QNAP NAS Plex Performance Guide – 2021 Edition

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

Plex has fast become the most popular media server software for home users in 2021. 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 QNAP and they have a large range of NAS devices that support Plex in many, many ways (transcoding, smooth running, 4K, etc). However which QNAP NAS should you buy for your Plex media server, what is transcoding on a QNAP Plex media server like and what is the best QNAP NAS for a Plex Media Server (PMS)?

What is Software Transcoding on a QNAP Plex Media Server?

When media lives on your QNAP 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 QNAP 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 QNAP 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 QNAP 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 QNAP NAS for a Plex Media Server

When it comes to choosing the right QNAP 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 QNAP NAS Device

CPU – This is the central processor of the QNAP 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 2021 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 QNAP 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 QNAP. 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 QNAP NAS range and how well they perform in the Plex Media Server Application with a single Stream.

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.

 

Latest 2021 QNAP NAS Releases:

 

Software Transcoding

 

 

Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding

 

Model CPU Model SD
480p / 576p
HD
720p
HD
1080p
4K
SDR 2160p
HD
720p
HD
1080p
H.264
2160p
HEVC SDR
2160p
HEVC UHD
2160p
TS-131K ARMv7 (Alping AL-214) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-230 ARMv8 (RealTek 1296) 1.4Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-231K ARMv7 (Alping AL-214) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-231P3 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7 Ghz No No No No No No No No No
TS-251D x64 (Celeron J4005) 2.0Ghz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-253D x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.7Ghz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-431KX ARMv7 (Alping AL-214) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431P3 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431X3 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-451D2 x64 (Celeron J4005) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-451DeU x64 (Celeron J4025) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-453DU (-RP) x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.7 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-453D x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.7 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-653D x64 (Celeron J4125) 2.7 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes SDR Only H.264 Output H.264 Output
TS-h973AX x64 (Ryzen V1500B) 2.2GHz Yes Yes Yes No Some Some No No No

Previous 2020 and Older QNAP NAS Releases:

