Smallest 4K Plex Server

[Puntoboy]

I have a Synology NAS (DS1515+) that not only acts as storage, but also  run my Plex server. It's been fine for a number of years but in the last 6-12 months as I upgrade my library to 4K it's started to struggle, understandably.

 

I want to replace it with a small dedicated server that can transcode the media stored on the NAS and deliver it to 1-2 players simultaneously. The main player being my 4K LG OLED. I'm pretty certain that this cannot direct play the 4K media so it needs to be transcoded. I had considered an Nvidia Shield however I would prefer to have the ability to transcode as I do watch content on my iPad as well, so having that flexibility is beneficial.

 

So I need the smallest box I can find. ITX would be the biggest as the box with live in my small network cabinet. I don't need anything latest and greatest, just something that supports Quick Sync I think, so that's Haswell and above.

 

Any recommendations?

[Puntoboy]

I have just come across a PC form factor I hadn't heard of before, Mini-STX. Which lead me to find this case.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SilverStone-SST-VT01B-Mini-STX-Silent-Computer/dp/B01M0E7N3B

 

and this motherboard.

 

https://www.asus.com/Commercial-Motherboard/H110S2/

 

Looks ideal, I could pop a i7-7700K in there (as I can get my hands on one very cheap) which supports Quick Sync. The problem might be that the 7700k is lower than the recommended passmark score for Plex and 4K.

[Puntoboy]

I found this that supports the 8th/9th Gen Intel CPUs but only up to 65W TDP. That kinda limits me as I'd have to get a i9-9900 for over £400 alone.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ASRock-DeskMini-310-Mini-Barebone/dp/B07D761L77

[Puntoboy]

Change of plan. I liked the above with one small issue. I'd like a PCI slot for 10GBe. So I've come up with this

 

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/khdMmg

 

Case = 1U Rackmount Chassis / InWin / IW-RA102 but PC Part Picker doesn't list it.

 

My only concern is support for the CPU with hardware transcoding. The Plex article only says Intel CPUs.

[poops]

I personally don't bother with transcoding, it's much cheaper in most cases to just have a 720p version for playback on non-compatible devices IMO. Obviously depends on circumstances so YMMV in that regard. For me that equates to approx 250GB of space to store 720p versions of my 4k content, which is very cheap comparatively to having to buy a pretty beefy CPU to transcode instead. You shouldn't need to bother having 720p versions of 1080p movies you have as even a pretty tame CPU with QS should be able to handle transcode of that I think. Also, if you did have trouble transcoding, you could always switch to using KODI which usually handles things with ease... On my microserver with a Celeron G1610T (2 cores only) I can server a 4K version high bitrate  (57.5Mb/s) movie to my phone with a 1080p screen and the CPU usage on the server is still idling at between 1-6% only most of the time.

Personally I like using plex, especially for TV shows as I then don't have to keep track of what I have watched etc... but for movies I don't mind using KODI as it doesn't put a strain on the server even at several streams simultaneously in 4k.

 

[Puntoboy]

I'm happy with the idea of upgrading the server. Gives me more flexibility.

[SimonLovskog]

I have got an Nvidia Quadro P2000 in my machine, it flawlessly transcodes 4K HEVC streams. Single slot, and no extra power.

[Puntoboy]

That's all well and good, thanks but I don't want to spend a) that kind of cash and b) have a discreet GPU.

[SimonLovskog]

If you want hardware decoding, and no gpu you need an Intel CPU with quicksync, btw :).

[Puntoboy]

10 minutes ago, SimonCircle said:

If you want hardware decoding, and no gpu you need an Intel CPU with quicksync, btw :).

That's what I thought, but reading several over forums suggest that Ryzen APUs will also use hardware transcoding.

[TheRealShadoh]

13 hours ago, Puntoboy said:

That's what I thought, but reading several over forums suggest that Ryzen APUs will also use hardware transcoding.

Have you tried using Tdarr to transcode the media into a direct play format for your devices? Shouldn't have an issue delivering 4k direct play if it's already been transcoded before hand. 

[Puntoboy]

I haven't heard of Tdarr but I don't really want to have multiple copies of the same media, seems an inefficient way of doing it. I don't mind spending the money on a new server that can handle transcoding.

[TheRealShadoh]

3 hours ago, Puntoboy said:

I haven't heard of Tdarr but I don't really want to have multiple copies of the same media, seems an inefficient way of doing it. I don't mind spending the money on a new server that can handle transcoding.

It replaces the existing copy, but if you don't mind spending the $ that works. 

[Puntoboy]

Just now, TheRealShadoh said:

It replaces the existing copy, but if you don't mind spending the $ that works. 

I still want to the un-transcoded version for devices that supported it