Tip for pixelation during transcoding from recent updates

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: 1.18.0.1913
Player Version#: Various

I’ve been running Plex on my laptop with nVidia card set to force transcode everything with hardware acceleration enabled. I know there’s been a flurry of recent server updates lately, but my video started becoming pixelated recently. After fiddling with all the settings, turning off hardware acceleration has solved my problem. Just a tip of you’ve encountered the same thing (at least until Plex fixes the issue).

1 Like
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There have been a ton of updates on Hardware encoding recently and they must have complete messed things up. Turning off hardware encoding is not an option for me so I reverted back to 1.17 until they fix it.

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Also consider trying the 1.18.0.1944 release. If you still have issues after re-enabling hardware transcoding, I would make another post.

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Installed Version 1.18.0.1944

Pixellation continues for first 45 seconds of any recorded or live show.
Only occurs when playing with Plex clients.

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The issue still exists with this patch - Synology DS918+, with hardware acceleration enabled pixelation for the first 45-seconds, then it clears up.

Turn hardware acceleration off - perfect video, but runs the cpu to 80+%.

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It appears that this is a separate issue and the Plex team is aware of it.

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Thank you for the clarification.

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My plex server was running great until I updated, then it insta-crashes for h.265 content, and even some h.264 content. No warning, just playback doesn’t start, and back on the server the tray icon disappears if you mouse over it (Server crashed and is gone). Nothing happens until I restart plex server again from the start menu.

Seems to be others on the plex forums complaining. I’m using Nvidia and Quicksync transcoding. Only way to keep it stable is to turn off HWTranscoding, which stresses my server that I specifically built to easily handle transcoding.

I tried repairing the install, didn’t help.

Then tried downgrading back to 1.18.0.1944, and it totally fixed the issue. HW Transcoding works again, and h.265 content can be played. There is certainly something wrong with the latest 1.18.1.1973 update.

Previous installers are kept with your media folder on the c drive. Uninstall, the run the 1.18.0.1944 installer. All your settings, media, etc. are preserved.

If you’re suddenly having transcoding problems, downgrade, and it might fix it.

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