Dedicated PLEX media server - Need Plex Gurus

[axipher]

My only Nvidia card, a GTX 1050 Ti, is stuck in my UnRaid so can't really test it outside of Plex, but using `nvidia-smi` from linux terminal shows near max NVENC and NVDEC usage with a few streams running.

 

So I'm leaning more towards some wonky handbrake setup.

 

You could just install Plex Media Server on your windows box for testing out the Nvidia Encoder.

[ENTERPRISE]

I will be able to test in the coming days as I nabbed myself a GTX 1660 for my new Plex build for hardware acceleration. I will see how it goes and report back.

[Laithan]

 

My only Nvidia card, a GTX 1050 Ti, is stuck in my UnRaid so can't really test it outside of Plex, but using `nvidia-smi` from linux terminal shows near max NVENC and NVDEC usage with a few streams running.

 

So I'm leaning more towards some wonky handbrake setup.

 

You could just install Plex Media Server on your windows box for testing out the Nvidia Encoder.

 

That is encouraging, thank you. Yah I might give that a try also I've just been swamped with RL.

 

 

 

I will be able to test in the coming days as I nabbed myself a GTX 1660 for my new Plex build for hardware acceleration. I will see how it goes and report back.

 

Nice, which one did you end up going with?

Mine came in also.. one more day of quarantine before I open it

 

[Laithan]

Grr.. got around to testing the MB for this build and the JackWagon that sold it to me ("tested") was obviously lying. There are bent pins and TIM in the socket. Yikes!

 

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/P9X79E_WS/

 

 

[ENTERPRISE]

Oh man that sucks ! Sorry to see this bud, get that sucker returned for a refund if you can.

[Laithan]

Oh man that sucks ! Sorry to see this bud, get that sucker returned for a refund if you can.

 

oh yah, this guy isn't getting burned that's for sure It just sucks because I'm at a dead stop now.

 

I'll snap some pics of some of the items that came in soon. The new GPU is absolutely PERFECT! It is even smaller than I anticipated. I'll have plenty of room to fit it.

 

A Blu-Ray case underneath to show how small it really is.

 

Edited June 27, 2020 by Laithan

[Laithan]

This is the cooler I went with. It is the same as I used on my ESXi build and is designed for a 4U server case.

 

https://noctua.at/en/nh-u9dx-i4

 

 

 

 

[Laithan]

For the PSU, this time I went used to save a few bucks because as we all know the PSU is the most important part in any system. The AX series are legendary for reliability and performance.

 

https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Catego.../CP-9020044-NA

 

[Laithan]

For the memory, I already had this ECC 1600Mhz DDR3 memory that I stole from my spare server and it is low profile. 32GB will come in handy as I will be able to create a 16GB RAMDISK with it.

 

[ENTERPRISE]

Nice selection of components. I actually used a very similar CPU cooler in the CFP. Cannot beat a Noctua !

 

My GPU should hopefully arrive today and will be about the size of yours, needs to be as my build is an ITX one (Mostly finished, will post a thread soon.)

 

What are you going to use the RAM Disk for ?

[Laithan]

Nice selection of components. I actually used a very similar CPU cooler in the CFP. Cannot beat a Noctua !

 

My GPU should hopefully arrive today and will be about the size of yours, needs to be as my build is an ITX one (Mostly finished, will post a thread soon.)

 

What are you going to use the RAM Disk for ?

 

Basically for a super fast transcode folder and saves wear on SSDs. I'm sure it is overkill but I'm just going for the fastest performance I can afford right now and then will hope that I can future proof this system for a while with perhaps only a GPU swap / drive swap as potential future "needs".

 

https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-transc...erience/228696

https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/commen...ry_huge_speed/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/commen...for_a_ramdisk/

 

Edited June 30, 2020 by Laithan

[ENTERPRISE]

 

Basically for a super fast transcode folder and saves wear on SSDs. I'm sure it is overkill but I'm just going for the fastest performance I can afford right now and then will hope that I can future proof this system for a while with perhaps only a GPU swap / drive swap as potential future "needs".

 

https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-transc...erience/228696

https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/commen...ry_huge_speed/

https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/commen...for_a_ramdisk/

 

 

I imagined that was what you were doing. That is fair enough, probably a little overkill but hey ...we chase performance right ! I have put my transcode folder on my standard SSD, should still suffice nicely for transcode temp files.

[ENTERPRISE]

Also posted up my build here: https://extremehw.net/forum/full-pc-builds/server/7175-my-plex-server-build-rough-guide#post7175

[Laithan]

 

I imagined that was what you were doing. That is fair enough, probably a little overkill but hey ...we chase performance right ! I have put my transcode folder on my standard SSD, should still suffice nicely for transcode temp files.

