Hi All
I think i already know the answer but I have just installed me first plex server(s) … on my laptop as a test and on my ReadyNAS 104.
The NAS is not great and can’t convert some videos on the fly but the laptop is instant
I have an i7 which I am thinking of replacing the NAS with. Does any have any advice on scrapping the NAS and using the PC?
Thanks
Mattie
Why scrap the NAS? Use it as storage for/backup of your files. As long as it all is connected with Gbit cable there should be no issues with using that for storage and your PC as the PMS.
Hi Peter, thanks for the response and yes I would keep the NAS for backups but it’s just not up to the task for PMS.
So you would recommend a high spec PC for Plex if available? I guess I have answered my own question there 
I use a Haswell i3 running the server and the libraries configured to look to the RN104. Despite also running as a DVR running NextPVR and using MCEBuddy to convert files, I have never had any problems for power. If I did, I would probably just buy a faster CPU of the same generation and stick it in the socket rather than go to a newer architecture.
I don’t think a high spec PC is necessarily required for Plex. If you’re building a new PC and want plenty of power for transcodes without going overboard on processor, I’d go with a Ryzen 5 1500 or Ryzen 7 1700 (non-X model, AMD’s stock coolers are perfectly suitable). AMD doesn’t match Intel’s clocks and per-thread performance, but they offer more threads at the i5 level whereas Intel only offers hyperthreading on the i7. If money is no object, the Intel 8th-gen i7 is super hot right now but totally unnecessary.
Generally speaking, AMD’s chips are cheaper but as good as they’ve been since the Athlon days, and the additional threads are really good for video encoding and not so good for games (gamers get higher framerates with Intel’s higher single-threaded performance). So if you’re just doing a video streaming/encoding box, I’d go Ryzen. If you want to go REALLY extreme, like a system built to transcode 4K video all day, skip R7/i7 and go straight to Threadripper.
Hi
Strangely I have a new i7 lying around so I will probably just use that for now but I could look at a chip upgrade on the RN104.
Thanks
Mattie
@chilson Though, with the new addition of Hardware transcoding QuickSync is preferable - if you do not want to use a separate graphics card for it.
@Peter_W My memory (might be wrong) is that QuickSync isn’t supported by ffmpeg, so if you do go that route you’re limited to Handbrake. Obviously “high end” is subjective, but if you’re comparing $300 CPUs to $400 CPUs, you might consider a $300 CPU + $125 GPU instead.
@chilson on the contrary, https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/115002178853-Using-Hardware-Accelerated-Streaming states
Plex Media Server’s hardware acceleration uses Intel Quick Sync Video for decoding and encoding, which is available in all recent Intel Core processors and some Intel Xeon processors, and some Intel Atom processors.
