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Plex Synology NAS Performance Guide – 2021 Edition

A Guide to How Each Synology NAS Performs in Plex Media Server

Note–  This article has been updated to reflect Synology 2023 NAS Hardware Releases

Using a NAS as a Plex Media Server is something that seems to grow in popularity with each passing year! Perhaps it is the constant bickering between streaming platforms such as Disney+, Netflix and Prime as they fight over TV show streaming ownership, maybe it’s the rapid increase in costs – or perhaps it is simply that alot of users these days actually want to OWN the media they watch (as well as WATCH the media they own). Whatever the reason, many users look at Synology NAS solutions as affordable private servers that they can load their multimedia onto Box sets, Movies, Music, Audiobooks and Photos) and then stream them to devices in and outside the home. That is where Plex Media server comes in! Plex is, by far, the best way to replicate the kind of slick graphic user interface and design that streaming platforms provide, whilst allowing you to do so with your own media easily and automatically. Plex will scan and scrape metadata sources such as The Movie Database (TMDB) and IMDb for cast information, reviews, descriptions, trailers, thumbnails and more – then wrap it around your decades of media! Then they also allow you to stream it to multiple TVs, Phones, tablets and smart home devices to be enjoyed! What’s not to love? Not much right. Well, when it comes to buying a Synology NAS for Plex – there is a catch! Not all Synology NAS drives are built equally. Some have more powerful or more suitable hardware for Plex than others – and it doesn’t necessarily mean that spending MORE on a Synology NAS will automatically make it better for your ideal plex media server. So, in today’s article I want to cover the full rang eof Synology NAS systems in 2023 and how they perform in PLEX. A big thank you needs to go to the creator of this spreadsheet HERE for keeping track of the full spectrum of Synology NAS systems, their hardware and how they translate to performance when transcoding in Plex Media server.

In a Rush? Here are the Synology NAS I Recommend for Plex in 2023:

Synology DS423+ NAS – $460

4-Core Intel 64bit CPU -2/6GB Memory – 1GbE – 4-Bay

RECOMMENDED – Synology DS923+ – $575

2-Core AMD 64bit CPU – 4/16GB Memory – 1GbE – 10GbE Opt  – 4-Bay –  NVMe

Synology DS1823XS+ NAS – $1899

4-Core Intel Xeon 64bit CPU – 8/16GB Memory – 10GbE – 6-Bay –  NVMe

Best Transcoding Plex NAS

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Best (non-Transcoding) Plex Solution

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Best Heavy Plex Solution

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The Plex Terminology Used in this Article

Before we go any further, it is important to clarify a few important terms that will crop up ALOT in this article. You can watch this video HERE for a full breakdown of Plex Terminology, but the most important and relevant ones to this article are as follows:

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, sometimes the device a that you are playing back your plex media (Smart TV, iPhone, Laptop, iPod) onto cannot support the media file type (eg file format such as HEVC or audio formats like FLAC), the resolution or 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:

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

  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.

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
DS223 ARMv8 (RTD1619B) 1.1 Ghz Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App Awaiting App
DS923+ x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No No
DS723+ x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No No
RS822+ x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2 Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No No
DS1522+ x64 (Ryzen R1600) 2.6 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 Some 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 Some No No No No No No
RS3621+ x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz Yes Yes Some Some No No No No No No
RS3621RPxs x64 ( Xeon D-1541) 2.1 Ghz Yes Yes Some Some No No No No No No
DS1520+ x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.0 Ghz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
DS120j ARMv8 (Realtek 1296) 1.4Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No No
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
DS720+ 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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