PLEX Server - what to get?

[Daniel81]

Hi everyone,

 

I currently have a plex server on a ReadyNAS 104, but as you can imagine with a single core 1.2ghz ARM cpu and 512Mb of RAM I am pretty limited.

 

it works... as everything is direct play no transcode involved at the moment.

 

It can support 4 streams at 1080p fairly OK, 1 on same LAN and 3 external.

 

However I want to move the server to a dedicated server to have hardware transcode if needed.

 

Was looking on ebay for some options but to be honest as more I look into it more frustrated I get so I need some help.

 

My budget is £200, maybe can stretch to £300, dont need GPU as I will access to it remotely or onboard GPU will do the trick for setup (can use my rtx 2080super just for setting up the server if needed) also dont need HDD as I have a couple of HDD laying around and will be for OS  and plex server app only as the libraries will stay on the NAS.

Could anyone suggest what sort of setup or even a prebuild system that can fit in the budget?

 

Many thanks in advance.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Do you mind a old rack server? there hot + loud, but there pretty darn fast for the price. lookup a dell r720 and other dual lga 2011 systems.

 

Otherwise Id get something like a optiplex 3020 or 7020. the haswell era systems are cheap now, can easily transcode a stream or two, low power, very quiet.

[Daniel81]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

Do you mind a old rack server? there hot + loud, but there pretty darn fast for the price. lookup a dell r720 and other dual lga 2011 systems.

 

Otherwise Id get something like a optiplex 3020 or 7020. the haswell era systems are cheap now, can easily transcode a stream or two, low power, very quiet.

Dont mind the noise as it will be placed in the attic, temp wise not sure, I know its quite cold up there in the winter but may be a bit warm during the summer, maybe 30 to 35 degrees ambient temp, would that be OK for the rack server or would toast it?

Also a thing I forgot to mention was power consumption, I tested having the server running 24/7 for 3 or 4 days on my gaming rig (ryzen 5 3600, 32gb ram, rtx 2080 super, PSU corsair gold 800w or 900 not sure) and my smart plug was estimating about £35 to £40 a month on electric bill just for that no screen on, so if I can get something that wont bust my power consumption would be good as well, from the options you provided any idea what would be more energy efficient?

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just now, Daniel81 said:

Dont mind the noise as it will be placed in the attic, temp wise not sure, I know its quite cold up there in the winter but may be a bit warm during the summer, maybe 30 to 35 degrees ambient temp, would that be OK for the rack server or would toast it?

Yea most systems are rated for 40c ambient, so that will be fine.

 

Just now, Daniel81 said:

Also a thing I forgot to mention was power consumption, I tested having the server running 24/7 for 3 or 4 days on my gaming rig (ryzen 5 3600, 32gb ram, rtx 2080 super, PSU corsair gold 800w or 900 not sure) and my smart plug was estimating about £35 to £40 a month on electric bill just for that no screen on, so if I can get something that wont bust my power consumption would be good as well, from the options you provided any idea what would be more energy efficient?

the optiplex or used desktop would use much less power.

 

Id just run the server on your desktop though. good amount faster, and about the same power as buying a used desktop.

[Hairless Monkey]

The other way you could go is to get a cheap modern Intel CPU with an iGPU, and utilize Quicksync for transcoding.

[Daniel81]

2 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Yea most systems are rated for 40c ambient, so that will be fine.

 

the optiplex or used desktop would use much less power.

 

Id just run the server on your desktop though. good amount faster, and about the same power as buying a used desktop.

I thought about that but was kinda hopping to put a dedicated server just for plex, put it in the attic and just forget about it (my wife freaks out when I leave the PC on 24/7, says its a fire hazard lol)

 

had a look on ebay and now I am kicking my self on the butt as found a r720 with 8x3TB hdd for £215, just spent a couple of weeks ago £320 on a 16TB SEAGATE EXOS HDD

 

Other question, running on my desktop would probably affect a bit gamming performance if plex is straming 1 or 2 videos while I am gaming, right?

