Plex Synology NAS Performance List – 2020 Edition

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 2020 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.

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.

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. The lists below feature all the current available Synology NAS and to what extent they support Hardware transcoding with a Plex Pass. 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.How to Enable Hardware Acceleration with Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS

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 below.

Guide for the Chart Below

Software Transcode = Uses the NAS software and CPU Power to alter a file to a more suitable Plex Playback type

Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding – Uses Embedded Graphics that are Integrated into the CPU to Alter a file to a more suitable version for Plex Playback

RED BOX – Recommended Synology NAS for Plex Media Server. Could be based on Performance, Price or Value between both

Use the FREE ADVICE Button to contact me directly for a recommendation on the Best Plex NAS for your Setup/Budget. Please bear in mind that this is a one-man operation, so my reply might take a little bit of time, but it will be impartial, honest and have your best interests at heart.

 

		Software Transcoding					Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding
Model	CPU Model	SD 480p / 576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	4K SDR 2160p	SD 480p / 576p	HD 720p	HD 1080p	H.264 2160p	HEVC SDR 2160p	HEVC UHD 2160p
DS119J	aarch64 (armada 37xx) 256MB	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1019+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS419slim	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1619xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1819+	x64 (Atom C3538) 2.1Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS819	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS1219+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS1619xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS118	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS218	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS218+	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0-2.5 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS218J	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS218play	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS418	aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS418j	aarch64 (Realtek 1293) 1.4Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS418play	x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0-2.5 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS718+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS918+	x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5-2.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	H.264 Only	Decode Only	Decode Only
DS1618+	x64 (Atom C3538) 2.1 GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS818+ / RS818RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1517+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1817+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3617xs	x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
FS2017	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
FS3017	x64 (Xeon E5-2620 v3) 2.4 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617xs	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617RPxs	x64 (Xeon E3-1521) 2.4-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3617xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS4017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1541) 2.1-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS18017xs+	x64 (Xeon D-1531) 2.2-2.7 Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS116	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216+	x64 (Celeron N3050) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS216+II	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS216j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216play	ARMv7 (STM STiH412) 1.5GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS216se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416j	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.3GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS416play	x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS416slim	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.0GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS716+	x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS716+II	x64 (Celeron N3160) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
DS916+	x64 (Pentium N3710) 1.6GHz	Yes	Yes	Some	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
RS816	ARMv7 (Armada 385) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS18016xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1230 v2) 3.3Ghz	Yes	Yes	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2416+/​RP+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS115j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS215+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS215j	ARMv7 (Armada 375) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS415+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS415play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS715	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1515	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1515+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1815+	x64 (Atom C2538) 2.4GHz	Yes	Some	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2015+	ARMv7 (Alpine AL-514) 1.4GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3615xs	x64 (Core i3-4130) 3.4GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS114	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.066GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214+	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214play	x86 (Atom CE5335) 1.6GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS214se	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 0.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS414	ARMv7 (Armada XP) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS414slim	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2314+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS214	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.33GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2414(RP)+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS213j	ARMv7 (Armada 370) 1.2GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS713+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1513+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1813+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2413+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS10613xs+	x64 (Xeon E3-1220 v2) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS412+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS712+	x86 (Atom D425) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1512+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3612xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS812	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS812+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2212+	x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz	Yes	Some	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS3412xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS411+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS411+ II	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1511+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS2411+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS3611xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2211+	x86 (Atom D525) 1.8GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS2411xs	x64 (Core i3-2100) 3.1GHz	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS710+	x86 (Atom D410) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DS1010+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
RS810+	x86 (Atom D510) 1.6GHz	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No

 

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