Plex transcoding PC, please advice

[MarvinBOT]

Hello Guys and Girls,

 

I would like to ask your advice. Let me describe my idea:

- I would like to build a PC for Plex server with transcoding. I already have a NAS, so I don't need those functionalities. This PC is purely for media storage and what's important for me is to be able to do transcoding. The maximum number of devices connected to this Plex server will be 3 and from this 3, maximum 2 will need transcoding. The source material I will write in 1080p and from this 2 devices I expect, 1 will need 720p transcoding and the other one 1080p in some lower quality than the original.

My idea is to use the following CPU: Intel Celeron G3900 

I will add 8 Gbyte DDR4 RAM and a MiniATX board (probably MSI). I already found a nice case and I have a spare PSU which I can utilize and a 2 Tbyte HDD as well.

My target is to keep the costs as low as possible, with the above specs and the already available HDD and PSU, I need to buy parts only for around 230 USD. Still a bit costly, but much less than a transcoding capable NAS (starts around 350-400 USD at least, w/o HDD).

I'm planning to install FreeNAS w Plex Server and nothing else.

My only concern is the CPU. Based on the guideline on Plex support page, the following needed for transcoding:

1080p/10Mbps: 2000 PassMark
720p/4Mbps: 1500 PassMark

The G3900 is 3483 PassMark. If both 2 devices are playing and transcoding, it's a bit on the edge. My reason to Choose Skylake architecture is, to have an upgrade path and later I can use this PC as a secondary Gaming Rig for light gaming. Of course, then I will upgrade the CPU to something much stronger, but that's not in scope for now.

 

Do you have any advice or experience with the G3900? Is it capable for the transcoding as I imagine?

Your input is appreciated.

 

Thank you.

MarvinBOT

[MrBucket101]

I wouldn't want a celeron transcoding, maybe direct playback, but not transcoding.

 

ive got a Xeon e3-1200 in my server, and two-three simultaneous transcodes basically bring it to its knees.

[MarvinBOT]

Wow. That sounds scary. That CPU is like 9323 PassMark, so 4 times stronger. What resolutions are you using when transcoding? 

[puunakki]

If i were you i would look for used sb/ib i5, it can handle plex far more better than that celeron. And don't use freenas if you you're only use is plex media server, it doesn't perform that well.

[MarvinBOT]

1 minute ago, puunakki said:

If i were you i would look for used sb/ib i5, it can handle plex far more better than that celeron. And don't use freenas if you you're only use is plex media server, it doesn't perform that well.

 

Good idea. Any specific SKU? If I don't use FreeNAS, you mean just go with a bare-bone Linux?

[puunakki]

6 minutes ago, MarvinBOT said:

Good idea. Any specific SKU? If I don't use FreeNAS, you mean just go with a bare-bone Linux?

I have a i5 2310 in my plex media server, but whatever ~3.0ghz i5 sb/ib should be enough for your use. I'm running windows server 2008 R2 and in the middle of migrating it to linux, i've been thinking about ubuntu server but haven't decided yet. I could also just use my Freenas file server, as it has the horsepower required, but I dont want anything to mess with my NAS. And there was one test which concluded that using Freenas as plex media server, gives you 1-2 streams less than other operating systems (windows server, ubuntu, debian etc.) with the same hardware.

[MarvinBOT]

5 minutes ago, MarvinBOT said:

Good idea. Any specific SKU? If I don't use FreeNAS, you mean just go with a bare-bone Linux?

I just checked and an i5-2400 is around 86 USD in my country. And it's not better than an Intel Pentium Dual Core G4560, which is around 70 USD new. The PassMark score is almost the same. What do you think? Maybe the G4560? As I wrote, I would like to build an ITX Rig, so I would like to avoid any ATX MoBo. It will be in the living room and my girlfriend would like to have something small and nice.

  

[MarvinBOT]

2 minutes ago, puunakki said:

I have a i5 2310 in my plex media server, but whatever ~3.0ghz i5 sb/ib should be enough for your use. I'm running windows server 2008 R2 and in the middle of migrating it to linux, i've been thinking about ubuntu server but haven't decided yet. I could also just use my Freenas file server, as it has the horsepower required, but I dont want anything to mess with my NAS. And there was one test which concluded that using Freenas as plex media server, gives you 1-2 streams less than other operating systems (windows server, ubuntu, debian etc.) with the same hardware.

 

Thanks for the tip. I will try out then Ubuntu. I have a spare Notebook, I already tested with FreeNAS, so I will give a try w Ubuntu. Thank you.