NAS/MEDIASERVER build suggestions

[Finnedsgang]

Hi everyone, i need your suggestions and help for building a new mediaserver for my house.

I actually have an Asustore AS3202T nas but i'm not completely satisfied, especially for the poor/absent 4k abilities.
I plan to re-use re-arrange some devices and components i've in my house and eventually buy what's needed
I have to stream (with plex?)

1 FHD Oled tv
1 4K projector
1 4K TV in another room
1 FHD tv in the Bedroom

Here the list of the things i already have and that i can "mix and match"

#1 WD RED 4tb
#1 WD red 1tb
#2 8gb DDR4 ram

#1 complete PC actually used as a ht in fhd in my bedroom equipped with:
- PentiumG4400
- 16gb ram
- AMD RX 580
- #2 SSD 128 each

#1 Barebone PC LIVA 320 AMD based (no CPU, RAM, Disks)

#1 GamingPC but that i barely use: 32gb ram, NVidia 1080, Ryzen 2400g



Can you help me reorganize my equipment. Is freenas or DSM from synology a good solution?

 

[sepheronx]

Hi everyone, i need your suggestions and help for building a new mediaserver for my house.

I actually have an Asustore AS3202T nas but i'm not completely satisfied, especially for the poor/absent 4k abilities.
I plan to re-use re-arrange some devices and components i've in my house and eventually buy what's needed
I have to stream (with plex?)

1 FHD Oled tv
1 4K projector
1 4K TV in another room
1 FHD tv in the Bedroom

Here the list of the things i already have and that i can "mix and match"

#1 WD RED 4tb
#1 WD red 1tb
#2 8gb DDR4 ram

#1 complete PC actually used as a ht in fhd in my bedroom equipped with:
- PentiumG4400
- 16gb ram
- AMD RX 580
- #2 SSD 128 each

#1 Barebone PC LIVA 320 AMD based (no CPU, RAM, Disks)

#1 GamingPC but that i barely use: 32gb ram, NVidia 1080, Ryzen 2400g



Can you help me reorganize my equipment. Is freenas or DSM from synology a good solution?

You can always give unRAID a try. It's not free but it's cheap. And apparently east to use.

A multicore processors is ideal but nothing really powerful is needed. You definately do not need a strong gpu. Actually, probably can get away with an integrated.

Edit: I see you want to do streaming on 4K. That is where Kodi can work through video streaming from your NAS but having the device that can output 4K is where the higher end GPU's come in handy. But I don't think you need the NAS to have high end gpu for that

 

[TheLostSwede]

Personally I run this on my NAS

openmediavault - The open network attached storage solution

openmediavault is the next generation network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux. It contains services like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, AFS, UPnP media server, DAAP media server, RSync, BitTorrent client and many more.

www.openmediavault.org

It's headless though, so it wouldn't be much used for anything but acting as a real NAS.

Synology DSM wouldn't help you much either, at least not over your Asustor NAS.
You might want to look at QNAP, as they have some NAS devices that can do 4K output if you intend to connect your TV or projector directly to the NAS.

It might help a bit more if you describe how you're planning to use your devices, rather than just listing them.

 

[Finnedsgang]

Thank you guys i will explain better my usage and what i want to do:

Basically i want a device connected via HDMI to the AVR that can play 4k and FHD content on projector (in 4k) and on tv(in FHD). The device will be installed in the living room and will also serve as media center/streamer to the other devices in other rooms. I have a Lifetime Plex Pass so i would like to stay on this software but if something is better for my purposes i will think about it.

Actually for this purpose i have the Asustor As3202T, but i'm not very happy with it: while the OS is very powerful seems that the hardware it's a bit sloppy especially in transcoding 4k content.

