NAS for Plex Transcoding 4k/HD (over net) to 6-10 people

[Enquiries]

Trying to sort through whether a Synology or QNAP is the right move - setting up a new NAS specifically for Plex Media Server to host 200+ DVDs and Blu-Rays. Access will be limited to around 6 people in 3 different places, so transcoding is a must. NAS is located in a fairly infrequented spot so the less operation needed, the better. Keeping budget under $2k for the NAS + drives, but have some flexibility to go higher for more peace of mind.

Leaning Synology or QNAP, though open to others if it works for a first-timer. Thank you in advance!

[ed]

Thanks for reaching out! Based on your needs—Plex transcoding for 4K/HD content across 6-10 users remotely—I’d recommend looking into QNAP’s TS-873A or TS-874 series.

Here’s why:

GPU Card Support: Both models allow you to upgrade with a GPU card (e.g., NVIDIA) for hardware-accelerated transcoding. This is a game-changer for handling 4K content efficiently without overloading the CPU.
Powerful Hardware: The 73A and 74 series come with AMD Ryzen processors and offer flexibility with RAM upgrades, which makes them ideal for Plex transcoding and future-proofing.
Ease of Use: QNAP’s Plex Media Server setup is straightforward, and once it’s up and running, it requires minimal maintenance.
If you’re leaning toward Synology, their hardware generally lacks GPU card compatibility, which could limit transcoding performance at this scale. For your $2K budget (NAS + drives), QNAP will offer better peace of mind in terms of scalability and transcoding performance for high-bitrate 4K content.

https://nascompares.com/nas-builder/?sel...upgrades=1