Hi,

I would love to hear your opinion,

What's your best value for money CPU for Unraid NAS,

Don't cost a lot, but give good performance.

 

Regards.

That's a pretty nebulous ask. Best value is completely dependent on intended use. An i3 is a great option, unless it's not up for what you want to do.

7 minutes ago, whipdancer said:

That's a pretty nebulous ask. Best value is completely dependent on intended use. An i3 is a great option, unless it's not up for what you want to do.

 

Thanks for reply,

The question was not presented properly.

 

In terms of value for money I look at how much watts the CPU is needed and how much Single/Multi CPU score it's have.

For what it's worth, I have enjoyed running Unraid on some great hand me down PC's ... started with Intel i5 2400 running 4 drives in an old Dell Optiplex system, then to an HP system with an i5-4570 which I upgraded to i7-4790, both with 16GB. Now I'm running an AMD system with a 3600x and 64GB ram with 12 drives, a mix of NVME, SSD and HDD's and an Nvidea 1650 for Plex transcoding.

 

All systems worked well and as my use of Dockers and then VM's grew, the more cores and memory helped. The old i5 and i7's work absolutely fine for light docker use, including Plex (not transcoding). Even Windows 10 on the i7 was reasonably good BUT I did notice an improvement on the 3600x which I put down to more cores etc. I'm now running Win11 as a remote desktop VM as a daily driver, leaving my gaming machine just that!!

 

Really depends on that you want to do but I have always been impressed with old kit and how well it performs.

16 minutes ago, MrAndyBurns said:

For what it's worth, I have enjoyed running Unraid on some great hand me down PC's ... started with Intel i5 2400 running 4 drives in an old Dell Optiplex system, then to an HP system with an i5-4570 which I upgraded to i7-4790, both with 16GB. Now I'm running an AMD system with a 3600x and 64GB ram with 12 drives, a mix of NVME, SSD and HDD's and an Nvidea 1650 for Plex transcoding.

 

All systems worked well and as my use of Dockers and then VM's grew, the more cores and memory helped. The old i5 and i7's work absolutely fine for light docker use, including Plex (not transcoding). Even Windows 10 on the i7 was reasonably good BUT I did notice an improvement on the 3600x which I put down to more cores etc. I'm now running Win11 as a remote desktop VM as a daily driver, leaving my gaming machine just that!!

 

Really depends on that you want to do but I have always been impressed with old kit and how well it performs.

 

As I don't have computers parts here, I need to buy, and if I buy I prefer to get the best I can get for my money.

Beside the price, important for me the performance and also that will be lower TDP.

 

I thought maybe about i5 11600 CPU (that support Plex transcoding also) and Z590 Mobo.

So I would absolutely look at getting a system with an older Nvidia 1050 included as you will enjoy a power hungry more powerful CPU for transcoding. When not transcoding the GPU power draw is minimal. The i5 11600 CPU is a great CPU, also consider 5700x for more cores from 65w TDP. As you mention power, I have a 400w GOLD PSU which ended up drawing about 20% power from the socket than my 650w BRONZE so think about that side too.

4 minutes ago, MrAndyBurns said:

So I would absolutely look at getting a system with an older Nvidia 1050 included as you will enjoy a power hungry more powerful CPU for transcoding. When not transcoding the GPU power draw is minimal. The i5 11600 CPU is a great CPU, also consider 5700x for more cores from 65w TDP. As you mention power, I have a 400w GOLD PSU which ended up drawing about 20% power from the socket than my 650w BRONZE so think about that side too.

 

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/4306vs4814/Intel-i5-11600-vs-AMD-Ryzen-7-5700X

 

The single CPU score is +- the same, but the multi core is much better for 5700x side.

But now, if I want transcoding (for the start I don't, but I assume in future), graphics card is better then CPU?

If I use Nvidia 1050, it's better then use the internal GPU of i5 11600? can you put things in order for me?

 

Regards.

14 hours ago, ChaoscripT said:

Hi,

I would love to hear your opinion,

What's your best value for money CPU for Unraid NAS,

Don't cost a lot, but give good performance.

 

Regards.

 

I recommend a 12600k - lots of cores (6C+4c/16T), a powertfull iGPU and not expensive.

Because its a 125W CPU, you can set the max power at the BIOS to 65W and done 👍

And "if" you need the CPU-Power in the future, you can set the Power back to normal 😉

Edited January 29, 20251 yr by Zonediver

GPU is significantly better for Transcode than CPU. GPU's primary role in life is to process graphics where a CPU is more of an all round number cruncher

On 1/29/2025 at 10:45 PM, Zonediver said:

 

I recommend a 12600k - lots of cores (6C+4c/16T), a powertfull iGPU and not expensive.

