Dell Home & Office has
Dell Inspiron 3880 Desktop (Black) on sale for
$299.99. Slickdeals Cashback is available for this store (PC extension required, before checkout).
Shipping is free.
Thanks to Community Member
josh555 for finding this deal.
Specs:
- Intel Core i3-10100 3.6GHz Quad-Core Processor
- 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 Memory
- 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- Windows 10 Home
- 802.11ac 1x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard + Dell MS116 Wired Mouse
- Ports:
- 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1
- 4x USB 2.0
- 1x Audio Combo Jack
- 1x Line-out
- 1x HDMI 1.4b
- 1x VGA
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Plex Transcode (32bit) -> 55% CPU, 32% GPU, 948MB RAM
PMS -> 0.6% CPU, 200MB
Everything else is less than 0.5% CPU
The same file on Kodi ran like a dream. Plex has become a running joke in my home now ("So now we are back to Kodi")
That's surprising. Plex is very good, particularly with PlexPass.
What's the client that's forcing the transcode?
Are subs in use?
There are a few easy things we can check if you're interested. You can also post a pic of your Plex Dashboard, as that has useful information to answer some of the 'why' questions. Transcoding from 2160 TO 2160, both at 15.4mbps, makes no sense; something isn't working as it should.
That's surprising. Plex is very good, particularly with PlexPass.
What's the client that's forcing the transcode?
Are subs in use?
There are a few easy things we can check if you're interested. You can also post a pic of your Plex Dashboard, as that has useful information to answer some of the 'why' questions. Transcoding from 2160 TO 2160, both at 15.4mbps, makes no sense; something isn't working as it should.
File version: 10.0.19041.546 (WinBuild 160101.0800)
Clients:
- Nvidia Shield 2017,
- Google Chromecast,
- laptop (Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz, 1800 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Subs used: always....Snapshot of the dashboard attached
File version: 10.0.19041.546 (WinBuild 160101.0800)
Clients:
- Nvidia Shield 2017,
- Google Chromecast,
- laptop (Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-8250U CPU @ 1.60GHz, 1800 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s)
Subs used: always....Snapshot of the dashboard attached
1. Driver date of 4/2009 for a new Intel HD 630 graphics iGPU in a 10th gen i3? That makes no sense. Please check and tell me the driver date for the Intel HD 630 graphics you have. It should be (beta) 8/13/2021 or so, if you really have the latest. I would.
2. Never use Chrome for playback testing. It's a complete waste of time; it will need to transcode for everything. Play something back on a device you actually use, and test with that. If you want to test with a computer, download the Plex client for your OS and use that, but personally I suggest using the Shield as an easy testbed.
3. Why does your playback say "remote" ? Assumedly you're on the same network as your i3-10th gen Dell, right?
Let's start with this.
1. Driver date of 4/2009 for a new Intel HD 630 graphics iGPU in a 10th gen i3? That makes no sense. Please check and tell me the driver date for the Intel HD 630 graphics you have. It should be (beta) 8/13/2021 or so, if you really have the latest. I would.
2. Never use Chrome for playback testing. It's a complete waste of time; it will need to transcode for everything. Play something back on a device you actually use, and test with that. If you want to test with a computer, download the Plex client for your OS and use that, but personally I suggest using the Shield as an easy testbed.
3. Why does your playback say "remote" ? Assumedly you're on the same network as your i3-10th gen Dell, right?
Let's start with this.
- Refer attached file 1 with screenshots of driver.
- Refer attached file 2 with screenshots of dashboard when running the same file on Nvidia
- My server is hardwired to my AT&T modem/router. The clients are hardwired to my Google Wifi routers, so behind my server.
The main issue is, why does Plex stutter when Kodi doesn't, all other things being the same?- Refer attached file 1 with screenshots of driver.
- Refer attached file 2 with screenshots of dashboard when running the same file on Nvidia
- My server is hardwired to my AT&T modem/router. The clients are hardwired to my Google Wifi routers, so behind my server.
The main issue is, why does Plex stutter when Kodi doesn't, all other things being the same?A few thoughts:
1. Driver: Get the latest from Intel. Don't rely on Windows Updates.
2. It appears you are using a i5-8265U, the ultra-low-power laptop CPU. Is that right? If so, can't make performance bets on that, but it should still be fine for 1080p.
3. Dashboard: Still transcoding. Turn off subs for a quick test; does it still transcode?
3a. Fix the remote issue. Put your clients on the same network as your server; right now it isn't. No reason for that (unless you have one, of course)
3b. 192.x.x.x isn't routeable, discoverable, or anything outside of your network. You can freely post those IPs; it's not private data; nobody can get there because it's an internal network.
1. Driver: Get the latest from Intel. Don't rely on Windows Updates.
2. It appears you are using a i5-8265U, the ultra-low-power laptop CPU. Is that right? If so, can't make performance bets on that, but it should still be fine for 1080p.
3. Dashboard: Still transcoding. Turn off subs for a quick test; does it still transcode?
3a. Fix the remote issue. Put your clients on the same network as your server; right now it isn't. No reason for that (unless you have one, of course)
3b. 192.x.x.x isn't routeable, discoverable, or anything outside of your network. You can freely post those IPs; it's not private data; nobody can get there because it's an internal network.
Install
Install
It's not clear to me why a Shield would need to transcode for normal 4k HDR. https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidiash...s_wi
I would try attaching those Google wifi extenders via the (Google Wifi Extenders) switchports, not the internet/uplink port, on the main Google Wifi Extender unit. At least, that's how it normally works. Avoid the uplink port, and the Google Router becomes essentially a Google Switch (with wifi).
