What better processor to build a powerful server to Emby?

[c.adr75 3]

What better processor for a very powerful Emby server? Xeon, i7, amd? The Emby uses video cards to transcode processing for users?

I can do with cluster windows server? Will function normally with Emby?

[Ponyo 22]

It would help if you'd give some more information about exactly what you want to server to do.

 

For transcoding more cpu cores is better, with Intel probably being the better choice as AMD doesn't really have any cpu's to compete with Intel on the high end. Some of the octa core cpu's AMD has might perform decent as well as my own limited testing showed that transcoding scales pretty linear over multiple cores (e.g. with 4 cores performance pretty much double compared to 2 cores, on the same cpu) but the per core performance of AMD is probably pretty poor compared to Intel.

 

Xeaon or i7 completely depends on the model. The high end i7's will be faster than the low end xeon's but the most expensive xeon is going to be faster than an i7.

 

GPU transcoding is still experimental afaik. I only tried intel's quicksync (gpu transcoding only works with intel and Nvidia) but makes audio and video go out of sync though it definitely helps unloading the cpu.

[c.adr75 3]

Thank you for explanations, helped me a lot.
Just one more question how many users can simultaneously a Core I7 6700 3.4GHz 8MB?

If you could tell me installing Emby in windows server 2012 using cluster load balancing and several servers, Emby accept?

[Ponyo 22]

That depends on the file you are transcoding.

 

My limited testing showed that a cpu that scores ~4000 in the passmark benchmark (https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php) is capable of transcoding 1 1080p, ~20mbit, dts-hd file at 25 ~ 30fps with a cpu load between 70 a 90%. Trying to add a second transcoding task chokes the server even if the second transcode is a much lower bitrate file. This is the case on my intel nuc6i3 which scores a little under 4000. My main i7 system scores around 10.000 and transcodes the same file at around 90fps.

 

I suggest you install Emby on a system you have available and see what performance is like transcoding your files. Then lookup/benchmark passmark scores of that cpu and multiple that by the amount of simultaneous transcodes you want to be able to handle.

 

I have no idea if Emby can handle load balancing. I'm sure its fine with Emby but ffmpeg might not play nice. Or maybe it does. I'd say install Emby on your server, give it a go and let us know!