouldn’t put more stress than a filecopy on your system so if that was the case then you wouldn’t be able to copy the file to a USB memory stick without it overheating. If you have a client connected to the TV that should Direct Play your media then we can help you troubleshoot it. If said computer is 5 years then I’d start with removing all the dust (from the fins of said stock cooler and all fans in it) and making sure that all fans still work as they should. Remember not to use the hoover or such, it can short-circuit things via static electricity - buy a can of air and pressure it away.
@Peter_W said:
No need to apologize at all for being a ‘noob’ - sorry on my part if I came of as ‘trying to make you feel bad’ or such. That wasn’t my intent.You haven’t said which client is connected to your TV (or is it perhaps something running on the same computer as the server?) - but it doesn’t sound like your setting of Direct Play works if the CPU overheats. As I said, a Direct Play shouldn’t put more stress than a filecopy on your system so if that was the case then you wouldn’t be able to copy the file to a USB memory stick without it overheating. If you have a client connected to the TV that should Direct Play your media then we can help you troubleshoot it. If said computer is 5 years then I’d start with removing all the dust (from the fins of said stock cooler and all fans in it) and making sure that all fans still work as they should. Remember not to use the hoover or such, it can short-circuit things via static electricity - buy a can of air and pressure it away.
Thank you Peter for your info, no it’s ok you did not say anything wrong, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time I just really need to figure this out amongst other smaller plex settings, but first allow me to explain my setup.
Main rig i7 pc connected to oled tv in living room via dvi to hdmi cable. This is the main pc, which has the plex server running on it, also main pc for entrrtainment,downloading, watching bluray rips,occasional gaming etc, not basic use but nothinges crazy like encoding video or something intensive like that. It is hard wired to FIOS router…which serves plex to 1 cell phone and roku box in bedroom. That’s it. 2 bedroom apt not a massive house.
I apologize for typos or anything, pc is dead so I’m using my cell phone to type on.
Is your computer in the same room as your tv?
Is it not a bit noisy with all those fans whirring away?
@Stewie Griffin said:
Is your computer in the same room as your tv?Is it not a bit noisy with all those fans whirring away?
Not really, my air purifier is louder than my pc fans, it’s kind of higher end pc case. But it doesn’t really bother me, I just turn up the volume lol could it quieter ? Sure, but not enough to be like, this thing is too loud.
@Stewie Griffin said:
Is your computer in the same room as your tv?Is it not a bit noisy with all those fans whirring away?
Not a great picture but just to see setup, yes the pc is in living room under tv:
