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negativzeroe
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negativzeroe

Hi all, I'm back but new to this sub. My main desktop had a mobo failure and unfortunately there are not many options to replace the 990fx chipset. So now I'm stuck on an old Dell desktop that doesn't have enough resources to act as a home PC AND Emby server. For ~$400 I'd rather have a dedicated Emby device than replace old technology (and rebuild a newer one later on as I don't really have time to benefit from a good gaming pc at the moment). Now I'm looking at NAS devices and two models have caught my eye, DS218+ and DS718+. The main difference for $100 is the CPU which is quad core instead of dual core. My question is, would I see $100 worth of a difference?

 

All files are 1080p max, some h264 some h265 and this would be mostly to my Fire TV (the gaming one), Android devices and maybe from the web on my gaming laptop when we visit family and stuff like that. No Fire Sticks thankfully as I've seen those run up my CPU before. Also I use Emby for my music library.

 

One other thing I should note is that I'm going to be running some web apps simultaneously either via VM or Docker. These will not be very large, only a couple monitoring apps (which can run on raspberry pi) and I intend to upgrade the RAM regardless of which system I buy. Since VM's are typically more RAM dependent and Emby is more CPU dependent, I'm wondering if the 718 will REALLY be worth it or if I'd be fine with the 218. So people with 218, are you happy with it? All suggestions welcome!

Edited by negativzeroe
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negativzeroe

@@FrostByte may have some insight on the differences between those models. Thanks !

 

Thanks Luke, I do understand the difference, just I'm looking to find out real world performance from users that have these devices as I didn't notice much of a difference from limiting Emby to using 4 of my 8 cores before. Could be a drastic difference in this case though, I don't know :)

Edited by negativzeroe
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I'd probably go with the DS218+. You will 100% not see a $100 worth of difference.

 

Even though its only dual core, its cpu is powerfull and bursts up to 2.5Ghz. Its also newer and for the same price as a DS718+ you could get a 4 bay device.

 

I have the DS418play which is the same as the DS218+ but has 2 extra bays and can confirm that it handles files pretty much perfectly.

 

CPU / RAM usage is low when playing back media. You might struggle a tiny bit if your transcoding x265 files but the FireTV devices should be able to direct play.

 

I have swapped out the RAM in mine, upping it to 8GB total, but it can handle 16GB despite Synology saying they can only handle 6GB.

 

Disclaimer: While it is really good, I am having some tiny issues with video glitches, but i'm in the process of fixing (link) . I suspect it's a combination of the emby version (apparently 3.6 will have better performance) ,the amount of subtitles my files have and the app on my TV. But the glitches are a recent occurrence so I suspect (hopefully) its mostly down to emby and 3.6 fixes this.

Edited by oxhey
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negativzeroe

Disclaimer: While it is really good, I am having some tiny issues with video glitches, but i'm in the process of fixing (link) . I suspect it's a combination of the emby version (apparently 3.6 will have better performance) ,the amount of subtitles my files have and the app on my TV. But the glitches are a recent occurrence so I suspect (hopefully) its mostly down to emby and 3.6 fixes this.

 

This is a bit concerning as I'm deaf as hell and will need subtitles to work really well!

 

Although most of my subs are srt I do have some that are ass and pgs. (Mostly in movies like Studio Ghibli where they paste the Eng text over the Jap text in signs and stuff).

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From what I understand, if subtitles are enabled, the server will transcode.

 

The DS218+ should be able to handle 1080p with hardware transcoding enabled (Plex compatibility list source)

 

Id maybe wait for a few more opinions, but the 218+ should be fine.

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FrostByte

I'm running the DS418play also which has the same processor as the DS218+ and I've added 4gb of RAM for a total of 6gb.  I would say I have very little which transcodes because I normally just Direct Play everything to my TV.  However, my son does play some 4K in his room which transcodes to 1080p and he says it plays fine.

 

Besides Emby on my NAS I'm also running Surveillance Station (which feeds right into Emby) for my IP cameras and an AntiVirus.  So not a whole lot.  I would say things are nicer since I've added the extra RAM though.

 

I think it really going to come down to how much you transcode and do you have any HEVC which needs transcoding.  For the little bit I transcode I'm fine with the DS418play.  The only issue I have right now with transcoding is with PGS style subtitles.  Those seem to kill my CPU if I choose to burn them in on the fly.  However, text subtitles have no issue at all because it just sends two streams to my Samsung client. 

 

What ever model you choose just make sure it has an Intel processor to take advantage of VA-API.  There are a lot of improvements coming with hardware transcoding in the betas right now.

