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Advice on system build


XiaoKe

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I'm looking at building an Emby server, I might convert it into an HTPC later but for now I'm just looking at doing a server. I'm not buying extra drives at the moment, I have an external drive I'll be using until I buy more internal drives.

 

Here's what I have so far on PC Part Picker, thoughts? Recommendations?

 

[PCPartPicker part list](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9TYg9W) / [Price breakdown by merchant](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/9TYg9W/by_merchant/)

 

Type|Item|Price

:----|:----|:----

**CPU** | [AMD - Ryzen 5 1500X 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/VtFXsY/amd-ryzen-5-1500x-35ghz-quad-core-processor-yd150xbbaebox) | $169.99 @ SuperBiiz

**CPU Cooler** | [Cooler Master - Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/hmtCmG/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) | $24.89 @ OutletPC

**Motherboard** | [Gigabyte - GA-AB350-GAMING 3 ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2pnG3C/gigabyte-ga-ab350-gaming-3-atx-am4-motherboard-ga-ab350-gaming-3) | $81.98 @ Newegg

**Memory** | [G.Skill - Ripjaws V Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2400 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xjp323/gskill-memory-f42400c15d8gvr) | $75.88 @ OutletPC

**Storage** | [samsung - 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3kL7YJ/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam) | $89.99 @ B&H

**Video Card** | [EVGA - GeForce 8400 GS 1GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/7mckcf/evga-video-card-01gp31302lr) | $34.88 @ OutletPC

**Case** | [NZXT - Source 210 (White) ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wWQypg/nzxt-case-s210002) | $46.35 @ OutletPC

**Power Supply** | [EVGA - SuperNOVA NEX 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/g63RsY/evga-power-supply-120g10650xr) | $89.89 @ OutletPC

**Operating System** | [Microsoft - Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wtgPxr/microsoft-os-kw900140) | $89.89 @ OutletPC

| *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* |

| Total (before mail-in rebates) | $758.74

| Mail-in rebates | -$55.00

| **Total** | **$703.74**

| Generated by [PCPartPicker](http://pcpartpicker.com) 2017-09-07 22:25 EDT-0400 |

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Guest asrequested

So it looks like it's about the same price point so what would be the benefit of going that route as opposed to Ryzen? If we're going by Pass Mark the i5 is slightly lower, I'm totally open to suggestions I'd just like to understand the benefits and cons of either way.

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dcrdev

So it looks like it's about the same price point so what would be the benefit of going that route as opposed to Ryzen? If we're going by Pass Mark the i5 is slightly lower, I'm totally open to suggestions I'd just like to understand the benefits and cons of either way.

 

The benefit will come from the integrated graphics - that video card is ancient and doesn't support hw acceleration via vaapi or nvenc. With the i7 you can use QuckSync and/or vaapi.

 

Hardware acceleration will put a lot less strain on the cpu when transcoding allowing for more simultaneous streams or other background tasks. Honestly that GPU isn't worth $35 - it's absolute rubbish. 

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Ok so Ryzen is really only worth it if you are going to be also getting a nice graphics card to go with it then? So really an i5 or i7 with integrated graphics is just going to perform better overall for the money due to the lack of integrated graphics with the Ryzen, is that right?

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dcrdev

Ok so Ryzen is really only worth it if you are going to be also getting a nice graphics card to go with it then? So really an i5 or i7 with integrated graphics is just going to perform better overall for the money due to the lack of integrated graphics with the Ryzen, is that right?

 

Where Emby is concerned, yes! - Ryzen for general purpose has a better price/performance ratio. It does indeed all boil down to the integrated graphics; you could ofsourse wait for the Ryzen based raven ridge apus though.

 

If going the Intel route, i'd suggest saving yourself a few bucks and going Skylake instead - it's better supported by QuickSync and slightly cheaper. Most of the improvements in Kaby Lake over Skylake boil down to power consumption and not performance; it's basically the same chip.

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CBers

Trying to achieve the fastest transcode (remux) shouldn't be the defining factor for a new build, unless you're aiming to provide remote playback.

 

Priority should be with the media and it's compatibility with the end client.

 

If your media isn't compatible, then make it compatible by re-encoding it.

 

Then you will not have to transcode.

 

Just my thoughts :)

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Guest asrequested

But it's a good idea to be prepared for transcoding. Even though I direct play everything, I transcode my TV recordings.

Edited by Doofus
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CBers

But it's a good idea to be prepared for transcoding. Even though I direct play everything, I transcode my TV recordings.

For you maybe, but possibly not the OP.

 

Why do you (have to) transcode your TV recordings?

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Thanks for all the advice guys! I'll look into all your recommendations so I can get going on this build ☺️. I'm mostly going to be using it at home using a Chromecast to stream it to my TV but I'll also be wanting to access it remotely.

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Guest asrequested

For you maybe, but possibly not the OP.

 

Why do you (have to) transcode your TV recordings?

I don't have to, but I prefer it. Especially for MPEG2, they are unnecessarily large, and the codec is crap.

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Guest asrequested

Thanks for all the advice guys! I'll look into all your recommendations so I can get going on this build ☺️. I'm mostly going to be using it at home using a Chromecast to stream it to my TV but I'll also be wanting to access it remotely.

Be sure to post pics in the 'show off your rig' thread :)

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  • 3 weeks later...
maegibbons

For you maybe, but possibly not the OP.

 

Why do you (have to) transcode your TV recordings?

 

So that they are ready to Direct play to your clients :)

 

For me, generally speaking you have to transcode either on record or playback.

 

So it is best to have the grunt so you can choose whether you frontend or backend that process.

 

Baecause of limitations in emby record-transcode at the moment, I am actually now doing it in the middle with MCEBuddy and handbrake.  This has the benefit of comskip in the mix as well.

 

So I record in emby to .ts

 

MCEBuddy then picks up and transcodes to MKV with comskip.

 

Can then direct play to F/ATV clients etc

 

The processor has enough headroom for all the above and for external players like phones to transcode on demand.

 

Krs

 

Mark

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Jdiesel

I might be the minority but I still think that CPU horsepower is the way to go over GPU-acceleration unless your are limited to a NAS or have tight energy constraints. Software transcoding has better visual quality and has better compatibility at this point in time.

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Guest asrequested

I might be the minority but I still think that CPU horsepower is the way to go over GPU-acceleration unless your are limited to a NAS or have tight energy constraints. Software transcoding has better visual quality and has better compatibility at this point in time.

Yup! I now agree with you. Live TV HWA still isn't implemented, I thought it was. And I've just been testing transcoding on playback, and it has been temperamental. For the server, I've turned it off and I'm moving toward a Threadripper. For am HTPC, HWA is excellent.

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maegibbons

I might be the minority but I still think that CPU horsepower is the way to go over GPU-acceleration unless your are limited to a NAS or have tight energy constraints. Software transcoding has better visual quality and has better compatibility at this point in time.

 

Yes - Totally agree.

 

My hardware acceleration is currently turned off in Emby

 

Krs

 

Mark

Edited by maegibbons
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