Transcoding on the fly for 4k content on array, output 1080p to Kodi

[jang430]

Hi.  Some Amazon content come in 4K already.  My TV is 1080p, and my streamer is Kodi on Raspberry Pi (LibreElec).  I don't think my Kodi can downstream the episodes to 1080p.  Is there any plugin that does what my subject says?

[wgstarks]

It’s my understanding that Plex can do this. There are several Plex dockers for unRAID and Kodi has a Plex plugin. I’ve used Plex to transcode lots of content on the fly, but I don’t have any 4K content so not sure how well that works.

[SiNtEnEl]

Amazon content is around 15000 bitrate with 4K content, in h264 your processor (unraid xeon) will handle it fine with a plex docker.

Running HVEC h265 transcode on plex will eat up your current processor, and will result in terrible buffering and delays on the client.

 

Plex addon works fine in kodi, but i mosly use chromecast now or nvidia shield in combination with plex.

Edited January 22, 2018 by SiNtEnEl

[jang430]

Yes, have the plex docker installed before to stream to iPads. I have since removed it. Will give it a shot.

Thanks guys


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[jang430]

BTW, SiNtEnEl, are you sure my Xeon E3 is so weak that it will be brought to it's knees when I transcode h265?  I thought my use of Xeon E3 is still overkill for NAS

[jang430]

Actual results :-)  In Plex Server settings, under Transcoder, I chose "Make my CPU hurt," and HURT it did   All cores 

 

Although, it comes down to 50%, and goes back up, and sometimes in 60%.  Kinda satisfying.  

 

Just want to confirm though with you guys, in Plex app in Kodi, I have still to change settings in the tv show itself, and change playback quality to 4 MB, 720p.  Next higher is 8 MB 1080p, and nothing comes out of the screen.  My System stats for Unraid also doesn't change.  This is the case for all settings above 8 MB as well.  

 

So, is my Unraid box only good for 720p then?  Maybe time for an upgrade?    Though I seldom download any 2160p, only when nothing else is around.  But what is good enough :-)?

Edited January 23, 2018 by jang430

[jang430]

Hi. Just wondering, how do we do this without plex? If I change processor/ motherboard, what should it be? I saw some Xeon E3-1500 series able to do this, correct? But price is way to high. Any other cheaper Xeons? Or can it be done with my existing processor with a GPU? How do you assign the gpu to do this?


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[Hoopster]

5 hours ago, jang430 said:

If I change processor/ motherboard, what should it be?

 

An interesting discussion on the topic:

 

 

[jang430]

Looks exactly what I need to be reading.  Thanks!