Plex Synology NAS Performance List 2018

What is the Best Synology NAS for a Plex Media Server?

Plex has fast become the most popular media server software for home users in 2018. With a slick user interface, smart organization, relevant media images and descriptions sourced from many online sources applied automatically and clever show recommendations and watched records, it is easy to see why Plex challenges many of the online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Instant and Hulu. Another attractive feature of Plex is that the software is available free (or a more feature-rich paid version), whereas online streaming sources have monthly subscriptions, do not let you play your own content and change/rotate available media content on a monthly basis. With Plex, you play the media that you own and it is organized in an attractive and easy way. However in order to take advantage of Plex, you need a device for your media and the Plex media server to live, and this is where the money part comes. The best means with which to host a plex media server is a Network Attached Storage device (or NAS server). One of the biggest NAS server providers in the world right now is Synology and they have a large range of NAS devices that support Plex in many, many ways (transcoding, smooth running, 4K, etc). However which Synology NAS should you buy for your Plex media server, what is transcoding on an Synology Plex media server like and what is the best Synology NAS for a Plex Media Server (PMS)?

What is Software Transcoding on a Synology Plex Media Server?

When media lives on your Synology NAS, often the device a that you are playing back your plex media (Smart TV, iPhone, Laptop, iPod) onto cannot support the media file type, the resolution or audio codec. In this case, the Plex Media Server on your Synology NAS will try to change the file to a more suitable version, on the fly, to ensure you can enjoy your media in the best way. This is known as transcoding and though the Plex application is actioning this with the software, the actual work is being done by the Synology NAS CPU. Software transcoding takes a heavy toll on the CPU and you will need a relatively powerful processor in order to support this feature. Typically the CPU will need to be:

• In Intel or AMD Based Based CPU that is 64bit (x86) in Architecture
• Higher than 1.6Ghz in Frequency
• More than 2 Cores

It is important to highlight that transcoding for Plex on a Synology NAS only really needs more power in the case of converting/changing video files. Audio and Image files will not require much support from the NAS.

Choosing the Right Synology NAS for a Plex Media Server

When it comes to choosing the right Synology NAS for your Plex Media Server, below I have broken down the entire currently available NAS you can buy. I have broken them down into the following areas:

Model ID – This is the Name of the Synology NAS Device

CPU – This is the central processor of the Synology NAS server and this will be what decides the performance of your Plex Media Server

SD 480p / 576p –Most likely the lowest point at which you will need transcoding of a video media file, 480p was used for many early Plasma televisions, whereas 576p is considered Standard Definition in many countries worldwide

HD 720p – Otherwise known as ‘HD Ready’ or ‘Standard HD’, it is generally considered the lowest starting point for watching HD media and starts at 1280×720

HD 1080p – Widely regarded at ‘Full-HD’, it arrives at 1920×1080. Most media listed at high definition in 2018 will be 1080P

4K SDR 2160p – 4K SDR is the entry point into 4K Media. An SDR 2160p supported TV has around 4,000 lines of resolution (the lines across the screen that form the rows of pixels) but is not capable of completely showing the depth and richness of colours spectrum and contrast of 4K HDR. It is by no means a compromise and still an excellent picture, but rather this is due to the physical differences in the construction of the screen and not just how the images are processed, just like the differences between and SD and HDTV.

4K UHD HDR 2160p – The current top end of 4K Media file formats in popular commercial media. A 4K HDR TV has the same 4000 lines of resolution as those that support 4K SDR 2160p, but is physically capable of rendering an image with increased contrast and richer colours\separation thanks to the physical build superiority.

Be sure to check the kind of media you own (or plan on streaming from your Synology NAS), as well as the devices you will be playing back on for a better idea of what kind of plex media transcoding support you will need from your NAS server from Synology. Be sure to check the supported file types (most common modern files types you find for 1080p and 4K are .MKV .MP4 .MOV and .AVI).Below is the entire current Synology NASrange and how well they perform in the Plex Media Server Application with a single Stream.

