12-13-2024, 02:53 PM
Hi Danny,
Thanks for reaching out! For your setup, with a focus on Plex Media Server for 4K IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, HDR+, and some backup needs, here’s my recommendation tailored to your budget and home cinema requirements.
Key Considerations
Hardware for Plex Media Server:
Plex transcoding 4K HDR or Atmos content requires a NAS with powerful hardware, ideally supporting Intel Quick Sync Video (for hardware transcoding) or a discrete GPU.
Direct Play: If your TV and devices can handle native formats (e.g., IMAX Enhanced, Atmos), transcoding is less critical, and network stability becomes more important.
Budget:
A$1500 (including drives) narrows options, but there are capable solutions for high-quality streaming and backup.
NAS Recommendations
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 (AS6704T):
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 (supports 4K HDR transcoding with Intel Quick Sync).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB).
Drives: 4-bay, giving flexibility for RAID configurations (e.g., RAID 5 for speed and redundancy).
Ports: 2.5GbE for faster local network streaming.
Why it fits:
Great for 4K HDR Plex streaming, and IMAX Enhanced/Dolby Atmos content will likely Direct Play, reducing transcoding demands.
Affordable, leaving room for good drives.
Synology DS923+:
CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 (no native hardware transcoding).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 10GB).
Drives: 4-bay, ideal for RAID.
Ports: Optional 10GbE upgrade for future-proofing.
Why it fits:
Reliable and user-friendly for photo/file backup and streaming via Plex.
Lacks hardware transcoding but works well if your devices support Direct Play.
QNAP TS-464:
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 (hardware transcoding supported).
RAM: 8GB (expandable).
Ports: HDMI 2.0 (optional direct playback) and 2.5GbE.
Why it fits:
Excellent balance of hardware for Plex and multimedia features.
Slightly higher price but still within budget.
Drive Recommendations
For A$1500, I recommend starting with 2 or 3 drives in a RAID configuration:
Drives: Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus (6TB or 8TB per drive).
3 x 6TB in RAID 5 gives ~12TB usable storage with redundancy.
Start with 2 x 8TB drives for ~8TB usable in RAID 1, with room to expand later.
Final Recommendation
For Plex streaming with IMAX Enhanced and Atmos, go with the ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2. It’s a well-rounded, budget-friendly choice that handles 4K HDR and Atmos content effectively while supporting future upgrades.
Thanks for reaching out! For your setup, with a focus on Plex Media Server for 4K IMAX Enhanced, Dolby Atmos, HDR+, and some backup needs, here’s my recommendation tailored to your budget and home cinema requirements.
Key Considerations
Hardware for Plex Media Server:
Plex transcoding 4K HDR or Atmos content requires a NAS with powerful hardware, ideally supporting Intel Quick Sync Video (for hardware transcoding) or a discrete GPU.
Direct Play: If your TV and devices can handle native formats (e.g., IMAX Enhanced, Atmos), transcoding is less critical, and network stability becomes more important.
Budget:
A$1500 (including drives) narrows options, but there are capable solutions for high-quality streaming and backup.
NAS Recommendations
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2 (AS6704T):
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 (supports 4K HDR transcoding with Intel Quick Sync).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB).
Drives: 4-bay, giving flexibility for RAID configurations (e.g., RAID 5 for speed and redundancy).
Ports: 2.5GbE for faster local network streaming.
Why it fits:
Great for 4K HDR Plex streaming, and IMAX Enhanced/Dolby Atmos content will likely Direct Play, reducing transcoding demands.
Affordable, leaving room for good drives.
Synology DS923+:
CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 (no native hardware transcoding).
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 10GB).
Drives: 4-bay, ideal for RAID.
Ports: Optional 10GbE upgrade for future-proofing.
Why it fits:
Reliable and user-friendly for photo/file backup and streaming via Plex.
Lacks hardware transcoding but works well if your devices support Direct Play.
QNAP TS-464:
CPU: Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 (hardware transcoding supported).
RAM: 8GB (expandable).
Ports: HDMI 2.0 (optional direct playback) and 2.5GbE.
Why it fits:
Excellent balance of hardware for Plex and multimedia features.
Slightly higher price but still within budget.
Drive Recommendations
For A$1500, I recommend starting with 2 or 3 drives in a RAID configuration:
Drives: Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus (6TB or 8TB per drive).
3 x 6TB in RAID 5 gives ~12TB usable storage with redundancy.
Start with 2 x 8TB drives for ~8TB usable in RAID 1, with room to expand later.
Final Recommendation
For Plex streaming with IMAX Enhanced and Atmos, go with the ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen 2. It’s a well-rounded, budget-friendly choice that handles 4K HDR and Atmos content effectively while supporting future upgrades.