06-21-2024, 09:51 AM
Thanks for reaching out about your Plex setup and considering options to optimize your media server experience. It sounds like you've got a great foundation with your Asustor 5304T NAS handling Plex and storage.
Regarding your considerations:
Option 1: Using Asustor NAS for Plex
Your current setup is solid for local streaming with direct play, which leverages your NAS resources efficiently. This keeps everything integrated and straightforward, especially if it's meeting your needs well.
Option 2: Dedicated PC for Plex Server
Your gaming PC, equipped with a Ryzen 7 and 2080 Ti, offers substantial horsepower that would excel as a Plex server. This setup would be particularly advantageous for remote transcoding, ensuring smooth playback on various devices outside your local network.
Recommendations:
Current Setup: If your Asustor NAS is delivering satisfactory performance for local streaming and storage needs, sticking with it provides a unified solution.
Dedicated PC Option: Utilizing your powerful gaming PC for Plex server duties could enhance transcoding capabilities, making it ideal for demanding scenarios like remote streaming.
Asustor vs. Synology
While Asustor provides robust NAS hardware, many users find Synology's software to be more reliable and feature-rich. Synology NAS units are renowned for their intuitive DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, which offers a wide range of apps, robust backup solutions, and seamless integration with third-party services.
Regarding your considerations:
Option 1: Using Asustor NAS for Plex
Your current setup is solid for local streaming with direct play, which leverages your NAS resources efficiently. This keeps everything integrated and straightforward, especially if it's meeting your needs well.
Option 2: Dedicated PC for Plex Server
Your gaming PC, equipped with a Ryzen 7 and 2080 Ti, offers substantial horsepower that would excel as a Plex server. This setup would be particularly advantageous for remote transcoding, ensuring smooth playback on various devices outside your local network.
Recommendations:
Current Setup: If your Asustor NAS is delivering satisfactory performance for local streaming and storage needs, sticking with it provides a unified solution.
Dedicated PC Option: Utilizing your powerful gaming PC for Plex server duties could enhance transcoding capabilities, making it ideal for demanding scenarios like remote streaming.
Asustor vs. Synology
While Asustor provides robust NAS hardware, many users find Synology's software to be more reliable and feature-rich. Synology NAS units are renowned for their intuitive DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, which offers a wide range of apps, robust backup solutions, and seamless integration with third-party services.