Option 1) My initial thought was to use the home theater pc actually in the bedroom (Silvestone Grandia case, Pentium g4400, Amd RX 580, 16 gb ram), adding to this the two ssd and the two 3.5"WD RED hdd, and use this in the living room ( instead of the NAS) to play and transcode 4k (thanks to the hardware acceleration of the Rx580 card).
But i don't know if the CPU is enough and what to use as OS Should be simple to use (i don't have a mouse or keyboard, just a remote like this https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32730846085.html

Instead of the home theater in the bedroom i can use the LIVA, moving the Ryzen 2400g in gaming pc, to this and buying a new cpu for the gaming pc (or leaving the 2400g in the gaming, and buying something different for the LIVA)

Option 2) Is to move the B350 and the 2400g used in the pc gaming, to the home theater in the living room.
Moving the intel motherboard h270f to the gaming pc and buying a new intel CPU for gaming.
Buying a new low end gpu for the LIVA to use in the bedroom.

In this case i've to buy two CPU, so it's more expensive.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Have you considered emby? I runs on a wide range of OSes, but they have a bit of an odd way of dealing with files, as everything has to be in individual folders, which can be a bit annoying. Hardware acceleration only seems to be on Intel CPUs. It might also not be supported by the device you use for playback, which I'm not sure what it is.

Emby

media server for personal streaming videos tv music photos in mobile app or browser for all devices android iOS windows phone appletv androidtv smarttv and dlna

emby.media

If you want a pre-built NAS that can do 4K60p you're looking at spending a lot of money.

TVS-672N | Cost-effective 5GbE/2.5GbE NAS with Intel® Core i3 Processor, DDR4 Memory and SSD caching for ultimate storage performance <br>(Supports QTS or QuTS hero operating system)

Powered by an 8th generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor, the high-performance TVS-672N NAS features 5GBASE-T high bandwidth, which delivers up to five times the speed of regular Gigabit Ethernet and allows for smoother 4K video transfer, display, and editing. With M.2 SSD support to enable SSD...

www.qnap.com

What OS are you running? It seems a bit complicated with Plex as to what is or isn't supported.

Using Hardware-Accelerated Streaming

Tip!: Hardware-accelerated streaming is a premium feature and requires an active Plex Pass subscription. To play your video smoothly and...

support.plex.tv

 

[sam_86314]

My media server is running regular old Windows 10 and streams with Plex. It has a Xeon X3470, 4GB of RAM, and five 3TB WD Reds in what is effectively RAID 5. It rarely has to do more than one 1080p stream, but I'm sure it could handle more. It's in a Fractal Mode 304, which is an ITX case that has six drive bays.

The grand total cost has been about $400. In other words, you could look at used server parts for your server.

 

[Finnedsgang]

My media server is running regular old Windows 10 and streams with Plex. It has a Xeon X3470, 4GB of RAM, and five 3TB WD Reds in what is effectively RAID 5. It rarely has to do more than one 1080p stream, but I'm sure it could handle more. It's in a Fractal Mode 304, which is an ITX case that has six drive bays.

The grand total cost has been about $400. In other words, you could look at used server parts for your server.

Are you sure Xeon is able to transcode 4k?
Not a problem to buy used parts, but i would like to re-use what i already have... and eventually buy what needed.

ave you considered emby? I runs on a wide range of OSes, but they have a bit of an odd way of dealing with files, as everything has to be in individual folders, which can be a bit annoying. Hardware acceleration only seems to be on Intel CPUs. It might also not be supported by the device you use for playback, which I'm not sure what it is.

I actually Use Plex on the Asustore NAS. The Nas use an os like DSM

 

[sam_86314]

Are you sure Xeon is able to transcode 4k?

Haven't tried 4K yet. It has no problem crunching 1080p 30Mb/s down to 11Mb/s. It's a pretty powerful chip for under $20.

Your 2400G system would probably do great as a Plex server.

 

[Easy Rhino]

It all comes down to your clients. If you have clients that can handle all of the different video formats/codecs then all you need is a simlple file streaming NAS and a $50 raspberri pi will do just fine. If not then you will need something with beefy processing power that can transcode for you.

 

[TheLostSwede]

I actually Use Plex on the Asustore NAS. The Nas use an os like DSM

I'm fully aware of that, you asked for options...
But as you don't even seem to know how to answer questions, I'm out...

