# Single core or multi core more important for Plex transcoding? **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-windows\ **Created:** [April 3, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719 "2021-04-03T00:37:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Mustard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/king_mustard/32/89740_2.png) [@King\_Mustard](https://forums.plex.tv/u/King_Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/1 "2021-04-03T00:37:50Z")
I have the free version of PMS running on Windows 10. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 1:06pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/2 "2021-04-03T13:06:24Z")
If you have the choice between several CPUs which have comparable CPUmark scores [https://www.cpubenchmark.net/](https://www.cpubenchmark.net/) as a whole, compare their "single thread rating"s. You want the CPU which has a higher single thread rating. see also [What kind of CPU do I need for my Server? | Plex Support](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/) ---
**Author:** ![King\_Mustard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/king_mustard/32/89740_2.png) [@King\_Mustard](https://forums.plex.tv/u/King_Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/3 "2021-04-03T14:32:51Z")
The overall score isn’t really a good indicator, as one that has a far stronger single core or multi core score can end up with the exact same overall score. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 2:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/4 "2021-04-03T14:34:19Z")
Hence why I wrote: > [@OttoKerner](#): > > You want the CPU which has a higher single thread rating. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Mustard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/king_mustard/32/89740_2.png) [@King\_Mustard](https://forums.plex.tv/u/King_Mustard)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 2:41pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/5 "2021-04-03T14:41:48Z")
Ah, missed that. Single core it is. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/6 "2021-04-03T14:45:15Z")
That doesn’t mean that single thread rating is the _only_ thing to pay attention to. To be able to transcode H.265 streams or downmix DTS-HD MA Atmos audio streams, your CPU needs to have plenty of overall passmark rating score. So aim high, particularly if you store Bluray “remuxes” and /or 4K material. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/single-core-or-multi-core-more-important-for-plex-transcoding/706719/7 "2021-07-02T14:45:20Z")
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