I am setting up my new server and am going to use Plex to play movies. I got concerned cause a lot of my files are 30gb or more. I don’t want to burn through my data cap to fast. If I play a 30gb file does it use 30gb of my data cap??
If your playback device is in the same local network as your Plex server, your internet connection is not used to stream movies.
Unless there is a configuration error.
I read that still don’t get how that’s possible. But I also like to watch when on the go. Away from home.
Now I don’t understand. If your server is at home and your smart TV is also at home, connected to the same network, of course they can talk directly to each other.
On the go you probably mean on your phone?
Of course then it will use the internet connection.
But there are two ways to reduce the data volume:
- since the phone has only a small screen, you can reduce the bandwidth during streaming to about 2 – 4 Mbps. This will reduce the amount of data per movie from 30 GB to ~4 GB. This process is called “transcoding” and you should make sure that your Plex server device has enough power to do that.
- you can use Plex’s “mobile sync” feature to copy a pre-transcoded, smaller version of the video onto your phone, while still being at home. (Plex pass feature)
Of course you must decide in advance what you want to watch on your trip.
Ok I get the first part. Is it better to have them direct connected. Cause my server is on my router not wifi.
2nd part.
Would 4mbps over 2 hours still be 28.8 gb? Or am I not thinking about this correctly?
Does Plex mobile sync take up space on my mobile phone? Like do I need to buy a higher sd card?
Unless your router is configured to suppress it, your “wired” devices can talk to the “wireless” devices in your home (and vice versa).
No, as I wrote above, it will be more like about 4GB (maximum).
Yes of course it does. If you buy a SD card, don’t skimp on it. Use the fastest-specced premium brand card which is compatible with your phone.
Don’t forget you need a Plex pass to use this feature.
Can you explain how it’s only 4 gb?
Oh btw my server uses
Mb- x10slr-f
Cpu- Xeon e5-1620v3
32gb supermicro ram eec
Also is there an easy way to see if my home network devices are talking to each other instead of the internet?
Transcoding. Resolution and quality will get reduced. Thus less “bits” are necessary to store the remaining information.
Your router should have a traffic monitor. Just play something and watch the traffic monitor and the data volume counter for the internet connection.
When it transcodes for mobile sync does it reduce the fb to lower amount or will I only be able to fit a few movies on it.
Yes, the data volume will get reduced during the sync process.
Is there any links to something that explains what transcoding is and how it works?
see https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250377-transcoding-media/
(ignore the paragraph about “old” vs. “new” transcoder)
Your CPU should be alright for transcoding.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E5-1620+v3+%40+3.50GHz&id=2409
As long as you avoid HEVC (H.265) encoded video.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/
To have quite a few 265 is there a reason to avoid it?. I was told my cousin wouldn’t have any issues transcoding? Am i wrong
HEVC can require more cpu power to transcode than what you have available in your cpu. How much exactly it requires is depending on a number of criteria, among those are picture resolution, HDR vs. SDR, subtitles activated or not.
HEVC can work, if we are only talking about 720p SDR video, or if the playback device is already supporting HEVC on its own.
All the cpus with 17000 or more are like almost 2k dollars. Is it possible to install a good to help with transcoding?
With a Plex Pass, you can make use of Intel QuickSync. It can reduce the cpu load from transcoding drastically. But your XEON cpu doesn’t have it.
For comparison: a current top-of-the-line core i5 can beat your Xeon performance-wise. It has both more raw computing power and it has QuickSync. And it draws less electrical power too.
https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-9600K+%40+3.70GHz&id=3337
My motherboard says it only supports I3 and Xeon e5-1600, and 2600. I also picket the Xeon for the ecc
Then my recommendation still stands: avoid HEVC video until your current Plex server device has reached the end of its life cycle.