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negativzeroe

I think it really going to come down to how much you transcode and do you have any HEVC which needs transcoding.  For the little bit I transcode I'm fine with the DS418play.  The only issue I have right now with transcoding is with PGS style subtitles.  Those seem to kill my CPU if I choose to burn them in on the fly.  However, text subtitles have no issue at all because it just sends two streams to my Samsung client. 

 

What ever model you choose just make sure it has an Intel processor to take advantage of VA-API.  There are a lot of improvements coming with hardware transcoding in the betas right now.

 

Ok yeah, I do have quite a bit of HEVC, so it would be better to get 718+? I'm going to get this ram kit so I'll have 16 gb anyway.

 

I do have some PGS subs in some HEVC files though. Is there a way to cache them so they are not on-the-fly? Or another efficient way of dealing with them?

 

Also I'll be sure to use beta as I usually do not if that is were all the improvements are.

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FrostByte

As far as internal PGS subtitles go I prefer to extract them and convert to SRT which eliminates any transcoding because of subtitles while playing.  There is a very good program called Subtitle Edit which can OCR them to text.  Then just leave them external.

 

https://www.nikse.dk/

 

I've read posts online of people saying they upgraded to 16gb, but I've also seen others say that anything past 8gb can't be addressed by the processor.  Intel specs below

 

https://ark.intel.com/products/95597/Intel-Celeron-Processor-J3355-2M-Cache-up-to-2-5-GHz-

 

Do you transcode 4K a lot for streaming to clients?  I don't have any experience with the quad processors, but obviously it would probably be better.  I'm not experiencing any issues for the little bit of 4K I do transcode in house.  Just not sure how much difference the quad would make unless someone ran them side-by-side.  If you can afford it though why not buy it?  I would hate to think after setting it all up "I wish I had bought the quad processor"

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negativzeroe

True, I guess if I can do it I should. Was just wanting to save as much as possible so I could justify it to the wife lol, we had twins recently so I'm not allowed to spend a whole lot. For about the same cost of 718+ with RAM upgrade I could rebuild my desktop with a Ryzen 7 but then I wouldn't be able to enjoy the games for another good few years. On the other hand the only reason I'm allowed to do this is because I told her if it's a different dedicated device, it doesn't matter how many computers shit themselves.

 

I've seen similar posts regarding the RAM but one site basically explained it's 8 per channel and there are two so that it can see the full 16. And I don't put it passed people to just not seat it right or bend the pins.

I've used Subtitle Edit quite a bit because I've had to fix more than I'd like to admit. Problem is the spacing doesn't hold when converting PGS or ASS to .srt. So basically when watching some movies, the video is in Jpn (Studio Ghibli) and when they walk by a store or sign or something, the subs are adjusted so that the sign displays in the Eng language rather than the original Jpn and it looks as if it was drawn that way to begin with. If I convert to srt, it drops to the regular bottom position and the signs have so much overlap with the actual dialogue it's absurd. Now typically I'd just remove stuff like that but there is so much that it's just too damn daunting. And of course sometimes the shit is actually significant and you won't get what they are talking about without seeing it or knowing what it is.

 

EDIT, no 4k, 1080p max.

Edited by negativzeroe
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FrostByte

I agree with what oxhey mentioned and it sounds like the DS218+ will suffice for your needs, especially if it gets the wife approval :)  I know I'm very happy with my DS418play and having moved Emby to it from my Windows machine. 

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If I may add something about RAM upgrade.

 

To activate dual channels you need to put a matched pair of DIMM (Manufacturers sell them packed together).  However, replacing the first DIMM on the DS218+ is a bit tricky.  You need to remove the motherboard from the casing to get to this DIMM.  See this youtube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBaeK5ry-aM

 

However, you don't need to do that for the 718+ to change this DIMM.   It's not easy to change (even more if you have big hands) but no need to take the NAS apart.

 

If upgrading RAM and activating dual channels is important to you, maybe the 718+ is the option.

 

I have the Ds418play, I put in it 2x4GB matched pair and 8 GB ram is plenty enough on this NAS.  With this upgrade, hardware acceleration activated, my DS418play has no trouble transcoding a 1080p x265 10bit with Dolby trueHD audio track.  Trouble starts happening when subtitle has to be burned on video.

Edited by rouq
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solabc16

Hello @@negativzeroe

 

Agree with the feedback above in general, however do consider your medium term storage needs.

 

If you're going to run RAID1, consider the cost / implications of high capacity drives vs. a 4-bay enclosure with the same CPU.

 

Best

- James

Edited by solabc16
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