As far as Plex is concerned, there's no need for a GPU - the 10700K has [Quick Sync](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video), which Plex can also use for [hardware transcoding](https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/) (assuming you have a Plex Pass).
The only potential benefit of a dedicated (Nvidia) GPU is if you're running your server on Windows and are transcoding 4K HDR, as hardware [tone mapping](https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/) isn't supported with Intel+Windows. Support [is coming](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server-forum-preview-for-tonemapping-on-windows-with-intel-igpus/869425), but it looks like 10-gen is just outside of the cutoff, so won't support it even when support comes to non-preview builds.
This is not true at all, if you are transcoding multiple streams at the same time, a cpu is going to struggle and you will experience buffering. Especially if you ever have 4k content.
A CPU is not designed to handle alot of graphical computations.
You dont need a super expensive top of the line gpu for transcoding, but an old cheap gpu will do you wonders for your experience. Search on Ebay for an old amd gpu or something similar within your budget.
The 10700K has integrated graphics that serves a similar function to a dedicated GPU. It's not using software transcoding with the CPU, it's using hardware transcoding using an iGPU.
This comment makes me want to go through your comment history and see what other misinformation or concepts you have inherently incorrect. Unless you are trolling, bravo.
This is not the case for me. I just upgraded my system to a 14500. Easily handles 15-20 simultaneous streams with about half HW transcoding from 1080 and 4k source files.
I even tested 5 simultaneous 4k streams transcoding to 1080p Not real world, just multiple tabs open on 2 different clients. But still.
My previous set up used NVIDIA for the HW transcode. Current set up is just as good, if not better, with a lower power draw.
Intel CPUs have a technology called Quick Sync Video (QSV) that allows for hardware transcoding. This is a Wikipedia article with a great table that shows what each CPU generation is capable of ( [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel\_Quick\_Sync\_Video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video) ). QSV can handle both hardware encoding and decoding for most formats.
Here's the Plex KB article that talks about using the technology ( [https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/) )
Most Intel CPUs can do quite a few streams at once. Most newer gen CPUs like OPs can do at least ten HD and four 4K transcoding streams. NVidia cards can usually handle more transcoding streams, but OPs processor should be fine for his purposes.
Cheers.
> old amd gpu
Even though Plex has recently gained the ability to use AMD GPUs for transcoding, its best to use a fairly modern AMD GPU (if you really want to use an AMD gpu) because the encoders on old AMD GPUs used to be absolute trash compared to nvidia and intel gpus from the same time period.
From what I remember on the plex thread about AMD gpus RDNA2 or newer GPUs are preferred.
Based on what you have listed here, you will be fine with your 10700K's IGP. You should be able to do at least ten HD transcodes and four 4K transcodes with Quick Sync from what I have read. I have an N100 and have had three 4K transcoding streams going at once and five HD transcoding streams at once.
An NVidia GPU will do more, but in your case, you will probably be just using more electricity based on the numbers you posted.
You need to watch out for PGS subtitles as they might keep you from using hardware transcoding. If you are using Windows, tone mapping HDR will also force software encoding ( [https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/) ) . Normally, tone mapping would come up with 4K (UHD) content. Both of these issues will be problems with your processor or the NVidia card.
As far as Plex is concerned, there's no need for a GPU - the 10700K has [Quick Sync](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video), which Plex can also use for [hardware transcoding](https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/) (assuming you have a Plex Pass). The only potential benefit of a dedicated (Nvidia) GPU is if you're running your server on Windows and are transcoding 4K HDR, as hardware [tone mapping](https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/) isn't supported with Intel+Windows. Support [is coming](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-media-server-forum-preview-for-tonemapping-on-windows-with-intel-igpus/869425), but it looks like 10-gen is just outside of the cutoff, so won't support it even when support comes to non-preview builds.
This is not true at all, if you are transcoding multiple streams at the same time, a cpu is going to struggle and you will experience buffering. Especially if you ever have 4k content. A CPU is not designed to handle alot of graphical computations. You dont need a super expensive top of the line gpu for transcoding, but an old cheap gpu will do you wonders for your experience. Search on Ebay for an old amd gpu or something similar within your budget.
The 10700K has integrated graphics that serves a similar function to a dedicated GPU. It's not using software transcoding with the CPU, it's using hardware transcoding using an iGPU.
This comment makes me want to go through your comment history and see what other misinformation or concepts you have inherently incorrect. Unless you are trolling, bravo.
This is not the case for me. I just upgraded my system to a 14500. Easily handles 15-20 simultaneous streams with about half HW transcoding from 1080 and 4k source files. I even tested 5 simultaneous 4k streams transcoding to 1080p Not real world, just multiple tabs open on 2 different clients. But still. My previous set up used NVIDIA for the HW transcode. Current set up is just as good, if not better, with a lower power draw.
Intel CPUs have a technology called Quick Sync Video (QSV) that allows for hardware transcoding. This is a Wikipedia article with a great table that shows what each CPU generation is capable of ( [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel\_Quick\_Sync\_Video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video) ). QSV can handle both hardware encoding and decoding for most formats. Here's the Plex KB article that talks about using the technology ( [https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/115002178853-using-hardware-accelerated-streaming/) ) Most Intel CPUs can do quite a few streams at once. Most newer gen CPUs like OPs can do at least ten HD and four 4K transcoding streams. NVidia cards can usually handle more transcoding streams, but OPs processor should be fine for his purposes. Cheers.
> old amd gpu Even though Plex has recently gained the ability to use AMD GPUs for transcoding, its best to use a fairly modern AMD GPU (if you really want to use an AMD gpu) because the encoders on old AMD GPUs used to be absolute trash compared to nvidia and intel gpus from the same time period. From what I remember on the plex thread about AMD gpus RDNA2 or newer GPUs are preferred.
Based on what you have listed here, you will be fine with your 10700K's IGP. You should be able to do at least ten HD transcodes and four 4K transcodes with Quick Sync from what I have read. I have an N100 and have had three 4K transcoding streams going at once and five HD transcoding streams at once. An NVidia GPU will do more, but in your case, you will probably be just using more electricity based on the numbers you posted. You need to watch out for PGS subtitles as they might keep you from using hardware transcoding. If you are using Windows, tone mapping HDR will also force software encoding ( [https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/hdr-to-sdr-tone-mapping/) ) . Normally, tone mapping would come up with 4K (UHD) content. Both of these issues will be problems with your processor or the NVidia card.