Server Version#: 4.147.1
Player Version#: Apple TV - 8.45 (9684)
I currently use a first generation Zima Board as my PLEX Server. My media library resides on a NAS and is linked from the Zima Board via settings in CasaOS. Apparently the Zima Board CPU supports Intel Quick Sync. As an FYI, my previous PLEX Server was built around an Intel i3 - also with support for Quick Sync. In that case, all my media resided in the same box on SSDs (I know… I’ve actually downgraded my server hardware).
My media files are large (I don’t use Handbrake or any other post-ripping software). As a result, I would imagine the bit rate is very high when playing a file.
My issue is when I view many of my rips (Blu-rays in particular) on my Apple TV 4k, there can be a momentary “jumpy” effect - particularly when there is motion in the scene (it’s more evident with panning). The same held true when I was using my old server built around the i3.
I’m guessing that, even with the i3, I may have lacked the CPU and graphics horsepower to handle the bit rate? Any insight is very much appreciated. If it is a case of CPU/graphics horsepower, can you recommend a current model small form factor computer (ideally NUC style) with sufficient CPU performance, that also supports the latest Quick Sync?
Monitor playback via Plex Dashboard → Now Playing + Expanded View.
Is the video or audio transcoding?
If yes, is it using hardware acceleration? Post a screenshot when playing a problematic media file if possible.
Intel Quick Sync Graphics is used only for video transcoding. If the video is not transcoding, you could have an i9-whatever or Nvidia RTX-$$$$ and it would not matter.
All audio transcoding is performed by the CPU, and generally does not hit the CPU very hard.
FWIW, the N100/N150 mini-PCs are popular choices. They’re a 12th gen CPU, sip power, and can transcode 4K media when using hardware acceleration.
Local home network? Ive had pms on as little as a pi4b with video transcode disabled and bluray dumps stream perfectly to an appletv on directstream.
If you are really actually needing to gpu transcode down to low quality on the fly, n100 boxes work well. Ive got a minisforum s100 with n100 ive tinkered with and runs nice.
>particularly when there is motion in the scene (it’s more evident with panning). The same held true when I was using my old server built around the i3.
The Zima has only a HD Graphics 500 GPU (N3450 CPU) or a UHD 630 (J3455 CPU).
Apollo Lake is very dated at this point.
A 4x4" mini PC with N150 or N100 CPU will provide you an AlderLake GPU which does far more at significantly greater speed. It is much more “future proof”
As for the OS, Installing Ubuntu linux (server is preferred but desktop is ok).
CasaOS is not vetted.
Yes. Local home network only. I’m using a GigE switch and everything is connected via Ethernet.
That’s a good question about the frame rate. While I can’t say for certain, I think the issue only happens with rates at or approaching 30 fps. Using this logic, the problem doesn’t seem to happen with rates at or approaching 24 fps. TV seems okay when I’m watching YouTube.
Are you saying I should try disabling hardware transcoding?
This is really helpful - and I’m happy to go with Ubuntu Server.
Dumb question… When you say GPU, do you mean the Intel Quick Sync technology built into the CPU? Also, is the Alder Lake platform a “must have”, or is it also safe to go with a more recent generation if the price is right?
If might reveal issues, my ‘highest quality’ content, I have on an isolated docker instance with video transcode disable… have to do it this way since Plex will not let us set this flag on a per library basis. Tto make sure I’m getting the stream full quality exactly how I want it.
If there are other issues, with server config, bandwidth, etc, it can cause issues. But if you have a direct gig pipeline and the files are compatible. It can help make sure no shenanigans.
You will be hard pressed to find a more recent generation that competes on price with the N100/150/300 mini-PCs. You can find them priced from $100 to $200 USD depending on manufacturer, amount of RAM, SSD size, etc.
This Wikipedia entry shows the QuickSync encode/decode capabilities for each generation of Intel CPU: Intel Quick Sync Video - Wikipedia. Alder Lake supports the same codecs as Raptor Lake (13th & 14th gen). Later generations add support for encoding to AV1. However, Plex does not support AV1 encoding.
Regarding generations…
Alder Lake is 12th gen. It shipped in 2021. The low power N models were launched in 2023 and updated (Twin Lake) last year (Wikipedia).
Intel has since shipped 13th and 14th gen CPUs. The desktop models had stability issues when they first shipped. Intel and motherboard manufacturers issued microcode updates last year to alleviate the situation (ref: Wikipedia).
