SSD vs HDD for Plex?

[Daniel_1104]

Hi guys, I currently have a 1tb ssd which I run my plex server off which is essentially full right now, so I need a 2nd drive.

 

I like to have big 60gb 4k files on my drive but my issue is between price and performance now. 
 

How much of a difference would this make for streaming large video files? I can either get a 6th hdd or a 2tb 2.5ssd (Can’t get an NVME as I don’t have another nvme slot). I remember before having to wait for files to buffer with a HDD in the past, but my memory is very spotty around it and I can’t remember it that well. Any suggestions or alternative idea would be great, thanks

[Needfuldoer]

The media files should be fine coming off a mechanical hard drive.

 

I recommend leaving Plex itself, its database, and all your thumbnails/posters/metadata on the SSD, though. That will make the interface feel as responsive as possible.

[Daniel_1104]

12 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

The media files should be fine coming off a mechanical hard drive.

 

I recommend leaving Plex itself, its database, and all your thumbnails/posters/metadata on the SSD, though. That will make the interface feel as responsive as possible.

Thanks, I think I had the plex database installed on a HDD last time I did it which was probably why it was slow. 

[Needfuldoer]

10 minutes ago, Daniel_1104 said:

Thanks, I think I had the plex database installed on a HDD last time I did it which was probably why it was slow. 

Yeah. SSDs really shine when you're storing and reading countless tiny files in random order, and that's exactly what the Plex interface needs.

 

Building that metadata database out of files stored on a hard drive may take longer than if those same media files were on an SSD, but once that's done the difference shouldn't be very pronounced.

[HanZie82]

55 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said:

Yeah. SSDs really shine when you're storing and reading countless tiny files in random order, and that's exactly what the Plex interface needs.

 

Building that metadata database out of files stored on a hard drive may take longer than if those same media files were on an SSD, but once that's done the difference shouldn't be very pronounced.

Totally agree.
Install Plex/Jellyfin on SSD. (i also set transcoding, metadata and cache folder to SSD)
Then have the files (linux ISOs) itself on (slower mechanical) HDD.