Hardware: NUC, Mac Mini, other?

[scheideggstrasse 0]

Hi, 

 

I'm looking for a new emby server hardware around 300$.
Running Ubuntu Server 15.10.

 

• I'd like to transcode 2-4 streams on the same time.
• 24/7 operation => low power consumption

 

Which hardware could you recommend?

 

What's about the new Intel Nuc: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/nuc/nuc-kit-nuc6i3syk.html?

The CPU also supports quick sync.

 

Cheers

 

 

[fantaxp7 190]

It would be nice if we had some general benchmarks around here for what streaming does for CPU usage in both intel and amd hardware.

 

But I would think if you want up to 4 streams, I would get something more powerful. I don't believe that would be ideal. 

[Deathsquirrel 743]

Benchmarks like that aren't really possible.  They depend entirely on the nature of your content and the devices you use.  Different clients have different supported formats and will have different transcoding needs, depending on the formats of your media.

[fantaxp7 190]

Benchmarks like that aren't really possible.  They depend entirely on the nature of your content and the devices you use.  Different clients have different supported formats and will have different transcoding needs, depending on the formats of your media.

Must be some general formula used where we could look at processing power needed per type of client and check vs. certain cpu's....But that sounds really difficult 

 

Edit: and of course while emby server updates and transcoding becomes more efficient from time to time...

Edited December 28, 2015 by fantaxp7

[scheideggstrasse 0]

It would be nice if we had some general benchmarks around here for what streaming does for CPU usage in both intel and amd hardware.

 

But I would think if you want up to 4 streams, I would get something more powerful. I don't believe that would be ideal. 

 

agree. maybe we could create a default cpu / hardware test with some sample files (which cover the top 5 video / audio types and containers)

e.g. 

 

1080p mkv sample (dts, ac3 audio)

720p mkv sample (dts, ac3 audio)

mp4 sample

 

for a load testing with transcoding to the top 4 devices:

 

• smarttv
• iphone
• chromecast
• web

it doesn't cover every use case, but it's a good "reference point". 

after that, the users could compare it to other cpu benchmarks 

[PBzeer 6]

NUC 5th gen i5 is about $350, with the i7 at $450

 

Don't know much about streaming or transcoding, since I have need of neither, but if it matters, the NUCs have double, rather than quad core chips.