# Transcoding question
**URL:** https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-question/212235
**Category:** General Discussions
**Created:** [October 30, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-question/212235 "2017-10-30T00:32:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@rocks911](https://forums.plex.tv/u/rocks911)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-question/212235/1 "2017-10-30T00:32:22Z")
I have PLEX resident on my Windows 10 PC at home. I have several media files of all sorts, AVI, Matroska, MP4, etc. and so I just looked at 3 different devices streaming from my PLEX PC at home and all of them were transcoding both audio and video.
Is there one format/container that requires less transcoding than others?
In other words what file types can be played natively on more devices than any other? Clearly I want to keep transcoding to a minimum.
My Windows 10 PC is an older HP desktop with a 6 core AMD processor with an Operating speed: 2.9 GHz, Bus speed: 4000 MHz HT3. And it is connected to the internet via fiber optic at 50/50. It suits my needs but am afraid of maxing out the capabilities resulting in playback issues.
Im new to streaming PLEX and just trying to learn my limitations
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### Author:  [@jjrjr1](https://forums.plex.tv/u/jjrjr1)
#### Post date: [October 30, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-question/212235/2 "2017-10-30T01:05:47Z")
Yes…
For 1080p
Encode
h264 / mp4 / AC3 5.1, AAC 2 channel
for 4K
Encode
h265 / mp4 / AC3 5.1, AAC 2 channel
That encoding will direct play in most cases.
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### Author:  [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2020, 12:04am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoding-question/212235/3 "2020-01-08T00:04:30Z")