What is most sensible upgrade path to handle more simultaneous transcodes?

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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1

Hi,
I am running plex server on docker (ubuntu server),
motherboard: https://www.supermicro.com/en/products/motherboard/X11SSM-F0
cpu: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/97458/intel-core-i3-7300-processor-4m-cache-4-00-ghz.html
16GB ram

My cpu currently can only handle 1/2 simultaneous transcodings and it goes to 100%
What would be the recommended upgrade to handle more simultaneous transcodes?

Note my cpu has integrated graphics, but this specific motherboard does not support iGPUs:
https://www.supermicro.com/support/faqs/faq.cfm?faq=27953

What would be the most sensible upgrade path? Get discrete GPU (which models are good value for plex transcode?), or get new motherboard which will utilize this iGPU and how much of an improvement that would be?

P.S. upload throughput is not a factor.

2

To be honest, the best path forward is to avoid trans codes. The client hardware is the important link in this chain. Purchasing a more suitable client or collecting more suitable compatiable Titles.

Example: HEVC 10bit will not play on my TV / use H.264 content

I would not advise using Handbrake for the above example, that might be a all nighter…

3

I understand that, but I can’t always control it, I could gift my parents a client that will direct play, but in other cases even though I mentioned that upload speed is not an issue, on the receivers end the download speed might be the limiting factor, so they will tone down the quality, and wasting space for poor quality downloads or “otpimizations” does not sound attractive to me.

4

If I may?

  1. Motherboard which supports & allows the internal GPU (Quick Sync Video ASIC) to be accessed.

  2. Sizing of the CPU, and with a reasonable eye on the media curation.
    a. For 2-3 streams with at most 1 subtitle being burned -> i5-7XXX CPU.
    b. For up to 5 streams w/ concurrent subtitle burning, i7-7700 CPU

Best practice for media curation:

  1. SRT subtitles (if they are needed)
  2. Set the player to burn “Only Image Formats” (SRT are text and will overlay)
5

My first plex server was a MacMini from…years back. Had a 2xxx sandy bridge. There was some buggy periods with hw transcode working good and not… but when working good I could get 6 transcodes x264-x264 and not be using but 40-50% cpu.

I’m on an i3-8100, now and it just seems near unlimited. HEVC10 to x264 and all kinds of ■■■■.

Discrete graphics usually have limitations, nv limits to 2, and there are more compatibility and driver issues.
Not being able to use your iGPU is the issue, you just need a mainboard. A new proper mainboard to utilize your current iGPU would be massive.

I’m using an Gigabyte microATX for both of mine. Both handle everything thrown at them.
Plex1: i3-8100 / 8GB / Gigabyte GA-H370M-D3H / WD-nvme
Plex2mirror: i5-7400 / 8GB / Gigabyte GA-H270M-D3H / Samsung 960nvme

6

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