Processor v memory upgrade

[dredd1963 17]

hi, am looking to upgrade my pc as am on  a budget and near christmas, looking for suggestions on what would be best another processor or memory upgrade. i am using a:

 

Dell optiplex 740 (sff)

 Amd 64 X 2 5200+

4gb memory

1 gb Graphics card

Windows 10

Emby windows app X3 (2 on Laptops)

 

I tend to convert my Films to Mkv and mpeg4 ( mpe4 files to be convert to mkv)

The main problem am having, is that  when  2 machines are running emby app there buffering issues when trans coding mkv files, mkv and mpeg4 together no issue at all.

 

Any advice would gratfully recieved.

 

thanks in advance

Edited November 2, 2015 by dredd1963

[ronvp 92]

here is what I recommend:

Get 8 GB mem if you have a SSD, 16 if you have a normal hard drive

Update your processor and get a NVIDIA >600 series graphics card (900 series are very affordable right now). It will dramatically speed up coding and decoding and reduce the load on the processor.

Set EMBY transcoding cache to your SSD (if you have one) or... If you have enough memory (use at least 4GB), you may find huge transcoding improvements by using a RAM disc and set EMBY transcoding path to the RAM disc.. This last one works even better than most SSD options..

 

Also: unless you have a need for many different streams in a single container;  I HIGHLY recommend to stop using MKV's and start using MP4 with h264 Video with 5.1 AAC Audio. Today, mp4 can support multiple subs and audio streams.

MP4 is much better supported across many devices and many TV's and other devices can handle mp4's directly (no need to transcode).

To batch convert to and from almost any format, use Freeware XMEDIA RECODE. (or similar).

Read-up on best encoding settings for your devices. (coding h.264 main profile 4.1 vs high profile 4.1 (or main 5.1 vs high 5.1) could be the difference between needing to transcode or not. Quality of picture is really not impacted as much as the file size. More complex compression = more load on the processor/graphics card to transcode.

If you stick with MKV's you are still better of with the above encoding settings.

Edited October 31, 2015 by ronvp

[dredd1963 17]

Memory upgrade is  one i  was thinking about, aithough only to 8gb as this the limit on the optiplex.The sdd drive was a upgrade i was thinking about anyway, may be 120gb model. Ram disc never come across that but could worth looking into once the sdd drive and memory is sorted.

 

My use of mkv files was born out of the fact that i was using mp4 files but was having issues with voice sync and a bad static noise on some files which meant that  ihad to redo then.With The mkv files i've hardly had any encoding issues using makemkv and freemake video convertor.

 

Will look into encoding settings and profiles to help  the transcoding.

 

Whoops forgot to mention that i have 1gb graphics card.

 

Thanx mate for your input the

[Nologic 30]

I don't know if you have something like Craigslist there in the UK...but I'd hunt around for a used i5 or i7...sandybridge or better. I've seen systems go for around $150 US....example. Granted not a shining example...but you can get something much faster than your x2, that would make more of an improvement than more ram or an SSD.

 

Comparison 1

Comparison 2

 

However...on your server...do you have the media folders shared? As this can prevent a lot of trans-coding in and of it's self.

 

hmm I'd also leave your MKV's alone...don't switch to MP4 unless you are using systems that don't care for MKV.

 

However...I'm not sure why you ran into problems with MP4 containers...they maybe more limited than MKV..but they are quality containers all the same...something must have gone wrong some where.

 

I'm using MP4...but that  is only because I was sharing my library with my uncle...and he was using XBox's as media extenders...he has since dropped the XBox's...but I'm not going to switch back to MKV since I'm not at present making use of the more advanced features of MKV.

Edited November 3, 2015 by Nologic

[dredd1963 17]

We can get refurbish pcs online in the uk eg ebay and amazon, looking at the price of  refurbished i5 pcs is lot more expensive than in the states (in the region of £2oo).

 

All my media folders are shared, might be best to look at their paths again.

 

To be honest i perfer the mkv's, to me the quality is better. looking into down mixing to stereo, as many new films and tv series  dont seem to have any other option than 5.1 sound these days. Hoping that down mixing will reduce the strain on my humble cpu.

 

Did use xbox extenders at the start wmc, but gave up with those owing to mp4s not playing, am now making us of the kids laptops (with busted Screens) connected to their tvs. which generally work well( with windows 10, which means they cant stop the updates...Lol).

[ronvp 92]

MKV's do not provide better quality. it is only the container in which the streams reside. The quality; it is determined by the streams inside. '

 

Trust me on this, to fix your problems, you will either have to update your server so it can handle the transcoding load or improve compatibility of the audio and video streams with your devices...  

Edited November 6, 2015 by ronvp

[dredd1963 17]

Sory that ive  had not  had time to look at the post over the last few days , i have start a new job with a night shift.

 

Have switched  to emby theater on my main htpc now instead of the emby app, which  as seem a huge reducton in cpu usage, but a increase in memory use.!

 

Plan  of action:

 

1) Upgrade memory

 

2) Sortout  the substution path

 

3) install Emby theater on Laptops

 

Would like to say thanks to those of you took time to answer my post.

[dredd1963 17]

Hi thought id just do a update on this post, owning to losing work and Christmas my original plan, just didn't  happen.

In the end i went with 2 2015 nowtv box's and roku 2 box.in the end the use of the box's have worked out fine with ocassional

use of emby theater (original) at the same time, have not thrown up any problems.