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OTiS - Off The Shelf
All of the components in this guide are readily available from your favorite retailer(s)!
serverbuilds legend says this is the last thing you see before you die.
Overview
Since the HP 290 is often going out of stock, and there is still quite a demand for it, I thought I would put together a simple guide on building your own! (with more options for expansion, of course)
Software
You really only have a few options to get Plex’s HW Transcoding to work properly.
Windows currently does not work properly and has a huge slew of issues.
- Linux
Currently, the recommended distro is Ubuntu Desktop 20.04. It works out of the box without any modification. Users have reported issues with other versions and distributions, so YMMV if you want to run something else. - Docker
It’s possible to pass the iGPU through to the Plex container (use LSIO’s Plex container).
You can run Docker on a variety of software hosts, such as Unraid or Linux. - Unraid
You can use Docker on Unraid and pass through the GPU, or you can create a Linux VM and pass through the GPU. Your choice!
Hardware
The hardware requirements for a great HW transcoding box aren’t extreme, but we are going to shoot for some optimizations that will make the overall experience much better.
Again, just like the QuickSync guide, I’m going to highly recommend that you use a HDMI dummy plug.
These prevent the iGPU from going to sleep at a hardware level. Users have reported mixed success without using one. They are a cheap investment that will prevent the transcoding software from randomly crashing.
Generally, you need:
- CPU with 7th gen or higher QSV (this guide features 8th & 9th gen)
- 4GB of RAM minimum (8GB or higher preferred)
- Onboard GbE NIC
- SATA 3 SSD support (NVMe preferred)
Motherboards
You don’t need anything crazy for a dedicated hardware transcoding build. If you’re going to combine it into a NAS however, you should make sure that it has a solid expansion and upgrade path.
Below is a non-exhaustive list of motherboards. All are compatible with 8th and 9th gen Intel CPUs, some do require an updated BIOS. (check the notes)
| Brand / Moodel (specs) | CPU | RAM max config | Form Factor | PCIe | SATA | M.2 NVMe | NIC | Other | Amazon Price | Ebay Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASRock H310CM-HDV | 8th / 9th | 2 x 16GB | Mini-DTX | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | NVMe shared with x16 PCIe | $55.99 | $58.98 |
| ASRock Z390 Pro4 | 8th / 9th | 4 x 32GB | ATX | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | N/A | $94.00 | |
| ASRock Z390m Pro4 | 8th / 9th | 4 x 32GB | Micro-ATX | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | $90.47 | $97.49 | |
| ASUS Prime H310M-C | 8th / 9th | 2 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $73.99 | $49.99 | |
| ASUS Prime H310M-E R2.0 | 8th / 9th | 2 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $56.07 | $63.86 | |
| ASUS Prime Z370-P | 8th / 9th | 4 x 16GB | ATX | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 9th gen requires BIOS 1410 | N/A | $69.90 |
| ASUS Prime Z390-A | 8th / 9th | 4 x 16GB | ATX | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 | $179.99 | $129.00 | |
| GIGABYTE B365M-DS3H | 8th / 9th | 4 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | $74.99 | $74.99 | |
| GIGABYTE H310M A 2.0 | 8th / 9th | 2 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $64.99 | $67.65 | |
| GIGABYTE H370M-D3H | 8th / 9th | 4 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 9th gen requires BIOS F12 | $107.99 | $59.50 |
| Gigabyte Z370P D3 | 8th / 9th | 4 x 16GB | ATX | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | N/A | $69.90 | |
| Gigabyte Z390 UD | 8th / 9th | 4 x 32GB | ATX | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | $129.99 | $65.00 | |
| MSI H310M PRO-M2 PLUs | 8th / 9th | 2 x 16GB | Micro-ATX | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | $58.99 | $59.99 | |
| MSI Z390-A PRO | 8th / 9th | 4 x 32GB | ATX | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | $129.99 | $94.00 |
CPUs
For use strictly as a HW transcoder, you absolutely do not need more than a dual core CPU (G4900/G4900T). They can perform 20+ simultaneous 1080p transcodes. However, when you start adding any additional load outside of Plex, such as NZB unpacking, you’ll have to look at a higher tier CPU.
A couple of notes about Intel’s QSV hardware transcoding:
- Intel is extremely unclear with the specifications of the iGPU and QSV
- Different CPUs within the same generation may have the same iGPU (ex. UHD 610) but perform differently
- From what we can tell, the faster CPU will perform better in this case
Example: Both the i5-8400 and the i7-8700 have the UHD 630, but the i7-8700 will outperform the i5-8400.
- From what we can tell, the faster CPU will perform better in this case
- The largest quality and performance improvements have been generational (i.e. 6th to 7th gen)
- Same goes for CPUs that have the same iGPU across generations
Example: It’s likely that the UHD 630 in i5-8400 and i5-9400 perform similarly, but also likely that improvements were made.
- Same goes for CPUs that have the same iGPU across generations
- TLDR: Modern QS is good, newer/faster processors are newer/faster.