 

[Daniel81]

3 minutes ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

The other way you could go is to get a cheap modern Intel CPU with an iGPU, and utilize Quicksync for transcoding.

by cheap and modern would be something like a i5 or i7 Gen 5 or 6 or even more recent?

[Electronics Wizardy]

5 minutes ago, Daniel81 said:

I thought about that but was kinda hopping to put a dedicated server just for plex, put it in the attic and just forget about it (my wife freaks out when I leave the PC on 24/7, says its a fire hazard lol)

You would be leaving the other pc on 24/7, so the same basically none existant risk.

 

6 minutes ago, Daniel81 said:

had a look on ebay and now I am kicking my self on the butt as found a r720 with 8x3TB hdd for £215, just spent a couple of weeks ago £320 on a 16TB SEAGATE EXOS HDD

Those re probbly used drives, far from new drives.

 

6 minutes ago, Daniel81 said:

ther question, running on my desktop would probably affect a bit gamming performance if plex is straming 1 or 2 videos while I am gaming, right?

Shouldn't really be a performance issue. Plex won't use much cpu normally, and you got a a good amount of extra cpu power.

[tkitch]

you can get a Dell tower with an i5 7500 or 7600 for under 200 bucks US if you keep an eye on ebay.

I suspect the UK won't be too different.  

 

 

[LIGISTX]

I run a Plex VM on my homelab, I give it 2 threads of an i3 6100, and it can do 3-4 1080p to 720 transcodes depending on source 1080 bitrate. It does a single 1080p Blu-ray rip to 720p transcode, and this is as far as I know without quick sync working… it’s running on an Ubuntu server VM with 3 GB of RAM and 2 threads. 

[Daniel81]

1 minute ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

You would be leaving the other pc on 24/7, so the same basically none existant risk.

 

Those re probbly used drives, far from new drives.

 

Shouldn't really be a performance issue. Plex won't use much cpu normally, and you got a a good amount of extra cpu power.

Cool, I see.
Yep used drives for sure, wouldn't really rely on them if would get it would probably use them in raid 5 or 6 or whatever would be better.

 

Regarding leaving the other pc on 24/7 would be fine, would be in the attic far from my wife sight lol

 

totally see what you mean, maybe I need to think about it for a few days, and save the £200/300 on the server, use my current desktop and put that money towards electric bills.

 

Also have a old laptop that could try and use but its probably useless as its a core 2 duo, dont even remember the exact model with 3gb RAM

[Hairless Monkey]

11 minutes ago, Daniel81 said:

by cheap and modern would be something like a i5 or i7 Gen 5 or 6 or even more recent?

I'd do anything Kabylake(7th gen) or newer if you want full support for 4K HDR 10 bit (4K bluray) decode, and otherwise do Skylake(6th gen) or newer.

[Daniel81]

10 hours ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

I'd do anything Kabylake(7th gen) or newer if you want full support for 4K HDR 10 bit (4K bluray) decode, and otherwise do Skylake(6th gen) or newer.

Tnx that would be way out of budget just now.

 

Maybe I should hang on with current server on the ReadyNAS 104 for now and save up some more to get something along those lines for future proofing.

[Daniel81]

42 minutes ago, Daniel81 said:

Tnx that would be way out of budget just now.

 

Maybe I should hang on with current server on the ReadyNAS 104 for now and save up some more to get something along those lines for future proofing.

 

11 hours ago, HairlessMonkeyBoy said:

I'd do anything Kabylake(7th gen) or newer if you want full support for 4K HDR 10 bit (4K bluray) decode, and otherwise do Skylake(6th gen) or newer.

I actually found on ebay a

Dell OptiPlex 3060 with an i5 8500, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD for £215, its actually within budget never thought 8th gen was so cheap just now.   Maybe this one is the one to go for.