Server Version#: 1.25.2.5319
Player Version#: 1.9.0.2741-f8cc15f0
Windows 10
I’m running Plex HTPC but also had this same issue on Plex Media Player. Both running on Windows 10 with a Radeon 5400 video card connected via HDMI to my Yamaha RX-V675 receiver and the receiver is outputting to my Epson 1080p projector through a balun using Cat6. The desktop display resolution is set to 1920 x 1080.
I have media that has two files: a 4k HDR version and a 1080p version. When I play it from Plex HTPC, Plex direct plays the 4k version and the video playback is very choppy and unwatchable. If I manually select the 1080p version then it plays fine.
I’m guessing the choppy 4k video might be due to the fact it’s a Celeron G1620 processor with only 4GB of RAM. (I had to disable hardware acceleration in Plex HTPC because it caused the video to appear green)
However, why is Plex choosing to play the 4k version by default when the device is 1080p? Why doesn’t it play the 1080p version?
Interestingly, in the video settings I can’t select 1080p. Just Original, different 4k bitrates, and some 720p bitrates.
Any ideas on how I can get Plex to play 1080p by default?
My understanding was that Plex for Windows was designed for use on desktops and laptops with a mouse and keyboard and not a TV with a remote while Plex HTPC is designed for use on a TV with a remote so that’s why I switched to Plex HTPC. Perhaps I’m mistaken?
Your desktop resolution would be independent of video playback as many people (myself included) would run a desktop at 1080p or lower as not to drown out the interface, but render video playback in netflix or plex at 4k for example. And Plex wouldn’t know about your 1080p projector at all. I just has the file source to work from.
As Plex HTPC is still a work in progress, it does have some quirks. It is strange that 1080p and example bitrates are not present as default local playback, feels like an oversight. Anyway a few things you can try. Setting the playback to other bitrates (even the lower 4k ones) to see if it will select 1080p instead of transcoding in any scenario. Change the refresh rate matching setting, as many users (myself included) have had playback issues with it. If you want to investigate to see if your computer has the power to handle the 4k playback, I would suggest opening it in VLC or another simple video player to test. That will tell you if it’s your computer or the Plex HTPC. And lastly if all else fails, is this the only place you would be using the 4k files? If so, might be worth putting them on ice outside of the Plex library and stick with the 1080p versions until things get ironed out better (not a nice solution, but could be worth it if manually selecting playback version is irksome and 4k isn’t needed anywhere else)
Thanks @emrysblack! Excellent points about the UI resolution etc in your post.
Thanks, this is a great idea! I played the file using VLC and it struggles to play with the CPU pinned so pretty sure this rig can’t do 4k.
As for whether I need 4K? The TV in the other room is 4K and HDR so I play the 4k files there. I hope to upgrade the projector in this room to 4k in the next few years but for right now it’s still 1080p.
Rather than spending money upgrading this unit which would mean a new video card at least maybe I’ll just set up the Nvidia Shield Pro I got instead. Maybe it will either pick the 1080p file or handle the 4K file well enough even though it’s only a 1080p projector.
I’m happy to report that the Shield properly selects the 1080p file for playback. I’m not sure why Plex HTPC wouldn’t. Perhaps it’s just a bug given Plex HTPC is just in preview.
