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+--- Thread: NAS and PLEX 4K Direct Play (/showthread.php?tid=11422)
NAS and PLEX 4K Direct Play - Enquiries - 11-20-2024
Hello, I personally collect movies and series for hobby purposes. I have an Nvidia Shield Pro 2019 Android TV device and a Synology DS-920+ NAS device. I love Plex and I use Plex Media Server installed with Docker on the NAS. I also use the Plex application via Nvidia Shield TV. I watch movies and series files by using the NAS as a storage area. Sometimes I use very large video files such as 4K HDR Plus 10 bits, but I need to play them by transcoding. My question to you is: Do you have any recommendations for a NAS device that I can use to play 4K video files directly using PLEX without transcoding or file conversion? In other words, I want to play a 4K video file directly in 4K without converting it to 1080p. Is there any NAS device brand and model that you can recommend for this? Thank you for your support..
RE: NAS and PLEX 4K Direct Play - ed - 11-22-2024
When streaming an original 4K file to a compatible 4K TV via Plex, you do not need a GPU on the NAS. As long as the NAS has sufficient network bandwidth and a capable CPU, it can stream the file directly without any issues. In this case, most NAS devices will suffice for 4K direct play.
The need for a GPU or higher-end processor comes into play when you need to transcode the video, such as when streaming to devices that don’t support the 4K format (like certain mobile devices or remote access scenarios). Transcoding is needed to convert the 4K video into a lower resolution (such as 1080p) to ensure smooth playback on devices with limited hardware or bandwidth.
So, if you're only planning to stream to a 4K TV and are not concerned about remote access or transcoding, you can choose any NAS with sufficient network speed and a decent processor. The NAS you already have, like the Synology DS-423+, should be able to handle this task without needing a GPU.