Because its a 125W CPU, you can set the max power at the BIOS to 65W and done 👍

And "if" you need the CPU-Power in the future, you can set the Power back to normal 😉

 

Thanks for it,

150w is the maximum watt it will "draw"? (as mentioned in Intel website)

 

21 hours ago, MrAndyBurns said:

GPU is significantly better for Transcode than CPU. GPU's primary role in life is to process graphics where a CPU is more of an all round number cruncher

 

So after this thread, I spoke with my friend, ChatGPT, and asked him, what's prefer for plex encoding,

Intel i5 11600 vs AMD 5700x + NVIDIA 1050?

He answer that 11600 can go up to 125W at full load, makes sense? (didn't know that, I thought 65W is the maximum)

While the amd solution is up to 140W and the 1050 support only H.264 and not H.265 and not support 10-bit

 

So I asked what's the lowest graphics card that support H.265 + 10-Bit, he answered that 1650 GTX (with TU116 Core) or 1660 and up.

 

Then I asked him again to make compare, now with Intel i5 11600 vs AMD 5700x + NVIDIA 1660 GTX (that support H.265 + 10-bit)

Intel i5 11600 - 65W Until 125W

AMD + 1660 GTX - 65W (88W Actual) and 1660 is 120W at full load - total 208W at full load

 

For the Intel one, it's can handle,

5-7 1080 streams simultaneously

1-2 4K streams simultaneously

 

AMD can handle,

8-12 1080 streams simultaneously

3-4 4K streams simultaneously

 

What do you think about it?

11 hours ago, ChaoscripT said:

What do you think about it?

 

Be carefull with "normal" NVidia Cards - they can only handle 3 or 4 streams - restricted per software.

If you need more, you need a Quadro GPU.

Best solution is still an Intel iGPU and a plex pass (required).

Edited February 1, 20251 yr by Zonediver

On 1/31/2025 at 5:45 AM, MrAndyBurns said:

GPU is significantly better for Transcode than CPU. GPU's primary role in life is to process graphics where a CPU is more of an all round number cruncher

That's not true, but that's also not the point. (Don't expect a 4K transcode to look like the source did when using a GPU).

An iGPU is a GPU and works extremely well for Plex. It has the advantage of being included with many a CPU.
 

 

Everyone always talks about transcoding but will you be? I don't, sending to an older Roku ultra from Jellyfin. At the moment that's the only use case in my house.

 

My cpu of choice was the one I had sitting unused after upgrading the sim rig to a 5800x3d - a 5600x. Idles ~43-45w with ECC and IPMI, 11 drives, and a USB device reading the home power meter. Not as low as some Intel setups go. My backup unraid is an i3 6100. Also was just sitting around. And that's the most cost effective way to go.

Edited February 2, 20251 yr by _cjd_

On 2/1/2025 at 10:36 PM, Zonediver said:

 

Be carefull with "normal" NVidia Cards - they can only handle 3 or 4 streams - restricted per software.

If you need more, you need a Quadro GPU.

Best solution is still an Intel iGPU and a plex pass (required).

 

Thanks for note this.

 

14 hours ago, _cjd_ said:

Everyone always talks about transcoding but will you be? I don't, sending to an older Roku ultra from Jellyfin. At the moment that's the only use case in my house.

 

My cpu of choice was the one I had sitting unused after upgrading the sim rig to a 5800x3d - a 5600x. Idles ~43-45w with ECC and IPMI, 11 drives, and a USB device reading the home power meter. Not as low as some Intel setups go. My backup unraid is an i3 6100. Also was just sitting around. And that's the most cost effective way to go.

 

To be honest, I don't know if I will use it or not.

But I said to my self, I already buy a CPU (new or secondhand) then maybe get the best I can for my money.

I don't PC unused parts here.

 

Currently I have NVIDIA Streamer that connect to my TV, to the streamer I connected SSD HDD then in the network I transfer to it content.

In the NVIDIA I play with VLC Player.

 

Regards.

My upgrades for last few years:

4770 -> 5600G -> 12100 -> 13400

And probably will never try AMD again for server, powerful iGPU but lack of support from programs like jellyfin.

I would say now best option is 12100 or 13100 - prices are almost the same, 13400 is great also - 50% expensive and performance 2 times more. 13400 is more like "just in case CPU if I would like to do ...", no difference in power consumption compared to 12100.

40 docker containers, 8 x HDD (14-18TB), 3 x nvme, when disks are spin down I have 50W power consumption, when array starts for few seconds I see 180W from socket (I use tasmota monitor plugin).

 

Example of big rsync job when 2 x HDD work

 

 

I didn`t turn off hyperthreading or turbo boost, decided use in auto, only enabled all power save features.

Changing PL1 and PL2 to 65W will cut performance drastically, with such "undervolt" would be better to use some old hardware instead, result will be the same.