   
Software Transcoding


Hardware – Accelerated Transcoding

Model CPU Model SD
480p / 576p
HD
720p
HD
1080p
4K
SDR 2160p
HD
720p
HD
1080p
H.264
2160p
HEVC SDR
2160p
HEVC UHD
2160p
TS-128A ARMv8 (RealTek 1293) 1.2GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-131 ARMv7 (Cortex A9) 1.2GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-131P ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-228A ARMv8 (RealTek 1295) 1.2GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-230 ARMv8 (RealTek 1296) 1.4Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-231 ARMv7 (Cortex A9) 1.2GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-231+ ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-231P ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.7 Ghz No No No No No No No No No
TS-231P2 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7 Ghz No No No No Yes Yes No No No
TS-251 x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TS-251+ x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-251A x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-251D x64 (Celeron J4005) 2.0Ghz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TS-253 Pro x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-253A x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-253B x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-253Be x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-269 Pro x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-328 ARMv8 (RealTek 1296) 1.2GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-332X ARMv8 (Alpine AL-324) 1.7GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-431 ARMv7 (Cortex-A9) 1.2GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431+ ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.4GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431P ARMv7 (Alpine AL-212) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431P2 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-431U ARMv7 (Cortex-A9) 1.2GHz No No No No Yes Yes No No No
TS-451 x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-451+ x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-451A x64 (Celeron N3060) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-451U x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-453A x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453mini x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453B x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453Be x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453BT3 x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453Bmini x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-453BU x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-453U x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-463U x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-463XU x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-469 Pro x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-469L x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-469U-RP x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-473 x64 (AMD RX 421ND) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-531P ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-531X ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-563 x86 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-569 Pro x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-569L x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No Yes Yes No No No
TS-651 x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only No No
TS-653 Pro x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-653A x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-653B x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-669 Pro x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-669L x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-677 x64 (AMD RX 421ND) 2.1GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-677-1600 x64 (AMD Ryzen 5-1600) 3.2 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-831X ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.4GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-831XU ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-832X ARMv8 (Annapurna) 1.7GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-832XU ARMv8 (Annapurna) 1.7GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-851 x64 (Celeron J1800) 2.41GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only No No
TS-853 Pro x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TS-853A x64 (Celeron N3150) 1.6GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-853BU x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TS-853U x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-863U x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-863XU x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-869 Pro x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-869L x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No No No No No No
TS-869U-RP x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No Yes Yes No No No
TS-870 Pro x64 (Core i3-3220) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-873 x64 (AMD RX 421ND) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-873U x64 (AMD RX 421ND) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-877-1600 x64 (AMD Ryzen 5 1600) 3.2 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-877-1700 x64 (AMD Ryzen 7 1700) 3.0 GHZ Yes Yes Yes Some Some Some No No No
TS-879 Pro x64 (Core i3-2120) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No Some Some No No No
TS-879U-RP x64 (Core i3-2120) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TS-932X ARMv8 (Annapurna) 1.7GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TS-951X x64 (Celeron 3865U) 1.8Ghz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-963X x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No Some Some No No No
TS-1079 Pro x64 (Core i3-2120) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TS-1231XU ARMv7 (Alpine AL-314) 1.7GHz No No No No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TS-1253BU x64 (Celeron J3455) 1.5 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TS-1253U x64 (Celeron J1900) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-1263U x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-1263XU x64 (AMD GX-420MC) 2.0GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-1269U-RP x64 (Atom D2700) 2.13GHz Yes Some No No Some Some No No No
TS-1279U-RP x64 (Core i3-2120) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TS-1635 ARMv7 (Alpine AL-514) 1.7 GHz No No No No No No No No No
TS-1635AX ARMv8 (ARMADA) 1.7GHz Yes Yes Some No No No No No No
TS-1673U x64 (AMD RX 421ND) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Some No Some Some No No No
TS-1679U-RP x64 (Core i3-2120) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TS-1277-1600 x64 (AMD Ryzen 5 1600) 3.2 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-1277-1700 x64 (AMD Ryzen 7 1700) 3.0 GHZ Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-1677X-1200 x64 (AMD Ryzen 3 1200) 3.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TS-1677X-1600 x64 (AMD Ryzen 5 1600) 3.2 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-1677X-1700 x64 (AMD Ryzen 7 1700) 3.0 GHZ Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-1685-D1521 x64 (Xeon D1521) 2.4 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-1685-D1531 x64 (Xeon D1531) 2.2 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC1080 Pro x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-EC1279U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1225) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC1280U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-EC1679U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1225) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC1680U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC2480U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TS-EC879U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1225) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC880 Pro x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TS-EC880U-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some
Yes Yes No No No
TVS-471-i3 x64 (Core i3-4150) 3.5GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-471-PT x64 (Pentium G3250) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-472XT x64 (Pentium G5400T) 3.1 Ghz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TVS-473 x64 (AMD RX-421BD) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No
TVS-473e x64 (AMD RX-421BD) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-671-i3 x64 (Core i3-4150) 3.5GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-671-i5 x64 (Core i5-4590S) 3.0GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-671-PT x64 (Pentium G3250) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-672XT x64 (Core i3-8100T) 3.1 Ghz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TVS-673 x64 (AMD RX-421BD) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-672N-i3-4G x64 (Core i3-8100T) 3.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TVS-673e x64 (AMD RX-421BD) 2.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-682-i3-8G x64 (Core i3-7100) 3.9 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Some No No No
TVS-682-PT-8G x64 (Pentium G4400) 3.3GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-682T-i3-8G x64 (Core i3-7100) 3.9 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-871-i3 x64 (Core i3-4150) 3.5GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-871-i5 x64 (Core i5-4590S) 3.0GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-871-i7 x64 (Core i7-4790S) 3.2GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-871-PT x64 (Pentium G3250) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-871U-RP-i3 x64 (Core i3-4150) 3.5GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-871U-RP-i5 x64 (Core i5-4590S) 3.0GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-871U-RP-PT x64 (Pentium G3250) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-872N-i3-4G x64 (Core i3-8100T) 3.1 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-872XT-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-8400T) 1.7 Ghz Yes Yes Yes Some No No No No No
TVS-873e x64 (AMD RX-421BD) 2.1 Ghz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-882-i3-8G x64 (Core i3-7100) 3.9 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-882-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-6500) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-882T-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-6500) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-882BRT3-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-7500) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-882BRT3-i7-32G x64 (Core i7-7700) 3.6GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-882ST3-i5 x64 (Core i5-6442EQ 1.9GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-882ST3-i7 x64 (Core i7-6700HQ) 2.6GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-951X x64 (Celeron 3865U) 1.8 GHz Yes Yes Some No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC1080 x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC880 x64 (Xeon E3-1245 v3) 3.4GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-1271U-RP-i3 x64 (Core i3-4150) 3.5GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-1271U-RP-i5 x64 (Core i5-4590S) 3.0GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
TVS-1271U-RP-i7 x64 (Core i7-4790S) 3.2GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Some No No No
TVS-1271U-RP-PT x64 (Pentium G3250) 3.1GHz Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-1282-i3-8G x64 (Core i3-6100) 3.7 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-1282-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-6500) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-1282-i7-32G x64 (Core i7-6700) 3.4 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only No
TVS-1282T-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-6500) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-1282T-i7-32G x64 (Core i7-7700) 3.4 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-1282T3-i5-16G x64 (Core i7-7500) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-1282T3-i7-32G x64 (Core i7-7700) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-1582TU-i5-16G x64 (Core i5-7500) 3.4 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes H.264 Only Decode Only Decode Only
TVS-1582TU-i7-32G x64 (Core i7-7700) 3.6 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC1280U-SAS-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1246 v3) 3.5 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC1580MU-SAS-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1246 v3) 3.5 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC1680U-SAS-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1246 v3) 3.5 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes Yes No No No
TVS-EC2480U-SAS-RP x64 (Xeon E3-1246 v3) 3.5 GHz Yes Yes Yes Some Yes

What is Accelerated Transcoding with Plex on my NAS?

Some QNAP 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 QNAP 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 QNAP NAS hardware is not included in the plex free subscription. However, below has included all the current available QNAP NAS and to what extent they support Hardware transcoding with a Plex Pass:How to Enable Hardware Acceleration with Plex Media Server on a QNAP NAS

To use Hardware Transcoding on your QNAP 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.
    hwaccel.png
  5. Click Save Changes at the bottom.

The changes should take place straight away and there is no need to reboot your QNAP 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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      Summary
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      QNAP NAS Plex Performance Guide - 2021 Edition
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