When I play anything from my laptop on the local network, the Plex New Transcoder process on the server – a kinda old MacBook Pro (2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) – hits 180% or 190% and pretty much stays there for the duration. I mean, I can hear the fan from the next room. But when using all other devices (two iPads and an iPhone), there is no load whatsoever.
All the Direct Stream and Direct Play options are set the same on the devices (to allow both, as well as AC3 audio to be streamed). I have tried to match the settings when I open Plex in Chrome on my laptop. Oddly, these settings seem to randomly reset themselves (on the web only, never on the device apps), but even when they are definitely set in Chrome to allow streaming and direct play, watching from the laptop sends the server transcoder into overdrive.
My question: Is this normal, expected behavior, or a reason to start troubleshooting? Just trying to avoid a visit from the fire department to extinguish my server fire.
Otherwise love Plex, a really excellent product, and just subscribed to the Pass.
If you’re watching from the laptop, I recommend getting the newer Plex Media Player. Since you’re now a Plex Pass user, you can use it. It uses the mpv media player, so it can decode just about any format. So you really don’t have to worry about it transcoding at all. I would just use Plex Web for managing your libraries and server settings. I know, I didn’t answer the question, but perhaps the problem can be avoided altogether. 
Check out this link for info about it and where to download it.
You may not have answered the question exactly, but you did make it kind of moot, so thank you. I didn’t realize all this time that there was a separate player app for Mac OS (etc.) or that this was a benefit of Plex Pass. Duh. Downloading it now.
@piantadosi said:
You may not have answered the question exactly, but you did make it kind of moot, so thank you. I didn’t realize all this time that there was a separate player app for Mac OS (etc.) or that this was a benefit of Plex Pass. Duh. Downloading it now.
it might depend on the media.
did you verify that the media was not being transcoded when the cpu was being used actively ?
@piantadosi said:
You may not have answered the question exactly, but you did make it kind of moot, so thank you. I didn’t realize all this time that there was a separate player app for Mac OS (etc.) or that this was a benefit of Plex Pass. Duh. Downloading it now.
You can also use OpenPHT on Mac / PC if you prefer the older PHT style GUI. Web player is probably the most difficult (limited codec supported) client when it comes to direct play / direct stream. You won’t have a issue with PMP / OpenPHT.
