Using Windows Server with Hardware-Accelerated Streaming

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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I recently got a Plex Lifetime Pass and have opened up my Plex account to some family members to stream, and I want to make sure the server can handle 1-4 concurent streams. I have the option to repurpose one of my other desktops to be a separate media server and wanted some collective advice.

My current Plex server is running on this hardware:

  • Intel NUC D54250WYK
  • CPU: i5-4250U
  • RAM: 16GB DDR3L-1333/1600 SO-DIMM
  • GPU: Intel HD Graphics 5000
  • OS: Windows Server 2016 Essentials
  • PC Mark: 2162

This old workhorse of a NUC is running:

  • Plex Media Server
  • Tautulli
  • Ombi
  • Media management software
  • Netcam Studio
  • Calibre
  • Airsonic

My media and server files are stored on these:

Here are my two potential hardware options:

Option 1:

  • Intel NUC NUC6i7KYK
  • CPU: i7-6770HQ
  • RAM: 32GB DDR4-2133+ SO-DIMM
  • GPU: Iris Pro 580
  • OS: Windows 10
  • PC Mark: 7237

Option 2:

  • Intel NUC NUC8I5BEH
  • CPU: i5-8259U
  • RAM: 32GB DDR4-2400 SO-DIMM
  • GPU: Iris Plus Graphics 655
  • OS: Windows 10
  • PC Mark: 8127

On the list of Quick Sync Video processors I was able to find that all three CPUs support Intel Quick Sync Video:

  • CPU: i5-4250U - Yes
  • CPU: i7-6770HQ - Yes
  • CPU: i5-8259U - Yes

Clearly the two more recent CPUs are more performant, but is there any particular bonus to running one over the other?

An additional wrinkle on this is that I have an Akitio Node with a GTX 1070 that can connect to either the Skull Canyon or the Bean Canyon NUC box via Thunderbolt 3.

Plus, rather than using the ThunderBolt 3 for the eGPU connection I quite like the idea of replacing the Mediasonic Pro Box USB3 JBODs with a OWC Thunderbay 8.

So here are the big questions for the assembled experts:

  1. Which NUC/processor combo would you recommend for hardware accelerated streaming?
  2. Is there any significant bonus to using the GTX 1070 card for this?
  3. To use hardware accelerated streaming does a user need to be left logged in?
  4. To use the GPU does a user need to be left logged in?
  5. Can hardware accelerated streaming be used if Plex is running as a service?
  6. I’d ideally run this under Windows Server 2019, has anyone written up a guide on doing this?

Appreciate your time reviewing this thread, and any advice anyone may have on these questions.

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1 The i5-8259U is slightly more capable.
2 Not with 4 streams
3 Yes
4 Yes
5 No
6 Not quite what your asking for but good info: [HowTo] An extended guide on how to move the Plex data folder on Windows

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