Longtime PLEX user here. Have a few questions about PLEX hardware transcoding.
I installed latest PLEX server version with hardware transcoding support and enabled hardware transcoding in settings. When I try to transcode 4k HEVC 10bit HDR to 1080p 20mbits Synology 918+ CPU goes to 98% and conversion stutters.
Does hardware transcoding of 10bit HDR videos is not enabled yet or I am doing something wrong? If is not enabled does PLEX plan to implement it?
I know the CPU in 918+ is perfectly capable of doing it. I tried the same thing with ‘other’ media server with the same file and conversion from 4K 10bit to 1080p 30mbit is working flawlessly with CPU usage about 25%.
It would be a nice thing to have it because it saves us storage space(no need to keep different resolution files of same thing).
I know the CPU in 918+ is perfectly capable of doing it. I tried the same thing with ‘other’ media server with the same file and conversion from 4K 10bit to 1080p 30mbit is working flawlessly with CPU usage about 25%.
Plex does things differently and your 918+ will always struggle with that type of file.
Others more knowledgeable than me will likely explain why.
Personally i do not bother with 4k or even high bitrate files as I see no difference when viewing.
I do not have a file with a bitrate over 4,000bps or 4gb in size.
There is only one problem - transcoded videos look little ‘washed up’ , but they are watchable. I think it’s like that because of transcoding files with bt.2020 to Rec. 709 color space or the transcoder retains bt.2020 which then is displayed on regular monitor/TV . I hope solution for that problem will be found also( I guess INTEL needs to develop/implement that conversion before anyone else can use it).
Its very practical to keep just one version of files for playback on 4k HDR living room TV(where I can notice the difference from lower bitrate or lower resolution) , while be able to stream them to other non 4k tv’s and devices.