 

PS Forgot to mention 13400 is 12600k, but with power limits, so technically you can buy any of them, but I would recommend install good air tower

 

Edited February 8, 20251 yr by d3m3zs

12 hours ago, d3m3zs said:

PS Forgot to mention 13400 is 12600k

 

Not quite right - the 12600k has a HD770 iGPU while the 13400 has "only" a HD730.

Price diff is only € 10.-

Maybe relevant for Plex transcoding...

Edited February 3, 20251 yr by Zonediver

1 hour ago, Zonediver said:

 

Not quite right - the 12600k has a HD770 iGPU while the 13400 has "only" a HD730.

Price diff is only € 10.-

Maybe relevant for Plex transcoding...

You are right, thanks, but come on, even 12100 can do 8 parallel 4K transcoding, 770 iGPU theoretically can do 16 streams.  

11 minutes ago, d3m3zs said:

You are right, thanks, but come on, even 12100 can do 8 parallel 4K transcoding, 770 iGPU theoretically can do 16 streams.  

 

...thats why i said "maybe relevant" 😉

On 2/3/2025 at 12:37 PM, d3m3zs said:

My upgrades for last few years:

4770 -> 5600G -> 12100 -> 13400

And probably will never try AMD again for server, powerful iGPU but lack of support from programs like jellyfin.

I would say now best option is 12100 or 13100 - prices are almost the same, 13400 is great also - 50% expensive and performance 2 times more. 13400 is more like "just in case CPU if I would like to do ...", no difference in power consumption compared to 12100.

40 docker containers, 8 x HDD (14-18TB), 3 x nvme, when disks are spin down I have 50W power consumption, when array starts for few seconds I see 180W from socket (I use tasmota monitor plugin).

 

Example of big rsync job when 2 x HDD work

 

I didn`t turn off hyperthreading or turbo boost, decided use in auto, only enabled all power save features.

Changing PL1 and PL2 to 65W will cut performance drastically, with such "undervolt" would be better to use some old hardware instead, result will be the same.

 

PS Forgot to mention 13400 is 12600k, but with power limits, so technically you can buy any of them, but I would recommend install good air tower

 

12 hours ago, Zonediver said:

 

Not quite right - the 12600k has a HD770 iGPU while the 13400 has "only" a HD730.

Price diff is only € 10.-

Maybe relevant for Plex transcoding...

 

Thanks for replies,

Price for new CPUs here in Israel,

i5 12400 - HD730 - 6c/12t - $162

i5 12600 - HD770 - 6c/12t - $214

i5 12600K - HD770 - 10c/16t - $256
i5 13400 - HD730 - 10c/16t - $207

 

i5 12600 have 6 performance cores and 12 threads,

With HD770,

3.30GHz - 4.8GHz,

65W - 117W,

Single CPU score - 3839

Multi CPU score - 21666

 

i5 12600k have 6 performance cores and 4 efficient cores and 16 threads,

With HD770,

2.80GHz/3.70GHz - 3.60GHz/4.90GHz (efficient/performance)

125W - 150W,

Single CPU score - 3936 (2.5% more)

Multi CPU score - 27673 (21.7% more)

48 minutes ago, ChaoscripT said:

Price for new CPUs here in Israel,

i5 12400 - HD730 - 6c/12t - $162

i5 12600 - HD770 - 6c/12t - $214

i5 12600K - HD770 - 10c/16t - $256
i5 13400 - HD730 - 10c/16t - $207

According to your prices I would not even think about 12600k, usual non-K 12600 looks better or 13400, depends on your needs, need more transcoding power - 12600, more threads and more future proof - 13400.

1 hour ago, d3m3zs said:

According to your prices I would not even think about 12600k, usual non-K 12600 looks better or 13400, depends on your needs, need more transcoding power - 12600, more threads and more future proof - 13400.

 

Thanks for comment,

Where it will "meet" me when you said "more transcoding power"?

I try to understand that.

38 minutes ago, ChaoscripT said:

Where it will "meet" me when you said "more transcoding power"?

If you have more than 8 parallels transcoding streams from your server at the same time. For example I have 2-4 maximum.

12 minutes ago, d3m3zs said:

If you have more than 8 parallels transcoding streams from your server at the same time. For example I have 2-4 maximum.

 

You stream at 4K or 1080?

I don't think I will have more then 4.

 

I have option to buy second hand,

i5 13600K with ASUS B660M WIFI Mobo at $310,

The Mobo I don't need, and I assume I can sell it for $140 (something like that),

It say that the CPU costs me $170.

It's second hand but still with warranty.

 

i5 13600K - HD770 - 6cP8cE(14c)/20t

But the TDP is 125W until 181W

Sounds overpriced and risky. Why buy something you don't need to get a CPU at a minimal savings, at best? Reselling a motherboard means two layers of used for the eventual buyer, which just doesn't seem like the right thing to do either. You willing to deal with it being DOA when they get it?