A Guide to How Each Synology NAS Perform in Plex Media Server
If you have been wondering about buying a NAS in 2021 for use as a Plex Media Server, then chances are that you have heard good thing about Synology. The brand has been in the network-attached storage market for over 20 years and during that time they have produced some genuinely innovative hardware for home and business users. Although they supply a number of multimedia applications (Video Station, Photo Station, DLNA apps and more), it has to be said that in terms of enjoying your OWN multimedia, whilst still enjoying the attractive graphical user interface (GUI), background information and graphics of Netflix and Prime, few applications can rival Plex in popularity. The application, free (with a paid subscription service option for more features) allows users to access their collections of Boxsets, Movies, Music, Photos and more – but does it with links to reviews, information from IMDB, actor portfolios, descriptions and all the cover art scraped from online sources. Hosting this great movie application on your Synology NAS is actually VERY easy, but the real hurdle for many is choosing the RIGHT Synology NAS to buy, in order to have the very best plex media server set up in their home in 2021. So, below I am going to outline the important buying factors in choosing your Synology NAS, what is transcoding, do you need it and (most important of all) go through every mainstream Synology NAS available right now and how it performs in Plex Media Server.
Choosing the Best 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 and Hardware 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
- Open the Plex Web app.
- Navigate to Settings > Server > Transcoder to access the server settings.
- Turn on Show Advanced in the upper-right corner to expose advanced settings.
- Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
- 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.
This list is regularly updated HERE and full credit to this resource – it is AWESOME!
| 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 |
| DS220j | aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DS220+ | x64 (Celeron J4025) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | H.264 Output |
| DS420j | aarch64 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DS420+ | x64 (Celeron J4025) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | H.264 Output |
| DS620slim | x64 (Celeron J3355) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | No |
| DS720+ | x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | H.264 Output |
| DS920+ | x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | H.264 Output |
| DS1520+ | x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | SDR Only | H.264 Output | H.264 Output |
| RS820+/RS820RP+ | x64 (Atom C3538) 2.1 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| RS1221+ / RS1221RP+ | x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DS1621xs+ | x64 (Xeon D-1527) 2.2Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DS1621+ | x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| DS1821+ | x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| RS4021+ | x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| RS3621+ | x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz | Yes | Yes | Some | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| RS3621RPxs | x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz | 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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