My current Plex Server is a Windows Desktop with a 1TB Hard Drive.
When playing 4K content on my setup which includes a 4K HDR TV, with an AV Receiver and an Xbox One X, I get no buffering issues what so ever, as the file is succesfully in Direct Play mode, including the audio through the AV receiver, as it hasn’t got to transcode anything.
I am however looking to add more storage so I can store and play even more 4K content.
The issue is, there are other TV’s in the house that are not able to direct play 4K content. There are some TV’s that whilst are 4K compatible, don’t have an AV receiver, or the actual 4K capabilities aren’t up to the same spec that my setup is, so the movies need to transcode, and hence, they buffer.
I’m looking to get a device that will mean I have much more storage (minimum of 2TB), plus being able to succesfully play the 4K content on devices that require transcoding.
It isn’t an option to buy more hardward for the devices that need to transcode, as the requirement is to just play the 4K content through the Plex app built into the TV, or via the source options on the TV, rather than a device, like I have on my setup.
Can anyone recommend some devices I should look at as my Plex Server to provide no buffering on the devices that require transcoding?
I don’t want to have to get a Plex Pass, hence I am looking to spend on a device which will be able to transcode, whether that be a NAS that has a mimimum of a possible 2TB storage etc.
That’s what I am looking for, recommendations on what device I should get?
Or are you saying that isn’t possible unless you have a Plex Pass?
You don’t need Plex Pass for cpu transcoding but for hardware transcoding, yes.
I don’t know if you can bypass that using a Intel with Quick sync technology.
Keep in mind that you’re transcoding 4k, and i don’t think there’s a NAS capable of doing that.
But if you don’t want to spend money, you can just optimize your 4k videos in advance and you won’t have to transcode them on the fly anymore.
There are plenty NASes capable of transcoding 4K without hardware assistance. You will need something with a beefy cpu. If cost is no concern, look into xeon powered boxes.
With the limited storage you need though, it would be much cheaper to just get plexpass lifetime and a gtx 1050 and call it a day, so that would be my choise.
If you’re going for 4k, I found plex to not work well. Emby has been a lot better with Direct Play and 4k for me. I have no idea where the issue is yet. Not sure if its the player side or the server, but emby “just works”.
You mention hardware transcoding and cpu transcoding… I’m looking to get a device that basically prevents the TV from buffering due to any transcoding? I thought getting a NAS, to give me more storage, with added processing power, would resolve that? Is that not the case?
In terms of space, I only said 2TB as a minimum. So that’s just a starting point. I don’t really want to have to go down the lifetime Plex subscription thing as that isn’t for me. Like I say, it works fine on my setup, it’s just for other TV’s in the house.
Whilst I want it to be able to play 4K’s on the TV’s that currently buffer them, it also sometimes buffers HD movies, which I imagine is down to the devices still requiring to transcode something and the current PC that the Plex Server is on isn’t really capable of transcoding everything. Works fine with my setup as I have the devices in place for it to Direct Play.
Whether the other TV’s are struggling because it’s going from the source option, or the Plex built in TV app may be something, however I think it is mainly due to any transcoding being required, the PC isn’t up to it.
The biggest issue I currently have is only having 1TB in the PC, and then it not being able to process transcoding on other TV’s.
Can anyone recommend a device that would be capable of being the Plex Server with more storage and is capable of handling 4K transcoding for the current TV’s that require it?
I went with the Synology DS1621xs+
It will transcode 4K without the need for hardware assistance or Plex pass.
There are a few Qnaps that will work as well, I dont remember model numbers though
May I suggest an alternative to a new server? Just hook a few Apple TVs up to your screens. They will direct play just about everything. Then switch out your current HDD with a larger one.
Or you could get better clients like fire tv 4k so your server wouldn’t have to transcode, though you need s decent wifi to be able to stream 4k without buffering
I guess. It would mean having to keep moving that device to each TV that isn’t direct every time though.
I just thought for easyness, having a server which enables 4K viewing on every TV without having to get multiple smart devices attached would be better.
Like I say, the streaming of 4K works great on my current setup, so the WiFi isn’t an issue. I do have the Xbox One X plugged in via Ethernet, but I have used the Direct Play via WiFi as well.
There’s a comparison about 218play,218 and 218+. I don’t remember why but when I checked 218 was a better option than 218+. I know 218 has x265 transcoding which is nice
None of those will even come close to transcoding 4K without using the ASIC which requires Plex Pass.
If you want affordable, one of those AND Plex Pass really is the way to go though. A Nas powerful enough to transcode 4K without Hardware assistance will be much more expensive
If you absolutely dont want Plex Pass and still want to transcode 4K, you can not go with a celeron based NAS. It simply isnt powerful enough
That said, where it says being transcoded to 1080p, does that mean 4K material will appear as 1080p? I would still be playing 4K content on 4K TV’s, just that it wouldn’t have all of the audio and/or video capabilities to play direct?
Basically, are you saying no matter what device I use for a Plex Server, it won’t play 1080p / 4K movies on the TV’s that don’t have all the codes? I thought the only reason it was buffering was due to the fact it is transcoding and the current CPU isn’t powerful enough to process that, given 4K content works fine on my setup as it Direct Plays.
Client: hey this device doesn’t play x265 2060p, can you make it x264 1080? Server: anything else? Client: oh, and the audio too, transcode it to AAC Server: ok, but I’m dying here, it’s too much work Client: don’t worry, I can wait (buffering) User: sh*t I can’t watch a movie like that
That’s the beauty of transcoding. Interoperability. But it comes with a price, which is hw power.
If you want to create a family server buy that nas and get you a subscription, if you want to serve your community, then you can buy the expensive stuff that will have power enough to transcode without plex pass.
Here’s a comparison. Although 218+ seems better, i won’t play 60fps as 218 does. On the other hand 218+ is memory upgradable and apparently has a better cpu.
