This server is not powerful enough to convert video

Plex Media Server
,
1

Server Version#: 1.29.1.6316
Player Version#: 4.87.2 (Chrome)

I’ve read quite a few of the threads about this message and they’ve all been dead ends for me. I get the message “This server is not powerful enough to convert video” only in Chrome. The Desktop player on Mac and Windows both work fine and so does Safari on macOS.

Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 7.51.59 PM
Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 7.51.59 PM1236×405 98.5 KB

I have matched the browser player settings between Safari (working) and Chrome (throws the error) and they’re the same.

It appears to be specifically 4K MKV files. 1080p MKVs work and other 4K files work.

Details for one of the files that has the issue.

Media

  • Duration 1:46:38
  • Bitrate 13280 kbps
  • Width 3840
  • Height 2160
  • Aspect Ratio 1.78
  • Video Resolution 4K
  • Container MKV
  • Video Frame Rate 24p
  • Video Profile main 10

Part

  • Duration 1:46:38

  • File Your Name. (2016) {imdb-tt5311514} [Bluray-2160p][HDR10][AC3 5.1][x265].mkv

  • Size 9.88 GB

  • Container MKV

  • Video Profile main 10

  • Codec HEVC

  • Bitrate 11963 kbps

  • Language English

  • Language Tag en

  • Bit Depth 10

  • Chroma Location topleft

  • Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0

  • Coded Height 2160

  • Coded Width 3840

  • Color Primaries bt2020

  • Color Range tv

  • Color Space bt2020nc

  • Color Trc smpte2084

  • Frame Rate 23.976 fps

  • Height 2160

  • Level 5.1

  • Profile main 10

  • Ref Frames 1

  • Title Your Name (2016) - BluRay 2160p HDR x265 - SacReD

  • Width 3840

  • Display Title 4K HDR10 (HEVC Main 10)

  • Extended Display Title Your Name (2016) - BluRay 2160p HDR x265 - SacReD (HEVC Main 10)

  • Codec AC3

  • Channels 6

  • Bitrate 640 kbps

  • Language English

  • Language Tag en

  • Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)

  • Sampling Rate 48000 Hz

  • Title AC-3 5.1 (English Dialogue, English Songs)

  • Display Title English (AC3 5.1)

  • Extended Display Title AC-3 5.1 (English Dialogue, English Songs)

  • Codec AC3

  • Channels 6

  • Bitrate 639 kbps

  • Language English

  • Language Tag en

  • Audio Channel Layout 5.1(side)

  • Sampling Rate 48000 Hz

  • Title AC-3 5.1 (English Dialogue, Japanese Songs)

  • Display Title English (AC3 5.1)

  • Extended Display Title AC-3 5.1 (English Dialogue, Japanese Songs)

  • Codec SRT

  • Language English

  • Language Tag en

  • Title English - SRT

  • Display Title English (SRT)

  • Extended Display Title English - SRT

  • Codec PGS

  • Bitrate 38 kbps

  • Language English

  • Language Tag en

  • Header Compression true

  • Title English

  • Display Title English (PGS)

  • Extended Display Title English (PGS)

Player settings in Chrome (again same as Safari which is working)

Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 8.01.05 PM
Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 8.01.05 PM860×582 47.9 KB

Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 8.01.14 PM
Screen Shot 2022-11-15 at 8.01.14 PM846×591 41.5 KB

2

Try the hosted version of Plex Web, https://app.plex.tv/desktop/, not the local version.

Do you have transcoding disabled on your server?
Settings → Transcoder → Disable video stream transcoding

If so, and Plex needs to transcode the video for some reason, you will receive the “server is not powerful enough” message.

3

Forgot to mention that, yes, I have disable transcoding.

The hosted version works. Interesting. Why would that work and the local version served by my PMS instance doesn’t?

4

Chrome only recently added HEVC video support (v107).

Plex then updated the hosted version of Plex Web (app.plex.tv) to also support HEVC video (v4.94.2).

The version of Plex Web bundled with Plex Media Server always lags the hosted version by several releases. When Plex updates it to 4.94.2 or later, it will support HEVC video (unknown when that will happen).

Safari has supported HEVC playback for quite some time. There may be some base level hardware and MacOS requirements.

Additional info on browser HEVC support: HEVC/H.265 video format | Can I use... Support tables for HTML5, CSS3, etc

5

Thanks for the info. Would be nice if they provided a more meaningful and accurate message in this scenario vs the incorrect / misleading “This server is not powerful enough to convert video”

6

Hi, any solution fir your issue? I have sane problem in my odroid n2 debian Plex server any 4K video is playback error( Not enough CPU for conversion of this item.)
Transcoding I have disabled full hd videos play without any problem. :man_shrugging: try play on ios device or android box or android TV11.

7

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