That said, even the low end 8th gen Celerons are fantastic, so most people should start there.
Some general CPU notes:
- Plex’s passmark recommendation does not apply to hardware transcoding at all.
Passmark scores are listed for reference purposes only. - TDP = estimated heat output in watts. It is not a measure or indicator of power consumption.
- Pricing was determined at the time of writing, and subject to change.
Avoid F series processors like the plague. They do not have an iGPU, and therfore do not have QuickSync. They are not listed in this guide.
| Model (specs) | Cores / Threads | Max Freq. | Cache | Gen. | iGPU | iGPU clock | TDP | Passmark (multi) | Amazon Price | Ebay Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celeron G4900T | 2C / 2T | 2.9 GHz | 2 MB | 8th | UHD 610 | 1.00 GHz | 35W | 2311 | $64.70 | $37.62 |
| Celeron G4900 | 2C / 2T | 3.1 GHz | 2 MB | 8th | UHD 610 | 1.05 GHz | 54W | 2407 | $53.43 | $40.80 |
| Celeron G4920 | 2C / 2T | 3.2 GHz | 2 MB | 8th | UHD 610 | 1.05 GHz | 54W | 2314 | $52.02 | $39.93 |
| Pentium Gold G5400 | 2C./ 4T | 3.7 GHz | 4 MB | 8th | UHD 610 | 1.05 GHz | 58W | 3717 | $59.90 | $54.95 |
| Core i3-8100T | 4C / 4T | 3.1 GHz | 6 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.10 GHz | 35W | 5392 | $151.87 | $99.00 |
| Core i3-8100 | 4C / 4T | 3.6 GHz | 6 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.10 GHz | 65W | 6204 | $109.00 | $94.00 |
| Core i3-8300 | 4C / 4T | 3.7 GHz | 8 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.15 GHz | 62W | 6512 | $147.44 | $129.99 |
| Core i5-8400T | 6C / 6T | 3.3 GHz | 9 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.05 GHz | 35W | 7764 | N/A | $147.90 |
| Core i5-8400 | 6C / 6T | 4.0 GHz | 9 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.05 GHz | 65W | 9263 | $179.99 | $149.99 |
| Core i5-8500T | 6C / 6T | 3.5 GHz | 9 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.10 GHz | 35W | 8191 | $213.39 | $139.95 |
| Core i5-8500 | 6C / 6T | 4.1 GHz | 9 MB | 8th | UHD 630 | 1.10 GHz | 65W | 9336 | N/A | $159.99 |
| Celeron G4930 | 2C / 2T | 3.2 GHz | 2 MB | 9th | UHD 610 | 1.05 GHz | 54W | 2605 | $47.90 | $43.90 |
| Pentium Gold G5420 | 2C / 4T | 3.8 GHz | 4 MB | 9th | UHD 610 | 1.05 GHz | 54W | 3051 | $58.00 | $68.91 |
| Core i3-9100 | 4C / 4T | 4.2 GHz | 6 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.10 GHz | 65W | 6730 | $122.99 | $99.00 |
| Core i5-9400T | 6C / 6T | 3.4 GHz | 9 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.05 GHz | 35W | 7683 | $139.00 | |
| Core i5-9400 | 6C / 6T | 4.1 GHz | 9 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.05 GHz | 65W | 9495 | $168.15 | $159.99 |
| Core i5-9600K | 6C / 6T | 4.6 GHz | 9 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.15 GHz | 95W | 10876 | $199.99 | $194.99 |
| Core i7-9700T | 8C / 8T | 4.3 GHz | 12 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.20 GHz | 35W | 10972 | N/A | $353.95 |
| Core i7-9700 | 8C / 8T | 4.7 GHz | 12 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.20 GHz | 65W | 13902 | $371.45 | $320.00 |
| Core i7-9700K | 8C / 8T | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.20 GHz | 95W | 14680 | $379.99 | $350.00 |
| Core i9-9900K | 8C / 16T | 5.0 GHz | 16 MB | 9th | UHD 630 | 1.20 GHz | 95W | 18908 | $539.94 | $509.99 |
CPU Heatsinks
The CPUs on this list are extremely power efficient and do not produce much heat. For the most part I’m going to recommend one of the lower tier heatsinks like the Arctic Alpine 12. It’s cheap, quiet, low profile, and can handle most of the reasonable CPU options around 65W TDP or lower.
If you’re looking for something else, look at the [Official] CPU Heatsink Recommendations, specifically at the 115X column.
RAM
Speed isn’t important here, capacity is. Shoot for 8GB for a dedicated HW transcoder, 16GB for a NAS. If you want to transcode to RAM, 16GB is a good place to start, with 32GB being ideal. Density is preferred, even in single channel. This allows for more expansion in the future.
Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy multiple smaller kits instead of one large kit, so keep that in mind.
| Brand / Model | QTY / Size | Speed | Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| TeamGroup Elite | 1 x 8GB | 2400 MHz | $29.99 |
| HyperX Fury | 1 x 8GB | 2666 MHz | $36.99 |
| OLOy | 1 x 8GB | 3000 MHz | $33.99 |
| Patriot Viper Steel | 1 x 8GB | 3000 MHz | $35.99 |
| TeamGroup Elite | 1 x 16GB | 2666 MHz | $57.99 |
| SIlicon Power | 1 x 16GB | 2666 MHz | $57.99 |
| OLOy | 2 x 8GB | 2400 MHz | $55.99 |
| Crucial | 2 x 8GB | 2666 MHz | $63.99 |
| OLOy | 2 x 8GB | 3000 MHz | $62.99 |
| XPG Z1 | 2 x 8GB | 3000 MHz | $64.99 |
| G.SKill Aegis | 2 x 8GB | 3000 MHz | $64.99 |
| OLOy | 1 x 32GB | 2666 MHz | $122.89 |
| Patriot Signature | 2 x 16GB | 2666 MHz | $119.99 |
| Crucial | 2 x 16GB | 2666 MHz | $124.99 |
| OLOy | 2 x 16GB | 3000 MHz | $120.59 |
| G.SKill Ripjaws | 2 x 16GB | 3200 MHz | $129.99 |
| OLOy | 2 x 32GB | 3000 MHz | $259.99 |
Storage
Plex metadata is comprised of an insane amount of tiny files. SSDs handle this fantastically, HDDs not so much. NVMe SSDs are even faster than SATA SSDs, and are the preferred option if budget allows. Plex metadata doesn’t require a lot of space, 128GB for a small library or 256GB for a medium-large size library will suffice. If you’re using any advanced features like video preview thumbnails, this requires much more additional space, in that case look at 512GB - 1TB. NVMe drives are also fast enough to pull double duty as both a Unraid cache drive and Plex metadata drive at the same time.
The SSDs below have proven to be extremely reliable and performant. Check each one for potential deals as prices tend to fluctuate wildly.
| Brand / Moodel | Interface | Capacity | NAND | DRAM | Max R / W speed | Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inland Premium | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 256GB | TLC | YES | 3.1 / 2.9 GB/s | $46.99 |
| Inland Premium | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 512GB | TLC | YES | 3.1 / 2.9 GB/s | $76.99 |
| Inland Premium | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 1TB | TLC | YES | 3.1 / 2.9 GB/s | $139.99 |
| Sabrent Rocket | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 256GB | TLC | YES | 3.4 / 3.0 GB/s | $49.99 |
| Sabrent Rocket | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 512GB | TLC | YES | 3.4 / 3.0 GB/s | $79.99 |
| Sabrent Rocket | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 1TB | TLC | YES | 3.4 / 3.0 GB/s | $149.98 |
| Sabrent Rocket Q | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 512GB | QLC | YES | 3.2 / 3.0 GB/s | $69.99 |
| Sabrent Rocket Q | NVMe 3.0 x4 | 1TB | QLC | YES | 3.2 / 3.0 GB/s | $119.98 |
Accessories
There isn’t really a whole lot to accessorize here.
If you’re using this machine as a NAS, perhaps you need a [Official] Recommended SAS2 HBA (internal & external) to add more storage, but that’s about it!
Sample Builds
I know the above information is a lot to process. Let’s break it down and give some examples!
Note: Obviously, the parts list does not include case or PSU. You can really use whever you want for these, so long as they fit/function.
The HP 290 replacement
If you’d rather use a G4900 or G4920 instead of the lower power G4900T, the price won’t change much.
| Part | Model | QTY | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS Prime H310M-C | 1 | $49.99 |
| CPU | Celeron G4900T | 1 | $37.62 |
| RAM | TeamGroup Elite 1x8GB | 1 | $29.99 |
| SSD | Indland Premium 256GB | 1 | $46.99 |
| Total | $164.59 |
Basic Unraid NAS
9th gen quad-core and ready to rock.
Double the CPU cores, RAM, and storage of the HP 290 replacement.
| Part | Model | QTY | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS Prime H310M-C | 1 | $49.99 |
| CPU | Core i3-9100 | 1 | $99.00 |
| RAM | TeamGroup Elite 1x16GB | 1 | $57.99 |
| SSD | Sabrent Rocket Q 512GB | 1 | $69.99 |
| Total | $276.97 |
Multi-tasking NAS
6 cores of low power awesomeness. Plus, the motherboard has a whack-ton of expansion options.
| Part | Model | QTY | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motherboard | ASUS Prime Z370-P | 1 | $69.90 |
| CPU | Core i5-9400T | 1 | $139.00 |
| RAM | TeamGroup Elite 1x16GB | 1 | $57.99 |
| SSD | Sabrent Rocket Q 512GB | 1 | $69.99 |
| Total | $336.88 |
I wanna go fast!
If you wanna be crazy and do Intel QSV hardware transcoding, NAS duties, and have a Parsec gaming rig, using [Guide] Remote Gaming on Unraid…
