Plex transcoding options

[Collinator24]

Hey guys. I have a server with an e5620, and it works well for plex but I don't like how it doesn't have hardware transcoding. It will peg my CPU at 100% when transcoding anything. What's the cheapest way to get hardware transcoding? I know NVENC can help, but I am not sure what the cheapest NVENC card is.

[Ashiella]

Nvidia GTX 6xx series+
No GT series cards have NVENC
You can check this page for more information. (Make sure youre looking at NVENC and not NVDEC)

https://developer.nvidia.com/video-encode-decode-gpu-support-matrix

[Electronics Wizardy]

id get a 6 core cpu, there super cheap for that socket and a good amount faster, id get a x5650. To use he gpu in plex you also need plex pass.

[Wauthar]

21 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

To use he gpu in plex you also need plex pass.

If I recall correctly, Plex can only use the CPU for transcoding. Is the GPU function a new one?

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, Wauthar said:

If I recall correctly, Plex can only use the CPU for transcoding. Is the GPU function a new one?

gpu support has been there for a while now, you just need to pay for plex to use it.

 

How many streams, those cpus should be fine for a few streams at once. It will max the cpu and build a buffer and then stop for a bit, I wouldn't upgrade unless the video is buffering, using max cpu is normal.

[Collinator24]

12 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

id get a 6 core cpu, there super cheap for that socket and a good amount faster, id get a x5650. To use he gpu in plex you also need plex pass.

Yeah, I see it on the compatibility list (https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c01713311). However, I have never worked on any server stuff. Do you know if it's much different? I have only build ryzen systems and one intel 2011 system.

[steelo]

13 hours ago, Collinator24 said:

Hey guys. I have a server with an e5620, and it works well for plex but I don't like how it doesn't have hardware transcoding. It will peg my CPU at 100% when transcoding anything. What's the cheapest way to get hardware transcoding? I know NVENC can help, but I am not sure what the cheapest NVENC card is.

try Plex transcoding on a raspberry pi 3 

[Collinator24]

Just now, steelo said:

try Plex transcoding on a raspberry pi 3 

Gee That sounds like a "great" idea!!

[steelo]

17 minutes ago, Collinator24 said:

Gee That sounds like a "great" idea!!

You're welcome.

[Electronics Wizardy]

1 hour ago, Collinator24 said:

Yeah, I see it on the compatibility list (https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c01713311). However, I have never worked on any server stuff. Do you know if it's much different? I have only build ryzen systems and one intel 2011 system.

Id upgrade the bios first, but it should be as easy as just swapping the cpu. Since you have a e5620, the bios should already be new enough, but a update isn't a bad idea. Nothing special you need to do on the server