I’ve been searching the web today, and it appears I’m not along with 4K playback issues with the 2019 Nvidia Shield Tube. It either crashes when I start a file (include a full lockout requiring a power cycle at times), or random stuttering at anytime during playback.
I’ve found a few posts recommending enabling some developer options to kill background processes. This has helped, but I still get stuttering.
Is there an update from Plex on fixing the app? Apparently the 1GB less memory in the tube Vs the Pro is a problem as the Plex app is memory hungry?
I have 4 of the devices which I purchased because my 2017 Shield works flawlessly, and I assumed the 2019 would as well…I really don’t want to have to sell them and buy the more expensive version.
it’s not a plex issue as such, the tube version is underpowered and really isn’t all that capable of playing high bitrate 4k content. lower amount of RAM and is 32-bit compared to 64bit on the pro.
you should get the pro version if you’re going to play such content. the tube version is fine with lower bitrate 4k and all other content though.
This here is what you are up against. Good luck. I would probably just try to return the tubes or sell them and buy pros as this issue will likely never be resolved any other way.
I’ve read a lot of threads today and I’m convinced this is a Plex issue. It’d be nice to get an official response to confirm either way - it’s not right that many users have been forced to upgrade devices, particularly if they shouldn’t have to, or if there’s a fix coming one day.
The same issue has been documented both with Emby and Jellyfin. It’s the tube. It is the only Shield that runs in 32 bit mode and the only one with 2GB of RAM. If it’s the only one that is different, the only one that presents issues, and it presents the same issues with other software, it is the hardware.
I too used two Nvidia Shield TV tubes for my all my streaming and struggled to play the larger higher bit-rate 4k files.
I use my Dell XPS for run the server side of things.
I run a Kodi-Plex config which seems to make things a little smoother versus just the Plex app. (Note: I will try running the bare Plex app after my upgrade).
From my first large 4k rip, I’ve had stuttering glitchy play that was usually followed by audio sync issues.
If I tried any timeline navigation, forget about it, lock-ups or total crashes followed. I’m sure these issues sound familiar to you.
I also constantly got a Kodi message at the bottom right of the screen stating “source too slow for continuous playback”.
That message was a bit misleading and I can now say that was NOT the issue.
So last month I pulled the plugs on the Shield tubes and upgraded to the Shield Pros.
OMG what a difference . . . GOOD BYE GLITCHES!!!
Overall navigation is a tad faster and smoother but more importantly, all of my files finally play as they should.
On occasion I briefly get that “too slow for continuous playback” Kodi message but the playback is trouble-free. It only appears as I first start the movie.
I think my largest 4K files are around 90GB and they all finally play glitch free.
Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies all play flawlessly now.
I now wish I’d bought the Shield Pro from the beginning. Live and learn.
To add to what others have said, it’s not a Plex issue. The Shield tube version is one of the most flawed hardware devices to ever hit the market.
See the Nvidia forums itself for what a clusterfuck of a device it is.
Sell them for $100 each and on your main TV where you need high bitrate capability get a Pro. Then assess whether or not you actually watch high bitrate 4K lossless content on your other sets. If you don’t then throw Chromecasts with Google TV on them or sell 2 of the tubes, upgrade to the Pro for the main set use the other 2 tubes for the most often used TV’s and buy a Chromecast for the 4th, orrrr sell all the tubes, buy two Pro’s and two Chromecasts, etc. Lots of options friend
they suck even for 4K TV Shows - they just aren’t reliable. I’ve been struggling with them since Feb - it’s kind of a relief to give up and plan on changing them, rather than trying to find ways to fix.
I absolutely get it. I can tell you that I have had excellent luck with my Chromecast as long as I don’t ask it to play super high bitrate stuff. It kind of craps the bed around 40Mbps, anything under that is an absolute dream. On my main television I use a Shield Pro and the thing is an absolute beast. I’ve never really had any issues with either of them.
I have a google tv in the guest room and I did try playing a 4K movie earlier to see if I could get away with replacing the Tubes with them (even though they are wireless and I prefer wired as one less thing to check if something’s not working) and it had a lot of wobbles.
I’m just going to save up for the Pros - I bought the Tubes as I like hassle-free experiences as I don’t have time to tinker like I used to. Unfortunately, it backfired - but the goals are still the same.
I definitely understand that. Mine is mostly used to play TV shows and YouTube TV while my wife and I are in bed at night. Other then that I don’t use it for much and its great. The Shield Pro does all of the heavy lifting in my house and I definitely get why someone would want that to be the device for all of their TV’s.
I have the pro and have exactly the same issue… thats why I got on here today, its super annoying, plex on shield used to be flawless now the experience kinda sucks…
I would suggest you make another thread or you are welcome to PM me if you’d like detailing your issue. The Nvidia Shield Pro is without a doubt the most bulletproof Plex client out there and if you are having issues with it I’m sure the community here can figure it out. This thread is about the Shield that is cylindrical in shape and that device has heaps of trouble that fall back to Nvidia deciding to nerf the thing into the ground.
I too was fed up and tried every setting possible to fix the stuttering and crashing of the Plex app and then I stumbled on to Kodi. The Kodi Plex app on the Shield TV 2019 had absolutely no issues playing a 90gb 4K movie. No transcoding of either audio or video and no stuttering, freezing or crashing.
This tells me that the problem is with the Plex app.
I don’t disagree that the Pro version is a much better product, but the tube can play 4k movies.
you may have similar symptoms, but you don’t have the “exact same isssue”, as the pro does not exhibit the issues that the OP reported with the tube version
There is post after post describing the same issues with the Tube running high bitrate 4K on Emby, Jellyfin, and Kodi. The fact that yours works with Kodi is luck not proof.
