Hosted Media Server for a Noob

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Handle9

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#3298327 17-Oct-2024 01:16

Milutiche:

dpf81nz:

Plex is pretty easy to set up. If you are not wanting to do transcoding (e.g direct play) then you can run it fine on older/lower spec hardware (im running mine on a 11y/o ivy bridge era desktop)

ELI5 Transcoding, If I have my server (Synology or old PC) hidden away in the hall cupboard, and I want to watch a movie on my TV, does the server have to be able to do the hard work for it to display well withhout lagging/ buffering?

It depends on the file and whether your client (TV, Chromecast etc) can play the file natively. Most clients have some file formats they can't play natively. Transcoding converts those files on the fly so they can be played.

The ideal situation is direct play (the client plays the file natively). If that is the case the server can be a potato pc (or raspberry pi). If it's not the server needs to have the capability to transcode either using the CPU (software transcoding) or GPU/iGPU (hardware transcoding).

xpd

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#3298332 17-Oct-2024 06:03

Long time Plex user, I have it running on an old PC I use as a home server. Its running Win 11 with Plex and a few other services on it, as well as being the family file repository for our photos etc (backed up nightly to a NAS).

Its an old i5 6500 16GB RAM, and runs everything I throw at it media wise so far (just 1080p, need to upgrade some bits before I give it 4k ;) )

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cddt

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#3298357 17-Oct-2024 09:19

Another vote for Jellyfin as a free Plex alternative.

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askelon

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#3298478 17-Oct-2024 12:03

I use Jellyfin. Works great. Ive set it up for a few people and it just works.

Milutiche

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#3298485 17-Oct-2024 12:23

would something like this be suitable of am I better getting a dedicated server like a synology?
lets say I had a budget of $500 + HDDs what would be the best option?

nzkc

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#3298491 17-Oct-2024 12:42

Milutiche:

would something like this be suitable of am I better getting a dedicated server like a synology?
lets say I had a budget of $500 + HDDs what would be the best option?

Aside from space for HDDs that'll work fine. Plex generally has low requirements (I run mine in a docker container).

Edit: Just an update re CPU - transcoding puts load on the CPU so if you can "direct play" you'll barely notice any usage at all. Plex provide a page on cpu requirements: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

Handle9

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#3298583 17-Oct-2024 16:01

Milutiche:
would something like this be suitable of am I better getting a dedicated server like a synology?
lets say I had a budget of $500 + HDDs what would be the best option?

If you can get an 8th gen or newer Intel CPU (the one you linked to is a 7th gen). It has better transcoding performance from the cpu.

For $500 you are probably better off second hand pc but there will be more work involved for you.

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Handle9

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#3298584 17-Oct-2024 16:03

nzkc:
Edit: Just an update re CPU - transcoding puts load on the CPU so if you can "direct play" you'll barely notice any usage at all. Plex provide a page on cpu requirements: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201774043-what-kind-of-cpu-do-i-need-for-my-server/

This is why hardware transcoding exists. It takes the load of the CPU and uses the hardware in the iGPU to do it.

Milutiche

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#3298692 17-Oct-2024 20:02

There is a guy selling once of these locally, asking $600 for it, I know it's not a Intel but I've been testing 4K on my Ryzen 5 5600X and it's streaming to my TV flawlessly

Any thoughts on this particular PC?

Or maybe this (sorry it's a Facebook Link)

xpd

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#3298705 17-Oct-2024 20:44

Probably fine but thing is it'll be limited om storage options if you leave it in that case, and prob find its a custom PSU with customer connectors, so if it dies, could find yourself stuck.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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reven

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#3298834 18-Oct-2024 10:19

What I would go with

unRAID as the NAS.
This gives you flexibility to scale with mixing and matching drives. Its very easy to ge tup and running, very stable, and allows you to use existing hardware without buying a dedicated NAS that will have under powered specs. Poor CPU for transcoding

p620 or p2000 nvidia card for transcoding.
These are cheap and very powerful for hevc transcoding.

FileFlows
Ok, im the dev of this, so biased. But I convert all my media as I get it, so its in the format my devices all play and I remove excess stuff I dont need like: non-english audio, subtitles. I crop the black bars so plex can zoom in nicely and convert everything to hevc ac3. This works best on my devices. Using FileFlows I've saved 65TBs of data.

Jellyfin, Emby, Plex
All 3 are good, my personal recommendation for simplicity is Plex. it makes sharing to the outside world easier to get secure than the others. Emby for examples requires users to have a password, which is a PITA locally to enter a password for each user. Plex you just use your phone, enter a code and its done. Jellyfin I think the client UI is lacking a lot of polish, well on android tvs not sure about other clients.

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