Intel NUC Kit NUC5PGYH - always-on downloader, streamer

Corbula

Corbula

Corbula

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At the moment my situation is this. I either need to get a new hard drive for my main PC for storage as I'm running out of space. Or I can move my media elsewhere and use it as a downloader and media centre so my power hungry PC doesn't have to be on all the time.

I was looking at really cheap and going for a Raspberry Pi but realise that isn't going to work. Then I looked at a NAS but to get one that could transcode 1080p and stream my media it would costs upwards of £400.

So I started looking at Intel NUCs. The Intel NUC Kit NUC5PGYH seems the best balance between price and spec.

So my question is, would this be capable of being an always-on machine that I could install Plex Media Server and transcode 1080p mkv's to stream across the house? (It would be connection via ethernet to my router).

I also plan to, if possible, install VirtualBox to use Debian or similar for downloads.

Would this be capable or do you have any other ideas of something more suitable?

TL;DR Would the Intel NUC5PGYH be capable of being an always-on Plex Media Server for 1080p transcode content, or would something else be more suitable?

Thanks all.
 
I have the vanilla version of the same product (NUC5CPYH) and I have no issues playing content of any kind through Kodi. While I understand that a fair bit different from Plex transcoding my friend has the same CPU in the HP ProLiant Microserver and has no issues whatsoever transcoding 1080p internally within his house and no issues with various content externally on Ipad etc. He uses Freenas with the Plex server addin.
 
I have the quad core version NUC5PPYH for my Plex set up and it can transcode on the fly without issues at all. tried it on 3 devices at the same time and it seems to handle it no problem what so ever.
 
Thanks for the replies all.

Lustral said:
I have the quad core version NUC5PPYH for my Plex set up and it can transcode on the fly without issues at all. tried it on 3 devices at the same time and it seems to handle it no problem what so ever.
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Thanks for letting me know. What the difference between the one you mentioned and the NUC5PGYH? Seems to have the same CPU.

#Chri5# said:
Have you looked at the 6th Generation NUCs which are shipping now? Skylake CPUs so some extra performance.

http://nucblog.net/2016/01/skylake-nuc-review-nuc6i3syh-core-i3/

I've got a 6th Gen NUC Core i5 sat on my desk waiting to go into the mancave.
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I did look at the newer ones but haven't looked to much due to the price of them compared to the one I'm looking at.
 
Corbula said:
Does anyone know what the power consumption is like on these things?
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Very low, hence why they are popular for HTPC type use. In the region of 5-10 watts idle and 30W under load I believe, although Google should find you some proper comparisons if you need them.
 
Im looking at one of these just for a PLEX client aswell as KODI for our main TV ive been using the Android box for KODI and the Samsung smart hub plex app but the smart hub app Doesnt direct play DTS-HD and TRUEHD due to the limit of the TV and my Canton DM55 if i play normal DTS that direct plays. But if i play DTS-HD on the PLEX server on the tv it sounds great coming from the Canton and without transcoding. If the Samsung PLEX app transcodes to Dolby Digital which is ok but doesn't sound as good
 
I do like the NUCs but actually bought a Zotac Nano CI323 so the quad Braswell CPU.

I boot from a 256Gb SSD and have 8GB of RAM installed. The current wireless card doesn't do Wireless AP (can be upgraded) but I can do Ad-Hoc wireless for my phone's wireless net access.

I also liked the dual NICs on it as I currently run Sophos UTM (software firewall router) in a Hyper-V with one NIC dedicated to the WAN port to my FTTC modem.

I've also played with Kodi on the desktop and streaming from my NAS via Plex and both work well with the high bitrate mkvs I've got on it. Ultimately I thinking of an external DAS storage enclosure connected via the USB-C interface which could make my NAS redundant.

As for power it's passive so averages around 9 watts for basic browsing and up to 19 watts for video playback.

I've basically ended up using it most of the time now for browsing/downloading and really only power on the X99 system exclusively for gaming.
 
I like PLEX home theatre the Samsung hub on my H6400 is ok but its very limited and no good for me really it direct plays my smaller MKV with DTS fine and transcodes my larger files due to the audio. But only transcodes to DOLBY DIGITAL which my Canton plays fine but no ways sounds as good. It does PCM but it sounds to low and not very good its ok for direct play
 
bimbleuk said:
I do like the NUCs but actually bought a Zotac Nano CI323 so the quad Braswell CPU.

I boot from a 256Gb SSD and have 8GB of RAM installed. The current wireless card doesn't do Wireless AP (can be upgraded) but I can do Ad-Hoc wireless for my phone's wireless net access.

I also liked the dual NICs on it as I currently run Sophos UTM (software firewall router) in a Hyper-V with one NIC dedicated to the WAN port to my FTTC modem.

I've also played with Kodi on the desktop and streaming from my NAS via Plex and both work well with the high bitrate mkvs I've got on it. Ultimately I thinking of an external DAS storage enclosure connected via the USB-C interface which could make my NAS redundant.

As for power it's passive so averages around 9 watts for basic browsing and up to 19 watts for video playback.

I've basically ended up using it most of the time now for browsing/downloading and really only power on the X99 system exclusively for gaming.
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How much are the Zotacs please i only really need it for PLEX home theatre and to run kodi for my paid subs. my plex server is on my main HTPC in our bedroom. My mkv's are around 20gig to 30gig
 
I can't quote direct links as it's a competitor but you should pay around ~£130 for the bare bones then add RAM + SSD to complete it or ~£200 pre-built + OS.

Thee are some Chinese clones based on similar SoC for less than £100 bare bones but you may not get the triple display output, USB-C and twin gigabit NICs.
 
bimbleuk said:
I can't quote direct links as it's a competitor but you should pay around ~£130 for the bare bones then add RAM + SSD to complete it or ~£200 pre-built + OS.

Thee are some Chinese clones based on similar SoC for less than £100 bare bones but you may not get the triple display output, USB-C and twin gigabit NICs.
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This wouldn't work if you need to be able to transcode media. I've not found anything around that sort of price that is capable of it. Your looking more at £300.
 
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