Synology NAS model for Plex Pass Transcoding

[Enquiries]

Greetings and thank you for this.
I am currently running Synology DS920+ and running a Plex Server on it (Plex Pass).
I have a mix of H.264 and H.265 files and I do serve my plex access to a handful of close friends.
They would remotely access either by their Home TV or handheld Devices so I am sure some form of transcoding will be done on my NAS.
My WAN connection is on a 1Gbps Speed Service.
I am now thinking about the future of post DS920+ (the day it fails). As I see it, DS920+ is still the best model for Plex Pass with HW transcoding capability. So much so I am considering to purchase pre-loved DS920+ from the market just to keep it as a backup use. Or should I risk that my DS920+ would last long enough till Synology releases new models (post 2025 models) that would serve the same (or better0 Capabilities of DS920+ in this aspect?

Thank You.

[ed]

That’s a great question, and you’re absolutely right to be cautious about moving away from the DS920+. It remains one of Synology’s best NAS models for Plex Pass hardware transcoding, thanks to its Intel Celeron J4125 CPU with integrated UHD 600 graphics, which supports both H.264 and H.265 (HEVC) hardware transcoding through Plex.

You’re also right that Synology’s newer systems, particularly the AMD-powered ones (like the DS923+ and DS925+), no longer include hardware transcoding support, which makes them weaker choices for Plex users who stream remotely to multiple devices.

If your Plex setup depends heavily on transcoding, then yes — buying a second DS920+ as a backup is actually a smart move. They’re still widely available used, and it’ll ensure continuity if your current one fails before Synology reintroduces Intel or GPU-enabled CPUs in future models.

If you want to look beyond Synology, QNAP TS-464 or UGREEN DXP4800 Plus are good modern alternatives that support full Plex hardware transcoding with Intel graphics and have much faster networking options.

But within the Synology ecosystem, the DS920+ is still your best option until a new Intel-based replacement appears.