Transcoder is Making Out my CPU Using PS4

Plex Players Gaming Consoles
1

 Playing plex from an IPad, Iphone or PS4.  The trasncoder is maxing out my server CPU. It peggs my CPU to about 98% - 100%  and stays there while is trancoding and constant, when this happening is buffering 90% of my movies. I've installed a video card thinking that it will help with the offload of the transcoding and that did not help.  

 

Any help on how to lower the transcoding or stop the buffering when playing movies on plex. 

 

 

My specs: 

running windows 7 

video card 

internet speed: 150mps

OS is located on my SSD

movies on a 2tb HD separated from the OS 

 

Thank you in advance!

 

2

plex does not support gpu transcoding so thats why that is no help what cpu do you have  how much ram so on and what kinda of file types.

3

So files wise is pretty much all movies anything from 1080p to 720p is a mixture.  But also have ACC files and MP4 files. I aam attching my specs, let me know what you think. 

I also have a video card MSI Radeon 6450 

	Model

		Brand
	
		MSI

		Model
	
		R6450-MD1GD3/LP

	Interface

		<a>Interface</a>
	
		PCI Express 2.1 x16

	Chipset

		Chipset Manufacturer
	
		AMD

		<a>GPU</a>
	
		Radeon HD 6450

		<a>Core Clock</a>
	
		625MHz

		Stream Processors
	
		160 Stream Processors

	Memory

		<a>Effective Memory Clock</a>
	
		1333MHz

		Memory Size
	
		1GB

		<a>Memory Interface</a>
	
		64-Bit

		Memory Type
	
		DDR3

	3D API

		<a>DirectX</a>
	
		DirectX 11

		<a>OpenGL</a>
	
		OpenGL 4.1

	Ports

		<a>HDMI</a>
	
		1 x HDMI

		<a>D-SUB</a>
	
		1 x D-SUB

		<a>DVI</a>
	
		1 x DVI

	Details

		<a>RAMDAC</a>
	
		400 MHz

		Max Resolution
	
		2560 x 1600

		CrossFireX Support
	
		No

		Cooler
	
		With Fan

		System Requirements
	
		Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.

		Dual-Link DVI Supported
	
		Yes

		<a>HDCP Ready</a>
	
		Yes

	Form Factor & Dimensions

		<a>Form Factor</a>
	
		Low Profile Ready

		Card Dimensions (L x H)
	
		5.71" x 2.72"

Thanks

4

so just a dual core and a older cpu clocked low thats likely why its maxing out anything it has to transcode is pushing it to the max. It might help if under transcoder in settings you set it to higher speed encoding its found under the server settings.

5

What speed would you suggest. I am new to this.  So i need excat details or numbers in case.. Also, so do you suggest adding more RAM or newer core etc. 

This are my setting in my plex right now under transcoder. 

I appreciate all your help 

6

your likely gonna be limited what cpu you can put in your current board id say the best would be a q9650 that will run you 80+usd if your board you have supports it.

7

Thank you for that, ill look into that.  What speed or settings were you suggestion to help with my transcoder? See images above to help with my current settings. 

8

change transcoder quailty to higher speed encoding and see if that helps.

9

So that didnt help at all.  It buffers alot more, like you said plex doesnt support GPU. Any other ideas? Even if we have to eleminate the ps4 out of the equation. I am open to ideas.  

10

you have direct play turned on correct ?

11

I do see image.

12

I do see image.

That seems to be the streaming quality for the web client, not your PS4 client.

Go into your PS4 client and start a movie, and then change the streaming quality from in there to see if that helps.

13

Yeah i've tried that. And it still transcode at 90% and buffers of course

14

I would say your best bet is putting a different CPU in. What motherboard do you have? I would say you'll want to go for a quad-core at the least.

It sounds like your PS4 keeps buffering all the time, because your server can't transcode fast enough, so the PS4 is waiting on the server, thus buffering. That is of course assuming you are on a wired connection.

15

Yeah i've tried that. And it still transcode at 90% and buffers of course

Transcoding happens if the video file and its related files are not supported by the client. The PS4 can't play certain types of subtitles for example, so if you have srt subs, or PSG or VOBSUB, then your CPU does need to do some heavy lifting. Same thing if the video files have unsupported codecs, or too high bitrate, or similar.

So to be safe, buy a more powerful CPU. The one you have today has only 1600 in passmark score. 2000 is recommended for high bitrate-1080P movies.