Recommended NAS for Transcoding via Plex and DLNA

With the rise in popularity of Network Attached Storage (NAS) it is becoming all too common to consider a Synology NAS, QNAP NAS or WD My Cloud server as the perfect storage of all of your multimedia. From the compact nature of it’s design to the sheer unparalleled accessibility that you get from it, creating a DLNA server or Plex Media Server as your go-to media collection is both easy and hundreds of times less expensive than having your movies, boxsets, albums, photos and music spread across multiple locations through your home – with the added benefit that you can access that media absolutely anywhere with an internet connection. However as media files are getting bigger and bigger, and most media playback devices we buy are generally owned for 2-3 years at least – it is all too often that the development and evolution of the software overtake the hardware. The result is that files need to be adapted and changed in order to be better suited for playback on the output device. In real-time that means that your 2017 4K copy of ‘Spiderman Homecoming’ may well not play very well on your 2014 Smart TV or 2013 Android Smartphone. The way around this is known as ‘Transcoding’ and it is a vital consideration when buying the best NAS for your media. But what exactly is transcoding and why is it so important?

What is transcoding on a NAS and why should I care?

Transcoding is the ability to change a file (video, music or photo) into a size, file format, resolution or name to a format more acceptable to the client machine (the thing you are viewing it on). In almost all cases, the transcoding of any file is performed by the NAS, on the fly, whilst you are viewing the file and different NAS devices can transcoding to a lesser or greater degree, as well as the more powerful NAS devices transcoding more than one file at one (for users or homes that will have multiple users access the media server at once). Transcoding is also dictated by two key factors on all NAS. First by the CPU inside the NAS and second by the software you are using to watch the multimedia in the first place. For transcoding to be enabled on your NAS, you need to check that your NAS CPU features a ‘transcoding Engine’.

If you are using the official Synology or QNAP applications to arrange your DLNA media server and are accessing that from your smart TV, Smartphone, Tablet or other DLNA enabled device – this is known as NATIVE playback. If you are using PLEX or another 3rd party application to access the contents of the NAS media to playback on the devices, then this is 3RD PARTY TRANSCODING.

What is the difference between Native Transcoding and Plex Transcoding on a NAS?

Don’t be fooled by the boasts of the Synology, QNAP or WD NAS with regard to transcoding HD and 4K – It will certainly do this natively, but transcoding in Plex is a very different matter! The difference is that Native transcoding has direct access to the transcoding engine on the CPU and can immediately be activated when required. However Plex (like other 3rd party software for multimedia playback on a NAS) requires internal permissions and individual paths to made to the NAS to allow it to use the engine when needed and as there is only 1 Plex Media Server application on QNAP and Synology respectively, but hundreds of different NAS models with their own hardware configurations, it is all too often that PLex cannot use this transcoding engine. Instead, Plex needs to use the CPU to transcode the file with raw power and delivers wave after wave of instruction to the CPU to perform this. This result is that a CPU will need to work 3-4x as hard to transcode in Plex than using a native playback with Synology or QNAP Video Station.

How do I choose the Right NAS for Transcoding in Plex?

Below I have listed every single currently available Synology and QNAP NAS, as well as WD My Cloud that arrives with a Transcoding Engine on board. I have also included a transcoding score to help those looking for the perfect NAS for a Plex Media Server or a DLNA Media Server. The scores are as follows:

Can Transcode 1080p HD and above in Plex Easily and Upto 4K via Proprietary App Can Transcode 1080p HD in Plex, upto 4K via Proprietary App Can Transcode 1080p HD in Plex but may struggle with High Bit rate Media, upto 4K via Proprietary App Cannot Reliable transcode in Plex but can transcode HD and some 4K via Proprietary App Cannot Transcode in Plex and though can transcode some media via Proprietary App, will struggle if pushed

Finally, at the bottom of the page, I have included a breakdown of the abilities of each CPU. So if you are in any doubt about the transcoding and playback abilities of the CPU (as well as the clock speed and efficiency of the processor in the NAS) then just head to the bottom to learn more.

Which CPU should you consider in a Custom Made Plex Media Server?

Thinking of building your very own Plex Media Server from scratch? It may seem cheaper than buying a NAS server from the likes of WD, Synology and QNAP. Just remember that you will need more technical knowledge and to invest in a PSU and Case that can be left on for days or weeks at a time. Another key factor of course is choose the right CPU for your custom NAS or FreeNAS build. We have discussed many, many NAS CPU about that are used by the popular brands, so if you want to ensure you use the best possible processor for your home made Plex Media Server, have a look at the list below of each processor, where to buy and how much you will spend. Remember to follow the star/score system to ensure you buy the best CPU for your customer FreeNAS build transcoding needs.

Intel® Core™ i7-7700 Processor

Section 2

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i7-6700HQ Processor

Section 3

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i3-4150 Processor

Section 4

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i7-6700 Processor

Section 5

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-7500 Processor

Section 6

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1246 v3

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i7-4790S Processor

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-6442EQ Processor

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-6500 Processor

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i5-4590S Processor

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Core™ i3-6100 Processor

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Pentium® Processor G4400

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Pentium® Processor N3710

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Celeron® Processor J3455

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Celeron® Processor N3150

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Celeron® Processor N3060

Section 1

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Celeron® Processor J1900

Graphics Specifications

Intel® Celeron® Processor J3355

Graphics Specifications

Where can I buy the perfect NAS, DAS or SAN?

Choosing the right data storage device can be rather difficult. Having to consider everything from budget, total capacity, reliability and of course, ensuring that you get value for money – all of these factors can result in getting lost in a confusing world of NAS, DAS and SAN. Never fear, why not trust the NAS experts, SPAN.COM. They will provide technical advice, individually tailored solutions that suit your needs, bad sector checks on all hard drives and SSD, firmware installations and RAID configurations, as well as post sales support for years after and checks on your setup later to ensure that the solution best suited your needs – ALL THIS completely FREE. So, why not get in touch with them and make the process of choosing the right data storage solution for your needs a great deal easier.





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Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. Terms and Conditions Alternatively, why not ask me on the, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in thesection below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.