1st Place  DS3617xs	2nd Place DS3018xs	3rd Place DS918+

 

Brand	Model ID	CPU	Software Transcoding
			SD 480p / 576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	4K SDR 2160p	4K UHD HDR 2160p
Synology	DS218+	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0-2.5 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS418play	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0-2.5 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS718+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	RS818+ / RS818RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	DS918+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS1517+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	DS1817+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	FS2017	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	FS3017	x64 (Xeon E5-2620 v3) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	DS3617xs	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS3617xs	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS3617RPxs	x64 (Xeon E3-1521) 2.4-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS3617xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS4017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS18017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	DS116	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216+	x64 (Celeron N3050) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS216+II	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS216j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216play	ARMv7 (STM STiH412) 1.5GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416play	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS416slim	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS716+	x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	DS716+II	x64 (Celeron N3160) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	RS816	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS916+	x64 (Pentium N3710) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No
Synology	RS18016xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No
Synology	RS2416+/ RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS115j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS215+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS215j	ARMv7 (Armada 375) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS415+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	DS415play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS715	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1515	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1515+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	DS1815+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No
Synology	DS2015+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-514) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS3615xs	x64 (Core i3-4130) 3.4GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS114	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.066GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS214	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214+	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS214se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS414	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS414slim	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2314+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	RS2414(RP)+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS213j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS713+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS1513+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS1813+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS2413+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	RS10613xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1220 v2) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS412+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS712+	x86 (Atom D425) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS812	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	RS812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS1512+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	DS1812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	RS2212+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No
Synology	RS3412xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS3612xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS411+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS411+ II	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1511+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2411+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2211+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2411xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS3611xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS710+	x86 (Atom D410) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS810+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1010+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No

What is Accelerated Transcoding with Plex on my NAS?

Some Synology NAS arrive with a CPU that has improved rendering or graphical embedding enabled. This means that is Plex can utilize this hardware for transcoding, it will require much, much less of the CPU processing power to transcode a video file. In order to take advantage of Plex hardware transcoding on your Synology NAS, you will need to first check which NAS supports the transcoding to the extent you need by checking below. Next, you will need to upgrade your Plex Membership from the free version to the paid ‘Plex Pass’ subscription, as the option of Accelerated Transcoding with Synology NAS hardware is not included in the plex free subscription.

Below are all the current available Synology NAS and to what extent they support Hardware transcoding with a Plex Pass:

Brand	Model ID	Hardware Transcoding
		SD 480p /576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	4K SDR 2160p	4K UHD HDR 2160p
Synology	DS218+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Decode Only	No
Synology	DS418play	Yes	Yes	Yes	Decode Only	No
Synology	DS718+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Decode Only	No
Synology	RS818+ / RS818RP+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS918+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Decode Only	No
Synology	DS1517+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1817+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	FS2017	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	FS3017	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS3617xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS3617xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS3617RPxs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS3617xs+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS4017xs+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS18017xs+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS116	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216+	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS216+II	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS216j	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216play	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS216se	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416j	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS416play	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS416slim	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS716+	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	DS716+II	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	RS816	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS916+	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Synology	RS18016xs+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2416+/ RP+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS115j	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS215+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS215j	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS415+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS415play	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS715	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1515	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1515+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1815+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2015+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS3615xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS114	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS214	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214play	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS214se	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS414	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS414slim	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2314+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2414(RP)+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS213j	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS713+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1513+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1813+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2413+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS10613xs+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS412+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS712+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS812	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS812+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1512+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1812+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2212+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS3412xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS3612xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS411+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS411+ II	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1511+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS2411+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2211+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS2411xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS3611xs	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS710+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	RS810+	No	No	No	No	No
Synology	DS1010+	No	No	No	No	No

How to Enable Hardware Acceleration with Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS

To use Hardware Transcoding on your Synology NAS in a Plex Media Server, you need to enable it using the Plex Web access (head over to your Plex User interface on your browser.

1. Open the Plex Web app.
2. Navigate to Settings > Server > Transcoder to access the server settings.
3. Turn on Show Advanced in the upper-right corner to expose advanced settings.
4. Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
   
5. Click Save Changes at the bottom.

The changes should take place straight away and there is no need to reboot your Synology NAS. Be sure to have updated to the latest version of the Plex Media Server application on your NAS and that Hardware Transcoding is listed as supported in the list above.

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