Synology upgrade advice

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Hi, I’ve been running a DS212 for around six years with Plex installed but as it can’t transcode media for my XBox One and TV clients I’ve been running a server on a separate desktop PC as well.

I’m thinking about upgrading the Diskstation and I would hope to be able to run the Plex server and transcode successfully for the clients.

Two models I’m considering are: DS218+ and DS718+. Does anyone have advice on which would suit a Plex server better?

They seem to be very similar but the 218+ has a Intel Celeron J3355 while the 718+ has a J3455.

Thanks in advance

Josh

2

Josh,
I recommend looking around the Synology forum but think you’ll find folks are opting for the J3455 when possible. It gives them that extra upward growth room now instead of purchasing again later.
There were some comparisons done so feel free to read and ask questions in those threads.

3

Depending on how your media is formatted I doubt either of those NAS will be upto the PC you have been using.

I always suggest get at least a 4 bay box with intel CPU (which they both do).If it doesn’t work then go back to using your PC as the server.

4

Thanks Chuck,

My bad, as you say there is heaps of stuff on the forums.

Josh

5

If your even thinking of having Plex do Real-time trans-coding take the DS218+ off your list, That only has a PassMark score of 1291 henc it can’t even do a single stream of 1080p. The DS718+ has a PassMark score of 2159 so you should be able to trans-code one 1080p stream. Mileage will vary. I also agree you may wan’t to look at a min of a 4 bay NAS for future growth.

6

@JoshWilkinson said:
Thanks Chuck,

My bad, as you say there is heaps of stuff on the forums.

Josh

It’s not ‘my bad’ to ask what you don’t know. Asking a second time after we’ve explain it? Yeah, that’s a “my bad” :smiley:

7

For Ray and Spike,

Are you recommending a four bay just because of the storage limitations into the future or are there other advantages over a two bay?

I’m quite (physical) space limited and I imagine that my media library is modest compared to most Plex users.

8

go for the J3455; like Chuck said, it’s a bit more future proof. If you have a Plex Pass account you’ll also be able to use hardware transcoding; so your 718+ will be able to transcode multiple streams at once (altough I would keep your expectations in check).

regarding 2 bays or 4 bays (DS918+): I guess it boils down to the amount of storage you need and/or which Raid mode you want to use.

9

@JoshWilkinson said:
For Ray and Spike,

Are you recommending a four bay just because of the storage limitations into the future or are there other advantages over a two bay?

I’m quite (physical) space limited and I imagine that my media library is modest compared to most Plex users.

4 bay for storage. You can never have enough terabytes!
And you don’t have to fill up a 4 bay - it will work just fine with 2 drives

10

The highest model you can afford with an intel processor that supports quicksync.

I own a 218+ myself upgraded to 6gb of ram. I can transcode 2 1080p streams. More if all a stream needs is remuxing.

I don’t do 4k yet, and i don’t see it in my future just yet.

11

@RayIT said:
If your even thinking of having Plex do Real-time trans-coding take the DS218+ off your list, That only has a PassMark score of 1291 henc it can’t even do a single stream of 1080p. The DS718+ has a PassMark score of 2159 so you should be able to trans-code one 1080p stream. Mileage will vary. I also agree you may wan’t to look at a min of a 4 bay NAS for future growth.

I’ve done 2 streams with hardware acceleration on. I don’t use it often though, the only thing that needs transcoding is my ps4.