So please some help on CPU differences for a NAS

[jordan12]

So I have a NAS with a Atom C3538 Quad-Core CPU and looking at a synology with an AMD Ryzen V1500B

Seems like the AMD is better. I think. Could you guys chime in on your opinions please?

Looking at it being a possible plex server. But definitely mass Storage

 

[kydsid]

Host the plex on a used sff (or a nas) with Intel for quicksync hardware support if you have plex pass.

Otherwise check former audio and video codec support in the processors with plex.

 

[jordan12]

Host the plex on a used sff (or a nas) with Intel for quicksync hardware support if you have plex pass.

Otherwise check former audio and video codec support in the processors with plex.

Gotta be honest, not fully do I understand what you mean..I could host it on my main desktop and use the NAS for storage only. But not sure if the CPU in the two NAS's would make a difference.

 

[mwroobel]

Gotta be honest, not fully do I understand what you mean..I could host it on my main desktop and use the NAS for storage only. But not sure if the CPU in the two NAS's would make a difference.

http://lmgtfy2.com/?q=atom+c3538+vs+AMD+Ryzen+V1500B Seriously, they are both older, shit embedded processors. The AMD will be less shit than the Atom. If you plan on using a desktop to for the actual PLEX server, PLEX transcoding and the NAS just as a block device, then it doesn't really matter.

 

[LukeTbk]

Looking at it being a possible plex server

Is it for local network on device that can direct play, like Amazon stick, other computer, etc... ? (you can look on your current plex server if it is setup on your computer):
https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250387-streaming-media-direct-play-and-direct-stream/

A raspberry pi can work for a plex server used like that.

If you need to encode-decode, then it really depend on what your file and what your target, if 4k get involved it can require recent enough quicksync (something your atom processor does not have) or an other gpu + buy a pass or a lot of cpu muscle, but today that kind of cpu (say a nice 5600x) are not expensive anymore, rules of thumb was 2000 of passmark for each 1080p stream transcoded and about 10k for 4k I think (a 5600x has 20-22k of passmark score).

 

[Abula]

If you dont plan to use PLEX in the future with your server, go with the AMD based setup.

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

If you dont plan to use PLEX in the future with your server, go with the AMD based setup.

Even if he is using Plex, unless he has a Plex pass it doesn’t matter. Transcoding is not supported on free accounts.

 

[jordan12]

I do have a Plex pass, yes.

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

I do have a Plex pass, yes.

Then you want any Intel cpu that supports quicksync. 8th gen or newer, and lower end also support it.

The Intel N100 is an absolute power house for transcoding and supports AV1, and has a tdp of 6 or 7 watts.

 

[Abula]

I do have a Plex pass, yes.

Since you own plex pass, and if you plan to use transcoding, then go with Intel based setup, IIRC the Atom C3538 doesn't have intel iGPU, check for setups that have N100 / N200 / N305, or J4125, J5040, etc.

 

[mwroobel]

Transcoding is not supported on free accounts.

GPU transcoding needs PlexPass, CPU transcoding does not.

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

GPU transcoding needs PlexPass, CPU transcoding does not.

Absolutely right. It’s also terribly inefficient and a resource hog that is not used often unless you absolutely needed it for a client or two. Any series transcoding happens with GPU/iGPU.

 

[kirbyrj]

GPU transcoding needs PlexPass, CPU transcoding does not.

Which means that the Quicksync using the Intel synology needs it...

Now that I've been doing this for a little longer, I wouldn't worry as much about the Quicksync in the NAS. If anything, I'd get a cheap mini PC N100 and then just share the NAS drives on the network to my mini PC running Plex. Part of the reason I would do this isn't just for the transcoding, but the thumbnail database files are on a spinner drive on the synology vs. running on the SSD of a mini PC. I think QNAP might allow app installs on various SSD drives, but the last time I checked, Synology doesn't.