 

 

Overkill.. has such a nice ring to it.. love that word! After all, this isn't BarelyAdequateHardware.net

 

 

I figured I would put the slim drive space to some good use so I picked up this LG BU40N and flashed the modified firmware to allow it to read my UHDs. I needed the sata slim to regular sata adapter also. https://www.lg.com/us/burners-drives...ray-dvd-writer

Edited July 4, 2020 by Laithan

[Laithan]

Also posted up my build here: https://extremehw.net/forum/full-pc-builds/server/7175-my-plex-server-build-rough-guide#post7175

 

It looks amazing! You got that together pretty quickly also. Hope you get the BIOS issue resolved.

[ENTERPRISE]

Nice choice on the Blu-ray drive. I have one too, though an external one. I must admit I barely use it as I keep all my files digital as opposed to on disk, but its nice to have the option.

 

Yeah working in the BIOS issue with Asrock. They have released a new one which I will test, but only after giving them my diagnosis results from using th current BIOS so they have more to go on if this new BIOS is still poo lol.

 

Looks like your build is coming together nicely !

[Laithan]

Nice choice on the Blu-ray drive. I have one too, though an external one. I must admit I barely use it as I keep all my files digital as opposed to on disk, but its nice to have the option.

 

Yeah working in the BIOS issue with Asrock. They have released a new one which I will test, but only after giving them my diagnosis results from using th current BIOS so they have more to go on if this new BIOS is still poo lol.

 

Looks like your build is coming together nicely !

 

I'm at a stand-still until the replacement motherboard comes in... then I can see if the drive cages are going to fit... This is going to be tight, cages are pretty large..

 

Hopefully next week sometime.

[ENTERPRISE]

Yeah that motherboard was a real bummer man. Some sellers are unbelievable ! Hope you get your replacement soon.

 

Ha, yeah you are at that stage where you are hoping everything fits ok, been there plenty of times !

[Laithan]

Yeah that motherboard was a real bummer man. Some sellers are unbelievable ! Hope you get your replacement soon.

 

Ha, yeah you are at that stage where you are hoping everything fits ok, been there plenty of times !

 

Yup! Should be arriving today. Praying to the motherboard gods that it works and it fits.. otherwise it will be a nuke in this build since I have embraced "overkill" lol

 

It arrived...and they shipped the wrong ^$(!) motherboard...

Edited July 6, 2020 by Laithan

[ENTERPRISE]

Fingers crossed dude. As it happens, I have given up on my Asrock Phantom Gaming ITX board, there is definitely a hardware fault with it. Diagnosed it with Asrock to see if they could come up with a solution, but nothing can be done. So will be returning that for a refund. Seems to be a common issue with that board so wont risk a replacement. ASUS ROG Strix I-Gaming here we come lol.

[Laithan]

Fingers crossed dude. As it happens, I have given up on my Asrock Phantom Gaming ITX board, there is definitely a hardware fault with it. Diagnosed it with Asrock to see if they could come up with a solution, but nothing can be done. So will be returning that for a refund. Seems to be a common issue with that board so wont risk a replacement. ASUS ROG Strix I-Gaming here we come lol.

 

It is never as easy as it is supposed to be I guess... Hope you have better luck with the new one. I always stick with ASUS boards.

 

I ordered another from China... <sigh> The long wait begins all over again.

[ENTERPRISE]

 

It is never as easy as it is supposed to be I guess... Hope you have better luck with the new one. I always stick with ASUS boards.

 

I ordered another from China... <sigh> The long wait begins all over again.

 

Asus I have generally always gotten on with (Aside from the ROG Zenith fiasco). I figured I would give them another go on the X570 platform ! Oh from China ? Why from China out of interest ?

[axipher]

Really sucks about the motherboard issue, hoping this build gets some progress soon so you can enjoy it as well.

[Laithan]

The board I am using is hard to find because of the number of PCI-e slots (and dual PLX chips). I will share some pics hopefully soon. Thanks guys

 

 

https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/P9X79E_WS/

 

(Estimated)

SLOT 1 (and covers 2) = GPU

SLOT 3 (and covers 4) = LSI 9271-8i

SLOT 5 = Intel X550 10GB

SLOT 6 = SAS expander

SLOT 7 = 2nd LSI 9271-8i

 

 

 

Edited July 10, 2020 by Laithan

[tictoc]

If you find yourself needing mare RAM, shoot me a message.

I have a bunch of 8GB ECC RDIMMS. https://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/dram/module/M393B1K70DH0-YH9/

 

The sticks are 1333 rated dimms, but I ran them at 1866Mhz with a bump in voltage, on my old 2P ASRock server.