Which is better Server 2012 or Windows 10 for Emby

[iamneo 3]

I have  a question about performance...

 

I currently have a windows server 2008 R2 x64 with about 40 TB of storage that I am using for my emby server.  It has 64GB of memory.  It is currently close to being maxed out for space.  I am considering options for upgrading the server.

 

Should I go to Windows 10 x64 Pro or should I go with windows server 2012 x64?  Anyone notice if there is a performance advantage with using server software as apposed to Standard Windows OS?

 

Would adding a decent video card improve transcoding performance?  With some of my videos coming in as 2160p, I have noticed that server2008 struggles to stream it to various devices.

 

What are your thoughts and recommendations?

 

As well does anyone have any apps they use to connect to Emby that work well?

 

thanks...

 

Stan...

[PenkethBoy 2066]

i have 2012r2 and Win10 emby servers - both x64 - no noticeable difference in speed even though the win10 has a newer i7 and double the memory - the 2012r2 has a i7 4790s and can do a few transcodes if necessary - i tend to pre process my videos so i know they will direct stream 95% of the time.

 

for transcoding - depends what you mean by performance - speed then yes - quality then no

 

as for the rest - you need to provide more info on your system and/or the future system -and what you requirements are.

 

apps that connect ot emby that work well - the majority of the emby apps do that??????????

 

And in the hardware sub forum there are several threads like this

[iamneo 3]

Speed is meaningless - if I am using the same hardware for windows 10 x64 or for Server 2012 R2 x64

 

Quality is meaningless - quality is determined by the quality of the video you have

 

My current server is a Xeon 3 GHz quad core, with dual processor motherboard.  It is servergrade hardware.  Most likely its replacement will be something along that line with more storage.  Looking at a raid array with at least a 100TB.  The hard drive speed is not an issue.  Memory is not an issue.  Network is not an issue.

I was just looking to see if emby performs better on server OS or windows 10 OS for:  transcoding, website delivery, and database management.

 

The reason being is that 2160p movies, which are about 40 to 50GB in size for a 2 hour movie.  I want to make sure that my seamless connection continues, no matter where I am in my house or in the world.

 

The second question is: does installing a video card help with transcoding?  Or is the transcoding work all borne by the CPU?

 

thanks 

 

Stan...

[PenkethBoy 2066]

Sigh - was trying to help - but looks like that was a waste of time

 

One last time

 

Neither are meaningless as you asked about Gpu's

 

Gpu will give you a faster result

 

But the gpu quality will be worse quality than a cpu transcode

 

I suggest you read up on the numerous threads on these forums and the wider web 

 

The aswers have been given lots of times

[maegibbons 1268]

In terms of OS - both will perform very similar. 

 

However if you want the best speed go for Windows 10 as it will have less unnecessary server centric processes running for emby to compete with by default.

 

Krs

 

Mark

[PenkethBoy 2066]

LOL

 

I was going to suggest its the other way round as 2012r2 has less of the win 10 bloat etc

 

Either way its academic as the speed will be dominated by the hardware the OP goes with 

[CBers 6962]

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 use the same kernel, whereas Windows Server 2012 uses the same kernel as Windows 8.1.

 

You'll probably get quicker updates with the consumer version (10) than the enterprise version (Server 2016).

 

Server 2019 is out later this year.

 

Hope that helps

[iamneo 3]

Thanks guys... appreciate all the input.  I just might wait until Server 2019 is out to see what it offers.  I do like Windows 10 as its OS is lighter than the previous windows OS's...  I like the server software too as it is designed more to take advantage of the Xeon processors.  I realize that having quad core CPUs with a dual processor Mobo and 64GB of memory is probably overkill.  I will try with and without a decent video card to see how if it will improve transcoding or not and post my results.

I might try an AMD 8 core cpu and see how it will compare with the dual Xeons.  The 8 core, I am thinking, might do better because of its built in video processing.  However  I would have to install a RAID controller for drive speed and redundancy...  I was shocked how easily I filled a 10 drive 40 TB raid.  I might have to build several file storage servers and setup a 10 Gbit network backbone or a multiraid array.

 

Thanks...

 

Stan...

 

(yup i am a geek)

[Guest asrequested]

 I realize that having quad core CPUs with a dual processor Mobo and 64GB of memory is probably overkill.

 

Eh? I have a 12 core 24 thread, 3.40 GHz Threadripper. 32GB of DDR4 Quad channel, memory. Overkill, shmoverkill.

 

 

I might have to build several file storage servers and setup a 10 Gbit network

 

Some of us have 10G networks. And we use drivepooling. RAID is so passe. Just use Stablebit or Drivebender

[iamneo 3]

Eh? I have a 12 core 24 thread, 3.40 GHz Threadripper. 32GB of DDR4 Quad channel, memory. Overkill, shmoverkill.

 

 

 

Some of us have 10G networks. And we use drivepooling. RAID is so passe. Just use Stablebit or Drivebender

 

It is nice to see someone just as crazy as me...

 

I will look into Stablebit and Drivebender... thanks for that...

 

Stan...

[iamneo 3]

Hey Everyone... Again thanks for your input...

 

Reason I wanted Server software with server grade hardware - the file sharing and hard drive structure is more efficient, options available for merging network cards to increase throughput.  Server hardware has easier hot swapping for drive failures.  Windows 10 is not great at file sharing, even more so for 50TB+.

 

Reason I wanted Windows 10(or similar os) - easier configuration for graphics card drivers(in relation to transcoding),  I could use a more graphics friendly CPU as apposed to the non graphics friendly Xeons.

 

My solution.

 

1- removed Emby from the first 40 TB server.  Turned it into a Server 2012 File Server ONLY.  it has dual network, bridged it to a 2GB network pipe.

2 - setup second 40 TB server.   Configured it as a second Server 2012 file server.  again bridged the network cards for a 2 GB network pipe as well

3 - Setup an I5 system, booting from ssd, with windows 10.  Installed Radeon Video card with latest drivers

4 - Gave the I5 system shares to the 2 file share servers, using the same drive assignments.

5 - installed emby and restored from the latest backup.  Emby just continued if had always been this way.

6 - enabled transcoding with the video card

 

This is working extremely well.  And leaves me open for easy expansion.  When I hit the 80 TB mark, I just create another server and add its as a file share to the I5 emby system.  Testing with Ultra HD movies, 3D movies, and 1080p movies worked flawlessly.  No more jittering with the Ultra HD movies.  No more delay on displaying the thumbnails for the movies via the web interface.  Improved response from the trailers in movie mode!  Movies play immediately.  Very quick switching between streaming formats.

I hope this solution helps someone else out there...

 

thanks...

 

Stan...

[Luke 38863]

Thanks for the feedback !