Need recommendation for Plex server and Desktop upgrade

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D1023319

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#324887 8-Jun-2026 10:46

My current desktop is a DIY mid-tower based on ASUS TUF B360-PRO with two internal m.2 drives - one for operating system and one for data.
But it only has one HDMI and my son has occupied the external usb slots for his multiple m.2 drives that service his plex server
Hence i am looking at a way forward.

Should i get him to setup a separate plex server on the home network? or
Insert m.2 drive holders into the spare PCI slots?

In regards to desktop, i am using a HHD swap cage for backups
but i am thinking all i need is a simple m.2. external drive and copying to that.
I already have a external DVD drive for the laptop.
I do like easily assessable usb on front for charging
Any thoughts
Should i just upgrade the Motherboard or replace the PC?

Lias

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#3501294 8-Jun-2026 13:21

Given it's currently insanely expensive to buy many PC parts but especially RAM and storage, I'd question if you _reallly_ need to upgrade now or if you can live with how things are.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

xpd

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#3501298 8-Jun-2026 13:44

Im running Plex on a i5 6500 system, loaded with HDD's. Runs fine and was "cheap" as was 2nd hand parts etc.

Using SSDs for Plex is a bit of a waste, as Plex dosent need the drive speed.

Server is also used for backups etc, so multi use inc as another desktop if I need it.

You havent mentioned what your current system is and what you use it for...... from what youve posted you seem more concerned around the storage aspects of it.

XPD / Gavin

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Dairusire

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#3501302 8-Jun-2026 14:11

Yeah see I wouldn't bother upgrading the machine itself, but just change the storage medium?

SSD's are not the go for Plex imho. Like mentioned previously, it just doesn't need the performance at all.

I would just put HDD's in the machine to replace the SSD's if you need more storage.

I say the above from experience, with my plex server running the same motherboard, and a i7 8700k (an i5 does the same job perfectly fine too) with a generous amount of RAM (16GB would be way more than enough).

Quite often I'll have 6 people streaming content off it at once, not a single thing is on SSD's and I've never had a complaint about it being slow.

D1023319

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#3501307 8-Jun-2026 14:27

Thanks for advice

xpd

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#3501311 8-Jun-2026 14:40

Dairusire:

I say the above from experience, with my plex server running the same motherboard, and a i7 8700k (an i5 does the same job perfectly fine too) with a generous amount of RAM (16GB would be way more than enough).

Quite often I'll have 6 people streaming content off it at once, not a single thing is on SSD's and I've never had a complaint about it being slow.

Yup same, multiple streams with no issues. Only thing SSD on my setup is the OS drive which also has the Plex cache folder which I keep meaning to move to one of the HDD's.

XPD / Gavin

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D1023319

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#3501312 8-Jun-2026 14:43

xpd:

You havent mentioned what your current system is and what you use it for...... from what youve posted you seem more concerned around the storage aspects of it.

Its a bespoke mid-tower i built a few years ago. A tower because i liked the glass side panel :-)
I picked the TUF B360-PRO GAMIN Motherboard because of the onboard m.2. slots
Its used mostly for research and wikipedia updating and working from home via a browser.
So no complex graphics requirements or GPU card.
To do this when I added a second screen - i had to use a USB -HDMI converter
I back up to HDD's as cloud backup got too expensive and i cant afford to lose the contents
I was media sharing from the PC using standard share config to TV around the house but the plex has taken over

The case Bquiet only has a limited number of USB outs which are now all full.
and the USB powered second screen is flakey at times

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

Dairusire

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#3501329 8-Jun-2026 15:48

xpd:

Dairusire:

I say the above from experience, with my plex server running the same motherboard, and a i7 8700k (an i5 does the same job perfectly fine too) with a generous amount of RAM (16GB would be way more than enough).

Quite often I'll have 6 people streaming content off it at once, not a single thing is on SSD's and I've never had a complaint about it being slow.

Yup same, multiple streams with no issues. Only thing SSD on my setup is the OS drive which also has the Plex cache folder which I keep meaning to move to one of the HDD's.

Side note, and off topic somewhat. The Plex Cache and application I would always keep on SSD. It does behave 'nicer'.
For context I am using Unraid with Plex as a docker. So quirks be quirks.

JimmyH

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#3501387 8-Jun-2026 20:36

xpd:

Im running Plex on a i5 6500 system, loaded with HDD's. Runs fine and was "cheap" as was 2nd hand parts etc.

Using SSDs for Plex is a bit of a waste, as Plex dosent need the drive speed.

This is the way.

Use SSDs for the OS and metadata only (metadata on SSD makes a huge performance difference). My server is Jellyfin not Plex, but same principle. Spinning rust, even at current pricing, is way cheaper for media storage and media playback doesn't need the extra performance SSDs offer. 5-Bay USB DAS enclosures are affordable now. So I suggest getting a DAS or a NAS, putting some hard drives in that, and offloading the actual media files to it. That's what I have done (2xNASes, with a venerable ex-lease i5-6600 and SSDs as the server) and it works surprisingly well.

Jase2985

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#3501388 8-Jun-2026 20:50

I brought a cheap NUC for running my media server (Emby) and a few other things, wanted powerful but something that sips power.

https://www.gmktec.com/products/nucbox-g3-plus-enhanced-performance-mini-pc-with-intel-n150-processor

My media is stored on a NAS

DamageInc

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#3501408 9-Jun-2026 06:11

Jase2985:

I brought a cheap NUC for running my media server (Emby) and a few other things, wanted powerful but something that sips power.

https://www.gmktec.com/products/nucbox-g3-plus-enhanced-performance-mini-pc-with-intel-n150-processor

My media is stored on a NAS

Easy enough to buy off gmtek? I run an intel NUC8, but mindful i have had it several years now. Starting to look for options in case the NUC fails.

Pop!_OS 24.04 LTS x86_64

Jase2985

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#3501577 9-Jun-2026 15:14

DamageInc:

Jase2985:

I brought a cheap NUC for running my media server (Emby) and a few other things, wanted powerful but something that sips power.

https://www.gmktec.com/products/nucbox-g3-plus-enhanced-performance-mini-pc-with-intel-n150-processor

My media is stored on a NAS

Easy enough to buy off gmtek? I run an intel NUC8, but mindful i have had it several years now. Starting to look for options in case the NUC fails.

yep no issues at all