Hello all…Just trying to wrap my head around what my best option is here. I have been using Plex for years running Plex server on my Shield Pro. Been very happy, streaming 4k etc.
I just built a Synology server (ds920+) and I am wondering if I should retire the Shield Pro?
Apparently I have never needed to transcode while using the Shield Pro…Could someone explain why I may need to transcode? It’s hard for me to understand my I have never run into this possible bottleneck of transcoding before. (everyone seems to talk about it)
Just trying to wrap my head around this and see if it makes sense to migrate to the server and get rid of the shield pro…thank you for any insight you can offer.
The Shield Pro is a “thick client” in that it can do all the difficult work itself instead of forcing the server to do it. In the case of any Synology processor, this is a good situation to be in. Synology’s CPUs don’t have the processing power to handle subtitle burning in most cases. The hardware in the Nvidia Shield does it with ease (like a BluRay player does).
I like the Shield player app. Between the Shield itself, which includes all the work Nvidia is putting into the device, and the app, I feel the two push it to that ‘Best in Class’ category of players.
It is always a DirectPlay device to PMS which means that anything capable of running the server and sending the file out the ethernet (which a Synology does very well) just works. no muss; no fuss.
I do have the Shield Pro 2019 so may be a bit narrow in my view but as I understand Nvidia’s forum and the beta I’m involved with, they are intending to provide as much as they can ‘across the fleet’. They seem very committed to making the Shield Pro stand out.
I can’t speak to upgrading what you have but in my case, even the development NAS boxes (TS-128A ARMv8 and my old DS1815+) work flawlessly with it.
Thanks for the reply…So if I follow you correctly, are you saying that I should actually run Plex Server on the NAS and keep the Shield Pro as the client? I still don’t truly understand transcoding since I have apparently never needed to transcode. Do I necessarily have to buy plex pass? (I haven’t to this point) Most of my movies are 1080 at this point and I have dabbled in some 4k GoPro videos…
…or keep using Plex Server on the Shield Pro (older model) as I have always done and use the NAS purely as a file server?
In this case, you’re fortunate that you don’t need a Plex Pass because the server isn’t performing any transcoding for the television. The shield is doing all that work for the server.
Yes, run the server on the Syno. It’s great at shoving the data out to the Shield.
I don’t know which one you have. If / when you get to the point of having a 2160p television and a 1080p television (the ‘older’ norm), with 2160p content, and want to use that one movie file on both devices, while the one TV will play it as-is, the older tv will likely need the help. That’s where your existing shield may or may not be enough. You need to check its specifications and verify it is capable of 2160p->1080p as well has HDR -> SDR .
