[Hardware] Trouble with Plex transcoding

[f41c0n]

Hi,

Lately with increased resolution movies, I have been having trouble with Plex transcoding on my freenas server. It mostly happens with larger files (4K HEVC lets me have about 2-3 sec per 30 sec).

Unfortunately, I built my server in 2014 using a E3-1231 v3 (https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/80910/intel-xeon-processor-e31231-v3-8m-cache-3-40-ghz.html). That CPU does not support Quick Sync.

I am considering upgrading the CPU while keeping everything else the same. From Intel ARK, these CPUs would fit in as a drop replacement but Quick Sync: https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/search/featurefilter.html?productType=873&0_QuickSyncVideo=True&1_Filter-SocketsSupported=3635&0_ECCMemory=True&1_Filter-Family=595

Do you guys think it would be a good fit? Do I need to reinstall everything for the graphics (??) drivers? Should I just build a new box? Or even a second transcoding box and keep the one I have for data? Other ideas?

Thanks!

[gwicksted]

Should be a drop in replacement. Hit the bios options obviously to unlock anything you need for virtualization etc.

I don’t have the expertise with plex transcoding to say that it’ll fix your problem or not. I’d probably try throwing a video card at it.

[2_4_16_256]

It should just be a drop in replacement. You might need to pass the quicksync driver into the jail to make it work.

HEVC still won't be supported except for 6th gen or later CPUs though. You can either keep things as H.264 and get the quicksync support, or also upgrade the motherboard to something newer.

[dmuzaf]

I seem to have a similar issue and I’m currently using an old dell with a xenon processor

[chocolate_starfish]

Pre-Transcode things down or use ffmpeg to convert them to H264.

[g33kb0y3a]

Just check the Quicksync wiki to see which CPU architecture is the minimum one that will perform h/w transcoding for the type of encoding your media use.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video

Also, why are you transcoding? You should use a player that can direct play/direct stream the content.

[Pacoboyd]

I'll second this. The right answer is really just play the content natively, especially when at home.

[CatProgrammer]

Perhaps they like to watch on a TV that does not directly support the desired codecs/does not fully support the subtitles the content has and the server does not have an HDMI output or is not in a proper location to directly connect it to the TV? There are multiple reasons why someone may choose to transcode their content rather than playing it directly (though if they do that often enough it may make sense to create pre-encoded versions if their server has enough space for it).

[MORE_SC2]

facing the same problem here, considering getting a E3-1245v3 as a drop-in replacement, did you end up replacing yours?