Best Way to Stream MKVs to Living Room

[WelshBloke]

Plex lists the ReadyNas 4 as unable to to transcode anything, and rates it "below minimum specs" to even run the Plex server software. To be honest it has trouble even keeping up with more than 4 bittorrents at one time.

Ouch!

Is a simple DLNA server less resource heavy?

 

[Nebor]

Ouch!

Is a simple DLNA server less resource heavy?

Yeah it does DLNA fine. I can browse the NAS from my Samsung TV, windows phone or whatever and play MKVs directly that way.

 

[Nebor]

Holy crap, they make some badass NAS devices now.

i3 powered with XBMC built in, and 4k HDMI output? Maybe I should just get one of these and a standalone blu-ray player!

 

[WelshBloke]

Yeah it does DLNA fine. I can browse the NAS from my Samsung TV, windows phone or whatever and play MKVs directly that way.

Xbox 1 does DLNA as well now doesnt it?

 

[Nebor]

Xbox 1 does DLNA as well now doesnt it?

I would assume so. But many of my assumptions regarding Microsoft intercompatability have proven incorrect. Regardless, DLNA doesn't provide all the fancy fan art, album art, ratings and other stuff that I'm used to with the HTPC. Plex provides all of that.

 

[WelshBloke]

Holy crap, they make some badass NAS devices now.

i3 powered with XBMC built in, and 4k HDMI output? Maybe I should just get one of these and a standalone blu-ray player!

I built mine around an Asrock C2750D4I and Freenas. Its been pretty solid as a media server and backup box.

 

[Nebor]

I built mine around an Asrock C2750D4I and Freenas. Its been pretty solid as a media server and backup box.

You seem more comfortable with browsing through folders to find what you want. The XBMC\Plex crowd (myself included) want a fancier looking UI. The worst thing that can happen, IMO, is when you have people over to watch a movie and a fucking java update pops up in the lower right in the middle of a movie. Then you're screwing with a mouse in your living room trying to get things back on track.

 

[WelshBloke]

I would assume so. But many of my assumptions regarding Microsoft intercompatability have proven incorrect.

Aint that the truth.

Regardless, DLNA doesn't provide all the fancy fan art, album art, ratings and other stuff that I'm used to with the HTPC. Plex provides all of that.

Well that depends on if the fancy UI is worth the grand or so for a decent server. (and Plex does indeed look pretty across all my devices.)

 

[tential]

Because then I'd have another PC running 27\7 requiring windows updates, java updates, and all the other pain that comes with an additional PC?

The NAS just sits there running 24\7, quiet and cool. It requires no updates, or restarts, or anything. It's tucked in the bottom of my entertainment center with power strip, router, switch & cable box\modem. If anything I wish I had spent more and gotten a more capable NAS. I don't like the idea of the NAS being dependent on my desktop PC to transcode for Plex.

Why would you install windows on it?
Why would it not be as cool and quiet as a NAS? Your nas runs an intel processor, so does your PC.

Spec it how you want, build it to the size you want, install UNRAID software (or any other NAS software you want) and you're set.

You could have built a NAS that does EXACTLY what your NAS does, in every single respect, except it would be powerful enough to do PLEX.

Only reason to purchase a NAS is if you don't know how to build one. Otherwise, they're running a 3x+ markup usually.

 

[WelshBloke]

You seem more comfortable with browsing through folders to find what you want. The XBMC\Plex crowd (myself included) want a fancier looking UI. The worst thing that can happen, IMO, is when you have people over to watch a movie and a fucking java update pops up in the lower right in the middle of a movie. Then you're screwing with a mouse in your living room trying to get things back on track.

Yeah its a lot more convienient to use Plex on the FireTV than hook up a laptop and use a bluetooth keyboard, and its a lot easier to use Plex on an Android tablet than navigate network shares with a file manager. I'm just not a massive fan of using something like that on my PC.

(for the record I have a lifetime Plex pass and am a big fan)

 

[Nebor]

Why would you install windows on it?
Why would it not be as cool and quiet as a NAS? Your nas runs an intel processor, so does your PC.

Spec it how you want, build it to the size you want, install UNRAID software (or any other NAS software you want) and you're set.

You could have built a NAS that does EXACTLY what your NAS does, in every single respect, except it would be powerful enough to do PLEX.

Only reason to purchase a NAS is if you don't know how to build one. Otherwise, they're running a 3x+ markup usually.

I've never owned a non-windows PC. To me PC means Windows.

I have no idea how to build a NAS. The thing is pretty small. It holds 4 hard drives and is about the size of 6 hard drives altogether.

