NAS Plex Server Build

[smush]

I've been looking to get a NAS for awhile now to stream videos (mostly 1080p and below content but some 4K too) to devices such as an iPad Pro and 4K Smart TVs (Not sure if this is what is referred to as a Plex server?) and backup a few important files and photos. I've been considering the Synology DS218+ but I would like more than 2 bays for future upgrades however when I see the prices of 4 bays and above I change my mind. Anyway I recently had the thought of building my own, I'm not new to PC building having built my last 3 gaming PCs and I'm competent with computing and sysadmin but I just want my NAS to work pretty flawlessly I don't want to be tinkering with it constantly a lengthy set up process is OK so long as it can be a set up and not have mess with it much so I'm wondering if this is achievable going the DIY route?

 

The components I'm thinking of are...

PCPartPicker Part List

Type	Item	Price
CPU	AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 3.6 GHz Quad-Core Processor	£75.00 @ Amazon UK
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-A320M-H Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard	£44.66 @ CCL Computers
Memory	Crucial 4 GB (1 x 4 GB) DDR4-3200 CL22 Memory	£20.41 @ Ebuyer
Power Supply	EVGA B3 450 W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply	£59.99 @ Amazon UK
	Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts
	Total	£200.06
	Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-06-25 14:23 BST+0100

I have been told I should perhaps replace the Ryzen CPU with an Intel because of their Quick Sync feature so I'm thinking maybe a Core i3 8100? Would this handle a Plex server streaming/transcoding mostly 1080p with some 4K content here and there?

 

You will notice there is no case there and that is because originally when I built my current PC I wanted a small form factor PC that I could easily move between a desk and TV but I never really bothered with that much and when I wanted to make upgrades the case was too restrictive (GPU sizes) so I just moved all the internals to bigger case and still have the old one sitting in its box.

The case I have is a Thermaltake Urban SD1 https://uk.thermaltake.com/urban-sd1.html from what I gather it can support 3 3.5 inch hard drives?

[Hairless Monkey]

TLDR

Do Ryzen APUs have a good hardware encoder? If so, can Plex use it?

 

The concept is good, but those are the sticking points. The Core i3 will work for sure I know.

[smush]

1 minute ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

TLDR

Do Ryzen APUs have a good hardware encoder? If so, can Plex use it?

 

The concept is good, but those are the sticking points. The Core i3 will work for sure I know.

I mean technically both would do the job I'd imagine? Just wanted to know if the i3 was a step up, down or to the side given Intel usually prices higher than AMD.

[Hairless Monkey]

I can't find any information on whether hardware encoding is supported on AMD, so unless someone here has more knowledge on this than me, I would recommend you go with the i3, because I know that it will work.

 

https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/ 

[Hairless Monkey]

Check here:

 

https://forums.plex.tv/t/hardware-transcode-on-the-new-ryzen-apus/227191/9

[smush]

8 minutes ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

I can't find any information on whether hardware encoding is supported on AMD, so unless someone here has more knowledge on this than me, I would recommend you go with the i3, because I know that it will work.

 

https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/ 

Would it be sufficient for 4K? and how involved is a DIY Plex NAS over a Synology NAS? As I said, I don't mind if it takes awhile to get up and running but I don't want to be having to mess about with it too much I want it to be setup and forget.

[Hairless Monkey]

9 minutes ago, smush said:

Would it be sufficient for 4K?

Quote

Hardware Accelerated Video[edit]

[Edit]Coffee Lake (Gen9.5) Hardware Accelerated Video Capabilities
Codec	Encode			Decode
	Profiles	Levels	Max Resolution	Profiles	Levels	Max Resolution
MPEG-2 (H.262)	Main	High	1080p (FHD)	Main	Main, High	1080p (FHD)
MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)	High, Main	5.1	2160p (4K)	Main, High, MVC, Stereo	5.1	2160p (4K)
JPEG/MJPEG	Baseline	-	16k x 16k	Baseline	Unified	16k x 16k
HEVC (H.265)	Main	5.1	2160p (4K)	Main, Main 10	5.1	2160p (4K)
VC-1	✘			Advanced, Main, Simple	3, High, Simple	3840x3840
VP8	Unified	Unified	N/A	0	Unified	1080p
VP9	0		2160p (4K)	0, 2	Unified	2160p (4K)

https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/intel/uhd_graphics/630

 

Yes, it supports 4k VP9, HEVC, and AVC encoding/decoding.

 

9 minutes ago, smush said:

and how involved is a DIY Plex NAS over a Synology NAS?

Plex should be just as easy to setup since you can use the app, and there are plenty of tutorials etc. The Synology NAS would make other kinds of external access easier too. For instance I have an encrypted FTP server setup on mine, as well as some other forms of external access.

[Donut417]

On 6/25/2020 at 9:36 AM, smush said:

I mean technically both would do the job I'd imagine? Just wanted to know if the i3 was a step up, down or to the side given Intel usually prices higher than AMD.

Transcoding on an AMD GPU can only be done in Windows PERIOD. Other OS's require Intel Quicksync or Nvidia GPU's to do hardware transcoding. At least the last time I have read (Before that, it was purely just Intel or Nivida for hardware transcoding).