Server Hardware

[NugentS]

Server Version#: Latest, Windows
Player Version#: Not Important at this stage

My current Plex Server is a 4th Gen (Haswell) Intel CPU with 8GB of memory living on a old Lenovo Thinkcenter M93p SFF Desktop

Its OK, and has been reliable, but transcoding when required has issues. Direct Stream is fine

A replacement of some kind is in the cards. As I see it there are 2 options.

1. A new CPU (higher generation) - to allow hardware transcoding
2. Graphics Card - to allow hardware transcoding.

Neither of which, due to PSU limitations / or motherboard limitations are practical in the existing PC.

So I am starting with a new PC of some kind.

I am unsure of the difference / effect of CPU transcoding (hardware) using a newer generation of CPU vs GPU transcoding - which should I be aiming at
What happens if you have both? New CPU & GPU (of an appropriate type) although I imagine I would start with CPU and then upgrade to GPU if needed (ie just make sure that the PC can handle a graphics card later)

I would probably buy a modern m/b with onboard graphics in the first place, and then add a discreet GPU if sensible later on.

Mostly 1080p with some 4K (growing slowly). A lot of H.265 though
3-4 clients only with mostly one or two at any one time.

I have a budget of approx £1,000 - but the less I spend the better.

Any suggestions / comments?

Sean

[pl_5309]

Any Intel Core I3,5,7 that doesn’t end in F has an onboard decoder/encoder that does HW transcoding. 8th or 9th gen would do H.265, shoot for 16GB+ .

[NugentS]

Any thought on the 10th generation?
I quote from Intel “10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors with Intel® Iris® Plus graphics bring broad-scale artificial intelligence (AI) to the PC for the first time. With approximately 2.5x accelerated AI performance, approximately 2x graphics performance …”
Mind you they look like laptop chips only at the moment

Looks like more realistically an i5-9600K or an i3-9350K or similar

[pl_5309]

10 Gen is suppose to bring double the graphics performance and color mapping for HDR built in. The unknown is will it be supported by the current transcoder or will you have to wait a year before it is updated.

The i3-9350KF ends in F, wish Intel hadn’t gotten greedy and started selling Core I chips without functioning graphics. It has really caused a lot of confusion. The i5-9600 without the K is a 65 Watt part that is same or slightly better performance. With your stated 3-4 client load this would be a really solid performer.