NAS for Plex

[Enquiries]

Hey, Im new to NAS and im looking for a 4bay solution, preferably Synology because of the software but im open to other brands to use with PLEX for up to 6 people at the same time with transcoding server side.

[ed]

For your budget and requirements—using Plex with server-side transcoding for up to 6 people simultaneously—you’ll need a NAS with strong hardware, particularly a CPU that supports hardware transcoding via Intel Quick Sync Video (QSV). Here are some options:

1. Synology Options (Preferred for Software)
Synology DS920+ (Discontinued but still a great option)
CPU: Intel Celeron J4125 (Quick Sync Video support for hardware transcoding).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 8GB).
Price: ~£550-600 (check availability as it’s an older model).
Why it works: Synology’s DSM is user-friendly, and the DS920+ can handle multiple Plex streams with server-side transcoding.
Synology DS923+
CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 (no Quick Sync Video).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 32GB).
Price: ~£600.
Why it works: A newer model with more powerful raw CPU performance, but transcoding performance is software-based as AMD Ryzen lacks Quick Sync Video. Suitable if most of your Plex users have devices that support direct play.
2. QNAP Options (Powerful Hardware)
QNAP TS-464
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 (Quick Sync Video for hardware transcoding).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB).
Price: ~£550-600.
Why it works: Excellent Plex transcoding performance and robust hardware. QNAP’s software isn’t as intuitive as Synology but offers great flexibility and performance.
3. Asustor Option (Budget-Friendly and Plex-Optimized)
Asustor Lockerstor 4 AS6704T
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 (Quick Sync Video).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB).
Price: ~£500-600.
Why it works: Great for Plex with a strong focus on performance, and offers similar hardware to the QNAP TS-464 at a slightly lower price.