Plex server + storage

Badfish · 26 Apr 2016 at 13:03

Hi folks,

I would like to have something on which I can run plex server but also have a lot of storage in RAID5 (maybe 4x4TB disks) and leave it running 24 hours a day and yet keep the power usage down. I did look into some NAS's but they generally dont seem powerful enough for transcoding which I think I will need as I wish to stream over the web.

My current setup is a high end gaming desktop PC for Plex server, a Western Digital NAS (storing movies/series), and a NUC as Plex home theater which is connected to my TV. The desktop PC is a big gaming PC and so uses a lot of power I guess if I leave it on 24x7 and I dont have room in it to plug in a load of disks. The NUC isn't powerful enough to run as Plex server and client at the same time though and I cant plug in much extra storage on this either.

So could someone suggest something I can put together or buy to run as Plex media server with transcoding and have a load of storage, yet use low power at the same time? Maybe a PC, NAS, or something? Maybe something to replace the NUC too which I can then sell. Budget wise, including disks I can go upto about 1000.

Nikumba · 26 Apr 2016 at 16:02

I have a HP Microserver N54 with the Synology NAS software on it, its called something else but can't remeber it.

Have 4 x 2Tb drives in it, I have no issues watching movies on the web or phone, but you can get the Gen8 which has a beefier CPU in it though.

Bluecube · 26 Apr 2016 at 16:46

XPenology is the name that Nikumba was after.

Nikumba · 26 Apr 2016 at 16:53

Bluecube said:
XPenology is the name that Nikumba was after.

Cheers, could not remember it for the life of me lol

Badfish · 27 Apr 2016 at 22:57

Nikumba said:
I have a HP Microserver N54 with the Synology NAS software on it, its called something else but can't remeber it.

Have 4 x 2Tb drives in it, I have no issues watching movies on the web or phone, but you can get the Gen8 which has a beefier CPU in it though.

Thanks! I was looking at these already, they look pretty good but i wasnt sure if they were powerful enough, good to know they are

Badfish · 28 Apr 2016 at 10:41

I've looked into the HP Microserver more and found out it doesnt support RAID5 and doesnt seem to have HDMI output to connect to my TV, so not a great option for me.

Think I'll have to build a small/low power PC if I can. Can anyone help suggest a case, PSU, motherboard, CPU, etc please?

Jamesyboyjim · 28 Apr 2016 at 11:34

There are plenty of nas boxes which are fine for Plex.

Plex transcodes everything on the fly so don't worry specifically about transcoding and streaming over the internet. How many users will be viewing media at the same time? That'll determine whether a particularly good cpu is required. Also why would you want the nas connected to a tv?

You really just want to put it out of the way hidden somewhere and have a small set top box of some description (Roku, etc) as a client.

Stealthploit · 28 Apr 2016 at 19:06

Badfish said:
Hi folks,

I would like to have something on which I can run plex server but also have a lot of storage in RAID5 (maybe 4x4TB disks) and leave it running 24 hours a day and yet keep the power usage down. I did look into some NAS's but they generally dont seem powerful enough for transcoding which I think I will need as I wish to stream over the web.

My current setup is a high end gaming desktop PC for Plex server, a Western Digital NAS (storing movies/series), and a NUC as Plex home theater which is connected to my TV. The desktop PC is a big gaming PC and so uses a lot of power I guess if I leave it on 24x7 and I dont have room in it to plug in a load of disks. The NUC isn't powerful enough to run as Plex server and client at the same time though and I cant plug in much extra storage on this either.

So could someone suggest something I can put together or buy to run as Plex media server with transcoding and have a load of storage, yet use low power at the same time? Maybe a PC, NAS, or something? Maybe something to replace the NUC too which I can then sell. Budget wise, including disks I can go upto about 1000.

Check this btw
search this

Mini PC: Intel® NUC Kit D54250WYK and Board D54250WYB
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/nuc-kit-d54250wyk-board-d54250wyb.html

Badfish · 2 May 2016 at 11:48

I've already got a NUC, and need a NAS. I wanted to replace my NUC completely if possible with a NAS/server, but maybe I'll just get a NAS to hide away and use it as Plex server like you said.

I looked into the HP Microserver but there's no RAID5 support sadly

Nikumba · 3 May 2016 at 09:04

Badfish said:
I've already got a NUC, and need a NAS. I wanted to replace my NUC completely if possible with a NAS/server, but maybe I'll just get a NAS to hide away and use it as Plex server like you said.

I looked into the HP Microserver but there's no RAID5 support sadly

XPenology which you can installed onto a Microserver has its own version of Raid5, also gives you NAS functions, plus number of other packages and services.