Transcoding Issues with Odyssey x86J4105 - PMS Crash after reboot, High CPU Usage

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: 1.21.2.3943 (Windows 10 Enterprise, fully updated)
Player Version#: Several (iOS, Web Player, FireTV)

Hello, I recently switched from a NVidia Shield to the Odyssey x86J4105864 after watching this youtube video outlining it’s ability to transcode as a low power solution. Cheap and powerfull Plex Media Server!: Odyssey x86J4105 REVIEW (4K transcoding!)

When the server reboots and logs in, if I try to “transcode” something the server will crash. To “work around” this, I have to go to the “Transcoder” settings, and turn off “Use hardware acceleration when available”. I then start something playing which uses CPU transcoding.

After doing this, I stop the playback, go back to the “transcoder” settings and turn back on “Use hardware acceleration when available”

Now, if I go play something it will play and use hardware transcode. However, the CPU is still getting slammed. In the video, the guy shows pretty low CPU usage. In my experience, if I play 2 things at once, the Hardware transcoder (HW shows on the dashboard for each video) it takes the CPU to 100% and the GPU is only around 20%.

I have attached a server log illustrating when the server crashes.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of Plex can guide me to a fix.

I appreciate and welcome all feedback.

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Plex runs in user space and can’t access the gpu if you start it as a service or using RDP. Windows limitation.

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Thank you @pl_5309 for such a quick response!

It was timely and helpful. I was running the server as a service. I re-setup with “autologon”
Autologn - Sysinternals

It no longer crashes after reboot. I am also able to stream 2-3 simultaneous streams.

I’m still having the issue where when 2 to 3 streams are brought online, it pegs the CPU and causes streams to alternate buffering.

In the video on YouTube, the person started 8 - 10 streams and still hadn’t pegged the CPU. Am I missing something?

All of my videos are stored in MKVs (direct disc rips from MakeMKV). So far everything I’ve tested does use the Hardware Transcoder.

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The only thing that comes to mind is to make sure that these aren’t HDR files if so disable “Enable HDR tone mapping” under Settings>Transcoder. Windows isn’t handling this feature to well. The youtuber only did one 4K to 1080 but even so if you have lossless audio and subtitles hitting the CPU that could give it a workout.

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Thank you @pl_5309

I will check that (HDR) but I don’t think I have any HDR videos. All of mine are 1080P BluRay or 480 DVD. We do watch with Subtitles generally on and whatever audio it defaults too. I’ts possible it’s lossless audio.

I’ll poke around on my side. If you happen to think of any other tips on things to check, I’d be happy to test.

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