How powerful does a Plex server need to be?

Any machine made in the last few years should fit the Plex hardware requirements, which call for an i3 processor and 2GB of RAM. Of course, you'll enjoy better performance on a more powerful system, and most Plex enthustiasts suggest using an i5 processor and 4GB of RAM (or better).

How powerful should a Plex server be?

Plex officially recommends an Intel Core i3 or faster as the minimum processor, although faster is generally recommended. Plex doesn't use much RAM, either. As long as you have at least 2 GB of RAM, you should have no difficulty running a Plex Server.

What specs does a Plex server need?

How demanding is a Plex server?

In general, Plex Media Server doesn't require large amounts of RAM. 2GB of RAM is typically more than sufficient and some installs (particularly Linux-based installs) can often happily run with even less. Of course, more RAM won't hurt you and will certainly be helpful if you're also doing other things on the computer.

What CPU is best for Plex server?

If you are the only user of Plex in your home, a minimum of an Intel Core i3 or faster will be the best option for you. But, if multiple users want to stream simultaneously, a CPU with solid multi-core like the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 performance would be better.

Choosing Hardware For Your Plex Server

How much RAM does a Plex server need?

Any machine made in the last few years should fit the Plex hardware requirements, which call for an i3 processor and 2GB of RAM. Of course, you'll enjoy better performance on a more powerful system, and most Plex enthustiasts suggest using an i5 processor and 4GB of RAM (or better).

Why is Plex transcoder using so much CPU?

One of the most common reasons users will see this unexpected CPU usage is when they enable their Plex Media Server to generate video preview thumbnails. If you have the Generate video preview thumbnails (advanced) setting enabled, then your server will generate video preview thumbnails for new content.

How many cores can Plex use?

At just over $170, it has 6 or 12 cores, a base frequency of 3.8 GHz, and a boost speed of 4.4 GHz—all for a thermal design point, or TDP, of 65W. Plex can utilize every core, but if you are only transcoding one video at a time, it can use all of the cores to complete the process much faster.

What makes a good Plex server?

A good Plex server requires at least an i3 processor and 2GB of RAM. Plex recommends an Intel Atom 1.2GHz CPU for no transcoding, an Intel Core i3 3.0 GHz CPU for one 720p transcode, an Intel Core i5 3.0GHz processor for one 1080p transcode, or an Intel Core i7 3.2GHz CPU for a single 4K transcode.

Is Synology good for Plex?

Synology DiskStation DS920+

Bottom line: The best value NAS enclosure for Plex goes to the DS920 from Synology. It's got four drive bays for plenty of storage capacity, a rather reliable Intel Celeron processor, and plenty of features like upgradable RAM and dual-1Gb LAN ports with link aggregation support.

What CPU do you need for a NAS?

Intel i3 or better. Xeon D or E series. AMD Ryzen 4 core or more.

Do I need a GPU for a Media Server?

A graphics card is not necessary for a server to provide a good Remote Desktop experience. Most servers do not have GPUs installed because they are not typically needed for that purpose. There are some cases where a GPU may be helpful, but in general, it is not necessary.

Are NAS drives good for Plex?

Plex requires a solid server to get the most out of the service, though a capable network-attached storage (NAS) solution will suffice.

Is a NAS good for Plex?

Right now, the DiskStation DS220+ is the best NAS you can buy for Plex streaming. The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J4025 chipset and comes with 2GB of RAM — with the ability to add another 4GB — and two drive bays can hold 16TB of storage each, taking total storage to 32TB.

Can you stream 4K from a NAS?

Most modern multimedia devices can play 4K videos smoothly. Devices such as smart TVs and multimedia players can access videos stored on Synology NAS using My Network Places (SMB) or Media Server (DLNA).

How do I make my Plex server faster?

How many streams can my Plex server handle?

Rule of thumb, if you need to transcode 1080p streams, that your CPU needs to have a Passmark score of 2000 pr stream. Looking up your CPU (if I found the right CPU in your system), gives a score of 4299, so two streams, but not with much to spare.

Does Plex server use CPU?

CPU Requirements. The most basic thing to remember is that the more Plex apps you have playing content at the same time, the more CPU power you'll need.

Does Plex transcoding reduce quality?

Normal Settings

Prefer higher speed encoding – lower quality, but faster transcodes. Prefer higher quality encoding – higher quality, but slower transcodes. Make my CPU hurt – best quality with slower transcodes and highest CPU usage.

Is Plex 32 or 64 bit?

The Plex Windows server is a 32-bit application that runs on ANY version of Windows, Win 7 SP1 or newer. The Plex Windows client is a 64-bit application that runs on Windows 10 only.

Do I need a GPU for transcoding Plex?

Many new users often ask does plex server need GPU or CPU? Well, a plex server essentially needs a CPU as most servers will use a CPU for transcoding. Bringing a GPU into the mix will help with hardware-accelerated transcoding for heavy tasks like remote transmission of 4K stream to different display sizes.

Can Plex use AMD GPU?

AMD has their own hardware acceleration that support Plex too, the AMD VCE technology is also capable to help the Plex for its transcoding tasks. Theoretically both NVIDIA and AMD graphic card are able to help transcoding, but comparatively, NVIDIA performs a better efficiency than AMD's hardware transcode support.

Can Plex handle 4K?

Some 4K (ultra high definition) devices are recognized by the Plex app. We're working to bring 4K playback support to other devices, too. 4K/UHD content matching the following will Direct Play on supported devices: Container: MP4.