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Forum Discussion
526X Streaming performance
The RN526X is a great NAS - performs very well in my testing so far. I plan a more complete report later on - but as far as file transfer speeds go, I'll probably need a 10 gbit upgrade to my desktop PC to see its real performance limit.
A couple of folks here have been asking about streaming performance, and I do have some early results. These are based on publically available 4K demo material.
Of course if video transcoding isn't required, it handles streaming effortlessly. Even high-rate 4K videos put no CPU load on the NAS - 1-2% at most.
If you are looking for 4K transcoding, then you will reach the limits of the CPU.
-4K H.264 content can be transcoded to SD, and more-or-less maxes the CPU. Transcoding 4K to higher resolutions (720p or 1080p) fails - stuttering and pauses..
-4K HEVC content stutters even if the output resolution is set to SD.
Though I haven't confirmed it yet, it should handle 1080p transcoding with no problems.
It'd be useful if someone has similar 626X results. I suspect it can handle 4K->1080p transcoding, but that depends on how well the plex transcoder utilizes the four cores.
NOTE: my quadcore desktop (a couple of years old now) can't transcode 4K either...
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Plex can make good use of the quad-core CPU in the RN626X as discussed in e.g. 626 Plex performance
mdgm wrote:
Plex can make good use of the quad-core CPU in the RN626X as discussed in e.g. 626 Plex performance
Yes - NASguru ran some useful streaming tests. The 626X can handle multiple 1080p transcodes. It handled some 4K->1080p transcoding, but stuttered on a couple of clips.
Though if you have the disk space for 4K, you probably can also keep a 1080p or 720p version...
So that makes me feel good. My Upgraded 516 can now handle trancoding 1 4K video to 1080P. I only have the 1 right now I was doing for testing. It was buffering like crazy on my non-modified 516. It doesn't sound like performace wise with the CPU is all that much better. You do have the advantage of the 10Gbit ports.
Not sure how many jobs PLEX can handle at once. Is it a direct plat 1080P, or is it a transcoding job. Which if it's a friend at their house, it's getting transcoded down to 720P at 3Mbps. Still looks good and not hogging my Limited upload speed bandwith. It's FREE for them, so can't complain!!! Are you playing on a iPad, or whatever, so how do you really compair fairly?
You're NOT going to get the same performace building your old NAS with a PC Case and using a i7 processor and whatnot. It's also going to be more power hungrey and more work. Some people like that. There's a lot of flexability in what you can do. On the other hand I like the nice smaller size of a ReadyNAS. A 6 disc version is still kind of large and heavy, but it fits into my small closet nice. It's easy to use for the most part. XRAID works well. Plugging in a UPS is as simple as plugging a USB plug into the NAS. Thw power saving features are easy to set. The hardware seems built pretty well. I'm a fan.
- Have run many 1080p files via my 526x with perfect video resolution via plex on a series 9 samsung....loving the new setup and speed from the 526x. Can run 4k with some stutter but for now 1080p excellent.
Ya, the 526X Like a stock 516 is good playing/transcoding a couple 1080P streams at once. 4K though is a lot more Data, My 516 would stutter/Buffer to the point of not worth watching. That's transcoding from a 4K video down to 1080P that my 1080P HDTV can see. It sure doens't know what 4K is. If you need 4K, the 626x would have been the one to get, but even then, you would be limited to 1 4K Movie at once. Anything more then that? Like a 1080P stream at the same time or Direct Play, maybe be able to do it. My Upgraded 516 which basically turned it into a 716 other then the 10 gig ports, also allow me to stream 1 4K Video. I really have no plans to do that any time soon. 4K takes up a lot of space and I think 1080P is just fine. But for testing to see how much better it performs, it was a good test. No more buffering!!!
The 526x is a Nice looking NAS with enough performace for Home use with PLEX if you're looking for a all in one solution with the power to do on the fly transcoding, which for me is very important. Glad it's working out for you. It's nice not having to deal with your discs. Being able to just watch any of your movies in any room of your house with a TV, or even away from home. It's like your own personal Netflix type service. Except it's all content you like. You can even share with friends, which I do. I have over 700 movies and over 100 TV Series with over 2600 Eposodes. Been buying DVD movies for YEARS. My first DVD was Lost in Space. I have a huge Disc Spinner filled with DVD's, HD DVD's and Blu-Ray's. I've been ripping discs and sticking them in a 300 disc binder which I have a few of. I then toss the cases. I have the Discs as a last resort backup. It takes up a fraction of space. I don't have to hunt for a disc. I still have a number of Blu-Rays to rip. You know you buy a a movie on VHS, then it's on DVD, and now it's Blu-Ray. Talking about buying the same move over and over. I'm sure not going to buy a Digital copy when I can just rip my Blu-Ray and create my own Digital copy that's DRM free.
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