This discussion was created from comments split from: Plex server on DS918+ - perfect hardware transcode of 4K 10bit HDR with low cpu usage.
I’m relatively new/inexperienced to this whole Plex/HTPC/NAS world. I currently own a Seagate Personal Cloud 3TB. For mp4s, it works great, but it cannot transcode in the slightest. For large files and any mkvs, I have to “serve” them from my MacBook Pro because (I presume?) my MacBook Pro is able to transcode on the fly without any problems while my Seagate NAS doesn’t have a CPU or GPU to do this.
So my questions is: What’s the best/easiest way to get a single device that can both store lots of media and transcode media on the fly whenever necessary, a HTPC or a NAS with a solid CPU/GPU?
Keep in mind that I’d prefer the total cost of a new device to be under $300 is possible. I’ve sort of been researching options in both camps. I can get a diskless Synology or QNAP (that can allegedly handle a single 4K transcode at a time, which is all I really need) for around $300, but I’d have to buy and install drives for them. Alternately, I can buy a refurbished Dell or HP server computer for around $200 with an Intel i5, which I’m told would be sufficient for my needs. So I’m learning toward the latter, which would essentially equate to having an actual HTPC/Plex server combo.
One of the refurbished server/computers I’m considering is this one. Although I’m less knowledgeable about hardware than I am about software, I feel like for the specs and what I’d be getting, this is a really great buy. And it already comes with 1TB of built-in storage.
The problem is that I’m concerned adding the storage I’d need (at least 2TB as the final amount although I’d be more comfortable with 3 or 4TB) would make going the server-computer-HTPC route as expensive as going the NAS with CPU/CPU route.
So I’d really like some advice here on which way I should go. I’m fairly resourceful and knowledgeable about tech on the software side, and with tutorials and YouTube, I feel confident I can probably install hard drives and operating systems if necessary. My main issue is cost. I’d like to keep the cost as low as possible.
