I’m trying to decide between 2 computers to buy for a dedicated Plex server. A little info, I currently use a 2011 iMac i5 2.5ghz but I share my library with several people and it is starting to bog down the computer a little. The fan seems like it is running non stop and I’m afraid it’s going to catch on fire. Besides the Plex server I also rip blue ray movies and convert them to MP4. So I am looking at Mac Pro either 12 core 2.66ghz or 6 core 3.33ghz. Any opinions on which is better. I have read that the 3.33ghz is more important than the 12 cores, is that true?
If the two CPU’s has equal passmark score, the one with least cores would most likely be the one best suited for Plex - as the transcoding engine in certain situations (such as transcoding VC1) can’t utilize all cores.
With that said, if I were you I’d start thinking about expanding your storage space and creating multiple versions of your Bluray rips. Say, one suited for an internal Home Theater setup that’s pretty much raw copy - and one suited for streaming to your friends and family. It isn’t feasible, imho, to expand further and further on raw CPU power. The transcoding engine is a nice feature to have, and I advise most to get a CPU that has at least some to handle the odd codec or subtitle burn-in, but in the end you’ll end up spending an awful lot of money on CPU power vs cheap storage.