 

[WelshBloke]

I have no idea how to build a NAS.

How spendy do you want to get.

*evilgrin*

 

[Nebor]

Yeah its a lot more convienient to use Plex on the FireTV than hook up a laptop and use a bluetooth keyboard, and its a lot easier to use Plex on an Android tablet than navigate network shares with a file manager. I'm just not a massive fan of using something like that on my PC.

(for the record I have a lifetime Plex pass and am a big fan)

Yeah I'm not a fan of running the Plex media server on my PC either. Maybe the right answer is a new, more powerful NAS. That's certainly the most expensive answer.

 

[Nebor]

How spendy do you want to get.

*evilgrin*

Looks like I could get that nifty NAS with the HDMI output and XBMC built in with 4x6tb drives for around $2,000.

 

[tential]

You seem more comfortable with browsing through folders to find what you want. The XBMC\Plex crowd (myself included) want a fancier looking UI. The worst thing that can happen, IMO, is when you have people over to watch a movie and a fucking java update pops up in the lower right in the middle of a movie. Then you're screwing with a mouse in your living room trying to get things back on track.

You misunderstood his post that you quoted here completely.

He built his NAS (same box you're using ot store your files) using that mobo+FreeNAS. It does the EXACT same thing your Nas does.
http://www.freenas.org/
It's just the operating system he is using to organize the files on his "NAS" (Such a stupid term I hate it).
In the case of your NAS you linked, it just uses their proprietary nas software.

There is really a lot you can learn about this subject and a lot you can save and make to fit your needs far better than paying 3-4x the price for the same thing you can build on your own.

I've never owned a non-windows PC. To me PC means Windows.

I have no idea how to build a NAS. The thing is pretty small. It holds 4 hard drives and is about the size of 6 hard drives altogether.

Same way you build a PC. You put the parts together, and instead of installing windows on the PC, you install a NAS program like FreeNAS. For the case, well, you pick whatever case suits your needs. There are tiny cases, but I prefer a case that is the same size as my other appliances (The same width of my cable box, receiver, blu ray player, etc. so I can stack them on top of eachother neatly).

 

[Nebor]

You misunderstood his post that you quoted here completely.

He built his NAS (same box you're using ot store your files) using that mobo+FreeNAS. It does the EXACT same thing your Nas does.
http://www.freenas.org/
It's just the operating system he is using to organize the files on his "NAS" (Such a stupid term I hate it).
In the case of your NAS you linked, it just uses their proprietary nas software.

There is really a lot you can learn about this subject and a lot you can save and make to fit your needs far better than paying 3-4x the price for the same thing you can build on your own.



Same way you build a PC. You put the parts together, and instead of installing windows on the PC, you install a NAS program lik eFreeNAS.

I have no interest in learning about operating systems for homemade NAS, or the best hardware to build my own NAS. It's already a big enough pain to have to do all the research to build a new desktop every 3 years or so. I realize that that sort of stuff is really interesting to some people, and it used to be to me too, that's why I hung around here to begin with. But these days I just want things that work without hassle out of the box and I'm willing to pay a premium for that privilege.

That's why my first answer is the Xbox One, because if it works, it will be by far the easiest out of the box solution. Like I said, I'm hoping I can plug my HTPC power cord into the back and the ethernet cable from the HTPC into the back and then I won't even have to dig around in the entertainment center.

 

[tential]

I have no interest in learning about operating systems for homemade NAS, or the best hardware to build my own NAS. It's already a big enough pain to have to do all the research to build a new desktop every 3 years or so. I realize that that sort of stuff is really interesting to some people, and it used to be to me too, that's why I hung around here to begin with. But these days I just want things that work without hassle out of the box and I'm willing to pay a premium for that privilege.

That's why my first answer is the Xbox One, because if it works, it will be by far the easiest out of the box solution. Like I said, I'm hoping I can plug my HTPC power cord into the back and the ethernet cable from the HTPC into the back and then I won't even have to dig around in the entertainment center.

I see.
Given the nature of the forum, I'd assume that you wouldn't "learn" the NAS OS. It's an OS for storing things, it works just like every other NAS OS you'll use. No matter what, you'll "learn" a NAS OS (Not sure what there is to learn).

But hey, if you want to spend $1500+ to get a job that can be done with $400-500 and still have a subpar NAS, that's fine with me.

It's all about price threshold so if you have the means, then by all means do it.