As a (separate) test, I suggest the following:
0. On the Shield, in it's 'Settings' within Plex, ensure there are no quality or mbps limits for both local and remote networks. Ensure both are set to max or max quality.
1. Get a Shield, fully updated to 8.2.3 or whatever the latest is, and put it on the same network as your Plex server, so that it shows 'local' during playback. Use ethernet.
2. Under Plex/Settings/Transcoder, ensure "Automatic" and "Use HW Transcoding" are selected. If you did "show advanced" there, make sure "very fast" is selected.
3. As ANOTHER test, you could disable HDR Tone Mapping, which should drastically drop CPU requirements when doing 4k transcoding (but that doesn't address why you need transcoding in the first place). But that's another test.
4. Just to confirm that latest Stillwater video is with the latest Intel video driver installed, yes?
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It's not clear to me why a Shield would need to transcode for normal 4k HDR. https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidiash...s_without/ [reddit.com] says, basically, 'use the plex plugin within Kodi' for better Plexing, which is a bit odd. Once we removed subs, I fully expected the transcoding bit to change to direct play.
I would try attaching those Google wifi extenders via the (Google Wifi Extenders) switchports, not the internet/uplink port, on the main Google Wifi Extender unit. At least, that's how it normally works. Avoid the uplink port, and the Google Router becomes essentially a Google Switch (with wifi).
As a (separate) test, I suggest the following:
0. On the Shield, in it's 'Settings' within Plex, ensure there are no quality or mbps limits for both local and remote networks. Ensure both are set to max or max quality.
1. Get a Shield, fully updated to 8.2.3 or whatever the latest is, and put it on the same network as your Plex server, so that it shows 'local' during playback. Use ethernet.
2. Under Plex/Settings/Transcoder, ensure "Automatic" and "Use HW Transcoding" are selected. If you did "show advanced" there, make sure "very fast" is selected.
3. As ANOTHER test, you could disable HDR Tone Mapping, which should drastically drop CPU requirements when doing 4k transcoding (but that doesn't address why you need transcoding in the first place). But that's another test.
4. Just to confirm that latest Stillwater video is with the latest Intel video driver installed, yes?
- Refer attached file (1 server) for server details
- Refer attached file (2) which shows transcoding when media is played directly on server desktop browser (just a test, i know you made a comment on not using chrome)
- Refer attached file (4) which shows transcoding after intel driver update
- Refer attached file (5) which shows dashboard for #3 above
- Refer attached file (6) which shows transcoding when connected on same network (wifi, hardwiring to the main modem/router is not possible
As a (separate) test, I suggest the following:0. On the Shield, in it's 'Settings' within Plex, ensure there are no quality or mbps limits for both local and remote networks. Ensure both are set to max or max quality. done
1. Get a Shield, fully updated to 8.2.3 or whatever the latest is, and put it on the same network as your Plex server, so that it shows 'local' during playback. Use ethernet. done, ethernet not possible, connected on wifi
2. Under Plex/Settings/Transcoder, ensure "Automatic" and "Use HW Transcoding" are selected. If you did "show advanced" there, make sure "very fast" is selected. done
3. As ANOTHER test, you could disable HDR Tone Mapping, which should drastically drop CPU requirements when doing 4k transcoding (but that doesn't address why you need transcoding in the first place). But that's another test. will do for test, but like you said does not help with the original use case
4. Just to confirm that latest Stillwater video is with the latest Intel video driver installed, yes? no, refer new attachment (file #4). continues to transcode
I cannot guess why the Shield requires transcoding for basic 4k content (without subs). As long as you've set settings to permit full quality playback, and you have no network limits (there's that net-word....see above for my feelings on that) then it should not need to transcode.
The Intel driver update was to fix poor transcoding speed, not the need to transcode itself. It will not impact the need to transcode (or not) at all on the client.
I suggest fixing the issues to narrow down the problem(s) -
1. Fix network so it's flat, or at least so you can test with it being flat for the duration of your test.
2. Get ethernet.
3. Re-test with ethernet and Shield on flat network, so you see what happens in best-case scenario.
4. Confirm this (transcoding) happens with multiple files (does it happen with everything? What's the pattern?) to try to find a solution to 'why'
5. Ensure on your Shield's app Settings that (under Quality) "Automatically Change Quality" is off, and video quality is set to max (but we did that last part already).
Aside from that, I'm starting to be out of ideas.... I assume you're running the latest 1.24.1.4931 or later of Plex.... I can't think of much else to try.
I cannot guess why the Shield requires transcoding for basic 4k content (without subs). As long as you've set settings to permit full quality playback, and you have no network limits (there's that net-word....see above for my feelings on that) then it should not need to transcode.
The Intel driver update was to fix poor transcoding speed, not the need to transcode itself. It will not impact the need to transcode (or not) at all on the client.
I suggest fixing the issues to narrow down the problem(s) -
1. Fix network so it's flat, or at least so you can test with it being flat for the duration of your test.
2. Get ethernet.
3. Re-test with ethernet and Shield on flat network, so you see what happens in best-case scenario.
4. Confirm this (transcoding) happens with multiple files (does it happen with everything? What's the pattern?) to try to find a solution to 'why'
5. Ensure on your Shield's app Settings that (under Quality) "Automatically Change Quality" is off, and video quality is set to max (but we did that last part already).
Aside from that, I'm starting to be out of ideas.... I assume you're running the latest 1.24.1.4931 or later of Plex.... I can't think of much else to try.
To be honest, at this point I'd just work with Kodi as it works with any file I throw at it. 95% of my (non-music) media consumption is at home, so Kodi makes sense. Post Covid, I'll make sure to optimize my 'troublesome' media files to consume when I'm truly remote
Thanks once again!