PMS 4K streaming issues

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

Server Version#: 3.73.2

All the streaming issues I’ve read are people streaming from a NAS and/or a low performing PMS so Ill post my question here.

My setup:

Dell i7 8 CPU 3.4Ghz 16GB RAM and Fedora OS. I have a Drobo that has all the content and the PMS has a mount point to the Drobo.

My streaming options… I’ve tried my Samsung KS8000 TV app, Kodi FTV (not the stick) and my Xbox One X .

All content is hooked up to 1GB local ethernet.

The issue:

Every time I try to stream 4K it “buffers” and tells me that the server isnt powerful enough to convert the video. I SSH to my PMS and the Plex Transcoder is using all of the CPU which makes sense, but I would assume the PMS would be beefy enough to convert the video? It only happens with 4K and it “buffers” and freezes regardless of the streaming device. It also does it with 4K content that I lower the quality on and try to optimize it.

Any ideas?

2

Transcoding 4k is super processor intensive. You’ll experience way better results running your file through Handbrake to make it Direct Play compatible with your playback device. Direct Play and Direct Stream scenarios require very little juice to playback.

Also, depending on your Drobo model, it may not be able to keep up with the bitrate transfer. I have two Drobos… a 5N model which rocks for throughput speed at over 100mbps, and an FS, which only does 15-20mbps on a good day.

A few things for you to consider.

3

I have a 5N as well.

Are you saying I’d need to convert the 4K video? Right now I have a pretty automated setup on how to download/play movies, etc… adding this step would suck.

What settings in HandBrake would I need convert to in order to keep the 4K quality? I usually just use HB for ipad conversions.

4

I’m relatively new to 4k, so don’t take this as gospel. I’ve been using Handbrake to convert to the default Roku 4k 60fps setting, which will Direct Play on the Xbox One X.

It takes me about a day to convert a file on an i5. Sampling another conversion on my i7 gaming rig as we speak with similar results. The file sizes are surprisingly smaller, which leads me to believe that I could be doing this better.

The results, however, seem pretty good to me.

5

Interesting. I use Radarr to download movies and I might just have to not do the 4K option. My process is almost 100% automated so adding a layer of converting movies might not be worth it.

6

IF I may,

  1. Transcoding 4K is not processor intensive IF you have met the requirements. In fact, it takes about 3% of the CPU
  2. NAS boxes can and do reliably and have been now using the J3455 CPU for quite some time.
  3. Regarding the i7 processor. The specific generation is the quintessential point. An i7-3xxx won’t do it.
7

Can you send me a link to the requirements?

8

What model i7 cpu do you have? I can recite from memory.

The Intel Quick Sync Video chart is here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video

9

I have the i7 3770. Average CPU benchmark is 9291

10

The best you can do is 1080p. The CPU’s ASIC (gpu as most know it) cannot do 4K.
The first i7 capable was the i7-6xxx (SkyLake)

11

This link here says * Single 4K transcode: Intel Core i7 3.2GHz.

https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

12

Also says:

  • 4K (60Mbps, HEVC) file: 4000 PassMark score (being transcoded to 10Mbps 1080p)

My CPU bench mark is double that?

13

I have a single i7-7700 and it can do 4K.
The i7 you have can not do it in hardware.

I will have the document updated.

Edit: It does not qualify 4K nor does it qualify HW capabilities.

14

Luckily I didnt buy the PMS box so Im not too bummed out about the doc being out of date. Ill look into a new CPU though.

15

“PMS box” ? Would you please elaborate?

16

Plex Media Server. The desktop running Plex.

17

I thought you were referring to buying Hardware “Luckily I didnt buy the PMS box” ?

18

The machine that runs Plex, I didnt buy. Sounds like I will need to buy some new hardware if I want to stream 4K without running into any buffering issues every 2 minutes

19

The least expensive approach for you to stream 4K on a 2K display and have the hardware transcoding to support it would be anything with the J3455 CPU or better (in that product line).

To handle 4K using the i7 product line, you need a Skylake to decode HEVC SDR (8 bit), and KabyLake to decode HEVC HDR.

20

Ill probably go with at least the 7700 if not the 8xxx series CPU. I download 40GB 4K movies and some HDR, want to utilize them on my 4K TV.