 

[silkstone]

Thank you guys i will explain better my usage and what i want to do:

Basically i want a device connected via HDMI to the AVR that can play 4k and FHD content on projector (in 4k) and on tv(in FHD). The device will be installed in the living room and will also serve as media center/streamer to the other devices in other rooms. I have a Lifetime Plex Pass so i would like to stay on this software but if something is better for my purposes i will think about it.

Actually for this purpose i have the Asustor As3202T, but i'm not very happy with it: while the OS is very powerful seems that the hardware it's a bit sloppy especially in transcoding 4k content.

Option 1) My initial thought was to use the home theater pc actually in the bedroom (Silvestone Grandia case, Pentium g4400, Amd RX 580, 16 gb ram), adding to this the two ssd and the two 3.5"WD RED hdd, and use this in the living room ( instead of the NAS) to play and transcode 4k (thanks to the hardware acceleration of the Rx580 card).
But i don't know if the CPU is enough and what to use as OS Should be simple to use (i don't have a mouse or keyboard, just a remote like this https://it.aliexpress.com/item/32730846085.html

Instead of the home theater in the bedroom i can use the LIVA, moving the Ryzen 2400g in gaming pc, to this and buying a new cpu for the gaming pc (or leaving the 2400g in the gaming, and buying something different for the LIVA)

Option 2) Is to move the B350 and the 2400g used in the pc gaming, to the home theater in the living room.
Moving the intel motherboard h270f to the gaming pc and buying a new intel CPU for gaming.
Buying a new low end gpu for the LIVA to use in the bedroom.

In this case i've to buy two CPU, so it's more expensive.

Take a look a Jellyfin, if you want to put a 580 or AMD CPU to work on 4k decoding. Plex, unfortunately doesn't support AMD transcoding and the G4400 won't do all that well with 4K streams.
Jellyfin should work well, though it is nowhere near as polished as Plex. (I run both, side-by-side)

I'd set your bedroom PC to work as a media server, then get a CPU and some RAM for the LIVA to act as a Basic streaming device (or get a Chromecast 4k)

 

[Easy Rhino]

Take a look a Jellyfin, if you want to put a 580 or AMD CPU to work on 4k decoding. Plex, unfortunately doesn't support AMD transcoding and the G4400 won't do all that well with 4K streams.
Jellyfin should work well, though it is nowhere near as polished as Plex. (I run both, side-by-side)

I'd set your bedroom PC to work as a media server, then get a CPU and some RAM for the LIVA to act as a Basic streaming device (or get a Chromecast 4k)

All of that seems so unseemly. The OP should just buy a few cheap roku devices and point them at his NAS.

 

[Finnedsgang]

I'm fully aware of that, you asked for options...
But as you don't even seem to know how to answer questions, I'm out...

Sorry @TheLostSwede, i don't wanted to be offensive absolutely! maybe my bad english (i'm not english mother tongue) caused a "lost in traslation".
About Emby the fact that you said that could be a little bit annoying, automatically sidelined it for me, i'm a lazy person (too much work, i need to relax at least in the evening when i come back at home). But about the hardware what you think i should use ?

Take a look a Jellyfin, if you want to put a 580 or AMD CPU to work on 4k decoding. Plex, unfortunately doesn't support AMD transcoding and the G4400 won't do all that well with 4K streams.
Jellyfin should work well, though it is nowhere near as polished as Plex. (I run both, side-by-side)

I'd set your bedroom PC to work as a media server, then get a CPU and some RAM for the LIVA to act as a Basic streaming device (or get a Chromecast 4k)

Thanks Silkstone! Maybe this is the best solution, to use the HTPC as the mediaserver... i could eventually also use the ryzen 2400g in the liva, and use something morepowerfull for the main pc.

and about Jellyfin? have you tried it...seems interesting :-

It all comes down to your clients. If you have clients that can handle all of the different video formats/codecs then all you need is a simlple file streaming NAS and a $50 raspberri pi will do just fine. If not then you will need something with beefy processing power that can transcode for you.

