NAS recommendations?

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jdmatt

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#196380 29-May-2016 12:21

As per subject has anyone got some good recommendations for a NAS. Would like to be able to stream media and hopefully transcode 1080p. Have been looking at synology they look pretty good and seem very user friendly, are there any others out there that maybe just as good? Looking at 4 bays unit.

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#1561890 29-May-2016 20:49

I have the Synology DS415, and it's fantastic. DSM is great to use, and there's an excellent community-based software support for anything you need.

But it's pretty pathetic at transcoding. I'm considering building my own server to run a plex home server and separate the transcording work.

AFAIK, there isn't a single NAS out there that can handle transcoding 1080p without issues.

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#1561920 29-May-2016 21:26

As above. Synology.

I have the DS1813+ NAS, which is an 8-bay version.

Reliable, quiet, with an excellent user interface.

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jnimmo

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#1561923 29-May-2016 21:30

I really like the range of Qnap NASes, have used a range of their Intel based models for some high throughput backup and replication tasks and been stable for years.

Looks like the TS-451 / TS-451+ have hardware accelerated transcoding (possibly not supported by Plex on there at this stage, but using the Qnap apps) which should do 1080. I haven't ever tested it though

Disrespective

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#1561976 30-May-2016 07:36

I set up a Synology 415+ at work and a Qnap 451 at home. Both a pretty solid devices, but I'd have to give the Synology the win. The Qnap does allow for upgradeable memory though...

stevenz

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#1562000 30-May-2016 08:40

+1 on the DS415+. Fantastic wee unit. Plex seems to deal with transcoding anything I throw at it, including high bitrate 1080P MKV's with no real issue.

You can upgrade the memory on the DS415 as well, but it's far from straightforward.

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afe66

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#1562012 30-May-2016 09:07

Realistically, how often are you going to need to transcode 1080 and to what device ?.

What device are you going to transcode to. ?iPad, phone.

Have you thought about having two versions. One with the full HD and a second with lower resolution.

Plexus server is able to stream what ever version works for that device so you wouldn't need to transcode.

If you've got the cash DS916 claims to transcode 4k...

Happy owner of a DS412+

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zCelicaDude

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#1562025 30-May-2016 09:16

Synology for the Win,

They have new models out now which are better priced then the older ones. I.e DS415+ has been replaced by DS916+

I too can transcode 1080P MKV's (30-40GB Files) without drama's on Plex, using Synology.

Also, The majority of the + model's support memory upgrades, albeit not officially.. DS216+, DS716+, DS415+ can have the memory upgraded :)
link to Synology Hardware Mod forum. https://forum.synology.com/enu/viewforum.php?f=140

Linuxluver

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#1562061 30-May-2016 09:52

thewanderingv:

I have the Synology DS415, and it's fantastic. DSM is great to use, and there's an excellent community-based software support for anything you need.

But it's pretty pathetic at transcoding. I'm considering building my own server to run a plex home server and separate the transcording work.

AFAIK, there isn't a single NAS out there that can handle transcoding 1080p without issues.

I have a couple of Synology 2-bay NAS (DS214+ and DS214Play, the latter being 30% faster and having more RAM). They can transcode on the fly, but they also support offline one-time transcoding. I haven't had to use it (as far as I know). My SONY TV can see the media server on the NAS and I just play what I want to play. My TV can't do H265, so then I just play it from the NAS via my phone and use Chromecast(I think I've done it that way....haven't had too many such problems as H265 is usually easily avoided.)

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networkn

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#1562078 30-May-2016 09:57

Synology. Qnap as a second choice.

thewanderingv

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#1562175 30-May-2016 11:22

Amazing that Synology gets so much love, and that I'm not alone.

I will have to say this though: as someone who does a lot of transcoding, a NAS-only approach is the worst way to set up your home network if you're starting from scratch. I would definitely consider building a cheap server or buying something like a used 2012 mac mini (quad core) if you are serious about transcoding.

xpd

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#1562192 30-May-2016 11:26

What will you be playing the media on ? May not need to worry so much about transcoding.

https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201566396-How-are-Direct-Play-Direct-Stream-and-Transcoding-different-

XPD / Gavin

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#1562194 30-May-2016 11:28

+1 for Synology. I have the 1515+ which can transcode 1080p but I have a i5 NUC there to do the heavy lifting instead.

dafman

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#1562200 30-May-2016 11:36

+1 for Synology. I have had the DS212j for several years now. Never missed a beat. The DSM user interface is a breeze.

timmmay

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#1562218 30-May-2016 11:49

I just use my PC, which is on when I'm home anyway. It has the drives (RAID) for storage, it's very powerful, etc.

rb99

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#1562221 30-May-2016 11:49

And I use Emby not Plex

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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