Given the bolded though I guess I should assume you want the least amount of work humanly possible and are willing to spend to not do it.
Edit: Given that actually, I would just have went with a system installer for Home Theater. They would have set you up just as nice no doubt and you wouldn't even have to think about it.

 

[WelshBloke]

Looks like I could get that nifty NAS with the HDMI output and XBMC built in with 4x6tb drives for around $2,000.

Its worth thinking about exactly you want the box to do before starting.

If its going to sit in the closet serving everything then whats the point in HDMI output?
Are you going to use it as a hybrid NAS/HTPC?

My build is pretty much .....

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7970/...eview-a-storage-motherboard-with-management/2

Board and case with 16gb of RAM running freenas and a Plex server. It sits in a closet and is silent and logging in remotely even to the BIOS is really convenient. There was a slight learning curve for me as Freenas is FreeBSD based but for what I want its been ideal.

If you want to plug it into a TV and use it as a HTPC it would be a terrible choice.

 

[tential]

Its worth thinking about exactly you want the box to do before starting.

If its going to sit in the closet serving everything then whats the point in HDMI output?
Are you going to use it as a hybrid NAS/HTPC?

My build is pretty much .....

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7970/...eview-a-storage-motherboard-with-management/2

Board and case with 16gb of RAM running freenas and a Plex server. It sits in a closet and is silent and logging in remotely even to the BIOS is really convenient. There was a slight learning curve for me as Freenas is FreeBSD based but for what I want its been ideal.

If you want to plug it into a TV and use it as a HTPC it would be a terrible choice.

Lol, wish I had known about that case 2 years ago when it would have been useful to me. Now I'm about to expand just beyond it's capabilities. Darn

 

[WelshBloke]

I have no interest in learning about operating systems for homemade NAS, or the best hardware to build my own NAS. It's already a big enough pain to have to do all the research to build a new desktop every 3 years or so. I realize that that sort of stuff is really interesting to some people, and it used to be to me too, that's why I hung around here to begin with. But these days I just want things that work without hassle out of the box and I'm willing to pay a premium for that privilege.

That's why my first answer is the Xbox One, because if it works, it will be by far the easiest out of the box solution. Like I said, I'm hoping I can plug my HTPC power cord into the back and the ethernet cable from the HTPC into the back and then I won't even have to dig around in the entertainment center.

You probably need to buy a Synology NAS then. They come pretty well recommended.

Its still worth working out exactly what you want it to do though.

 

[WelshBloke]

Lol, wish I had known about that case 2 years ago when it would have been useful to me. Now I'm about to expand just beyond it's capabilities. Darn

Its a really nice case. Its way overpriced for something that just sits in a cupboard but I couldnt find anything else that did quite what it did.

 

[tential]

You probably need to buy a Synology NAS then. They come pretty well recommended.

Its still worth working out exactly what you want it to do though.

If he wants Transcoding and NAS in one box, there really isn't anything under $2000 that does that if he wants a prebuilt box. They charge a significant price premium for a faster processor on a NAS.

 

[tential]

Its a really nice case. Its way overpriced for something that just sits in a cupboard but I couldnt find anything else that did quite what it did.

I'd pay it in a heartbeat. $150? Back then I would. Now I only want a Norco 4224 case/build. $1100 for 24 drive capacity? I'll take it!

 

[Nebor]

I see.
Given the nature of the forum, I'd assume that you wouldn't "learn" the NAS OS. It's an OS for storing things, it works just like every other NAS OS you'll use. No matter what, you'll "learn" a NAS OS (Not sure what there is to learn).

But hey, if you want to spend $1500+ to get a job that can be done with $400-500 and still have a subpar NAS, that's fine with me.

It's all about price threshold so if you have the means, then by all means do it.

Given the bolded though I guess I should assume you want the least amount of work humanly possible and are willing to spend to not do it.
Edit: Given that actually, I would just have went with a system installer for Home Theater. They would have set you up just as nice no doubt and you wouldn't even have to think about it.

Those guys are just as bad or worse than most general contractors. The last time I went to move, I found that there were huge holes cut in the drywall behind the TV and entertainment center, the TV wasn't secured in the mount, and my Burmester surrounds had screws drilled into their cabinetry. I can handle mounting my own TV, speakers and plugging everything in. It's worth it not to have monkeys ruin thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

 

[Nebor]

You probably need to buy a Synology NAS then. They come pretty well recommended.

Its still worth working out exactly what you want it to do though.

Only one of the Synology NAS can transcode blurays very well. It looks like I'd need something with an i3 minimum.

Like I said, I'll try the Xbox for now and see how that does.