Alternatively, if the NAS supports SSD caching, it will help the overall performance of the file system.įor those unsure whether a specific NAS device can be used with Plex and, if it does, what level of transcoding to expect, Plex has created a compatibility list worth referring to.

A conventional hard drive can only operate at around 150-200MB/s, but place four drives in a RAID 5 array, and the overall speed of reading and writing could easily be increased to 500MB/s or more. Some processors are sufficiently powerful enough to stream some video resolutions without hardware accelerated transcoding, but having an associated GPU is a massive advantage for those wanting to use Plex to its full potential.Īlongside the sufficient processing power, the NAS also needs plenty of RAM to cache the processing, and obviously, it needs a good number of drive bays to hold the content and boost the performance of the drive system.

Hardware transcoding is rapid enough to work with a live stream without pre-processing. Some NAS include extra hardware built to transcode, whereas lesser systems use is entirely dependent on software solutions.Ī software transcoding will work fine if the NAS has time to pre-process the files, assuming they are not required in real-time. And this needs to be done quickly enough to allow the stream to play smoothly. Re-encoding the stream for the client display ensures the best performance, typically by not streaming 4K video to a phone with only a 720p screen.ĭuring this operation, video files must be decoded, scaled, have audio reintegrated, and then re-encoded. During transcoding, video is reorganized from the source encoding and resolution into one that the receiving device requires. Plex is a very powerful tool, but it requires a level of performance from the NAS that’s generally considered to be above entry-level devices for those that wish to transcode video.

How we picked the best NAS for Plex in 2022

Plex nas