Thanks Easy Rhino, unfortunately i've a quite old (for tech, ages) tv in the bedroom (5 or 6 years) that many times tell me that the format is "not supported"
I know seems everythign a little bit overpowered, but it's only to not buy new tech and re-use what i already have. But maybe you're right i could at least not buy thecpu for the LIVA and use a Chromecast 4k

Haven't tried 4K yet. It has no problem crunching 1080p 30Mb/s down to 11Mb/s. It's a pretty powerful chip for under $20.

Your 2400G system would probably do great as a Plex server.

Great, i should try a transcode with this processor, there's only one minus in this option, i have to buy then two cpu, one for the Liva (accept only AMD) and one for the main PC

For the Media server, no matter what processor i Will use, you guys suggest to stay in Windows10? How do you remote control It? Via Chrome remote desktop?

 

[silkstone]

Sorry @TheLostSwede, i don't wanted to be offensive absolutely! maybe my bad english (i'm not english mother tongue) caused a "lost in traslation".
About Emby the fact that you said that could be a little bit annoying, automatically sidelined it for me, i'm a lazy person (too much work, i need to relax at least in the evening when i come back at home). But about the hardware what you think i should use ?



Thanks Silkstone! Maybe this is the best solution, to use the HTPC as the mediaserver... i could eventually also use the ryzen 2400g in the liva, and use something morepowerfull for the main pc.

and about Jellyfin? have you tried it...seems interesting :-

Thanks Easy Rhino, unfortunately i've a quite old (for tech, ages) tv in the bedroom (5 or 6 years) that many times tell me that the format is "not supported"
I know seems everythign a little bit overpowered, but it's only to not buy new tech and re-use what i already have. But maybe you're right i could at least not buy thecpu for the LIVA and use a Chromecast 4k



Great, i should try a transcode with this processor, there's only one minus in this option, i have to buy then two cpu, one for the Liva (accept only AMD) and one for the main PC

For the Media server, no matter what processor i Will use, you guys suggest to stay in Windows10? How do you remote control It? Via Chrome remote desktop?

Yes. I use Jellyfin at the moment. The latest update was pretty good and added a lot of features. It's a little more difficult to set up than Plex, if you want to stream over HTTPs outside your house, but is easy to stream within your house. You can run it together with Plex at the same time, if you have enough RAM. It'll handle multiple 4K streams with hardware encoding on AMD (once you choose that setting) while Plex might struggle on a G4400.

I have mine running on Windows 10 and just remote desktop to it when needed. I do have an AMD 3600, but it does more than just media streaming.

 

[sam_86314]

For the Media server, no matter what processor i Will use, you guys suggest to stay in Windows10? How do you remote control It? Via Chrome remote desktop?

I just have my server plugged into one of my monitors and access it locally. Probably not ideal, but it works. Maybe I'll look into remote desktop at some point.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Maybe just upgrade your Asustor to this, as it can do 4K60p output.

ASUSTOR NAS - AS5304T

2.5GbE stores even more with the AS5304T! <br/> The #1 cloud storage device for live stream collection and content creators.

www.asustor.com

 

[Finnedsgang]

I ended up connecting the HTPC to the AVR and using it as media server; i'm testing how windows 10 is for this purpose...it has some issue, but i think i can found some workaround:

For example, when a monitor is connected but shutted down or in standby, the gpu does not renderanymore windows , so the windows GUI in remote desktop is slow, very very slow...

I found the cause of this problem. If you look at the Event Log you can see that Windows enters "Connected Standby" (Kernel - Power, Information, The system is entering connected standby, Reason: Idle timeout).
Via remote desktop I can do whatever typing, working, compiling - the pc never gets out of "Connected Standby" and the UI is lagging. As soon as I open the display (in my case the tv) the system gets out of "Connected Standby".
Now why the system doesn't get out of "Connected Standby" if I am actively working with it via remote desktop is beyond me, but you can easily avoid it by turning off "Connected Standby" (registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Power\CsEnabled to 0).