NAS RN212 - HD1080P streaming?

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Nigelgf wrote:

 Is 1080p streaming and real-time transcoding something different?

 

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real-time transcoding is a variation on normal streaming.

With traditional streaming, the original HD content (audio and video) is simply sent to the client.  If the audio isn't something the client can play, then there is no audio.  If the network can't carry the 1080p video, the video stutters and stalls.

Real-time transcoding is something plex does to resolve those issues.  If the client can't play the audio in the file, then plex will convert the audio to something it can play.  And if the video takes too much bandwidth, then plex will convert it to a lower resolution and quality level.  Converting the video in real-time puts a significant load on the CPU.  The RN212's ability to do real-time transcoding is spec'ed at converting one 1080p stream to SD - which is generally ok if you are watching on a tablet or phone while away from home.

Commercial streaming handles bandwidth issues a different way.  Multiple quality levels are saved in the same file, with regular points where the engine can downshift to lower quality or upshift to higher quality.  Of course that takes more disk space.

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Nigelgf wrote:

I am trying to decide between purchasing a NAS RNS202 and RN212.   

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Since streaming is your main interest, I'd go with the RN212.  The RN202 has a dual-core processor, which is enough to give good performance as a file server.  The RN212's quad-core processor is what lets it do the transcoding trick.  Also look at the RN214, since it's likely that you will need to expand your media storage over time.

Another approach is that you can run plex on a PC, but keep the files on the ReadyNAS.  Keeping the applications and the file storage separated costs a bit more (and requires that you keep both devices running), but gives you more flexibillity in upgrading components later.  If you go that route, you can get an RN202 or RN204, since the NAS is simply acting as a file server.