Streaming is widely used nowadays. For that, Best gpu for Plex transcoding to acceleration of your stream needs plex for media files can be transcoded into a playable format on a server using high-powered graphics processing units. Plex transcoding offers maximum headroom at your disposal to upload your content online by using powerful graphics cards from Nvidia and AMD.
Below is the preferred video format for Plex:
- Video codec: H.264 & AAC
- Framerate 30fps & below
- Resolution rate: 1080p
Do you need advice or guidance on how to buy the perfect GPU for plex transcoding? Then you should consider this article carefully. I will also explore some inexpensive and affordable Best gpu for Plex transcoding high-plex TV shows and videos.
1. NVIDIA Quadro P2200
2. NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000
3. Zotac GeForce GTX 1660
4. Nvidia Titan RTX
5. GeForce GTX 1050
6. GeForce GTX 1070
Plex Transcoding GPU Chart
| Graphics Card | Cuda cores | Boost Clock Speed | Memory Clock | H265 Supported |
| NVIDIA Quadro P2200 | 1280 | 1493 MHz | 5Gbps | Yes |
| NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 | 3072 | 1815 MHz | 14Gbps | Yes |
| Zotac GeForce GTX 1660 | 1408 | 1785 MHz | 14Gbps | Yes |
| Nvidia Titan RTX | 4608 | 1770 MHz | 14Gbps | Yes |
| GeForce GTX 1050 | 768 | 1442 MHz | 7Gbps | Yes |
| GeForce GTX 1070 | 1920 | 1797 MHz | 8Gbps | Yes |
Best GPU or graphics card for Plex transcoding.
So let’s review the GPUs in depth. And attempt to figure out, which GPU does the most effective job at plex transcoding.
1. NVIDIA Quadro P2200 – Editors Pick GPU for Plex 1080p Streaming
EDITOR’S PICK
Reasons to Consider
It is capable of handling heavy transcoding, such as converting 4K (68MBit) streams to 1080p (8MBit) or 17-1080p (10MBit) to 720p (4MBit) streams. It has 5GB 160-bit GDDR5X memory. The chip has a clock speed of 1493 MHz and 1280 CUDA cores for efficient processing.
Specifications
- Ram: 5 GB GDDR5X
- Video Output: DisplayPort 1.4 (4)
- CUDA: 1280 Cores
- Boost Clock Speed: 1493 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 1000 MHz
- Bandwidth: 200 GB/Sec
- Memory Interface: 160 bits
In case you are looking for the best gpu for Plex transcoding. The Nvidia Quadro P2200 is the best choice. In terms of transcoding, the Nvidia Quadro P2200 has enough resources to cope with complex tasks.
It supports all common video formats, including H.264 and HEVC 10-bit. As well as supporting 4K video at 30fps, the P2200 is perfect for watching Ultra HD movies and TV shows.
There are no problems with it on the plex server. It is capable of transcoding videos in 4K. Multiple streams can also be transcoded without any problems. With P2200, multiple movies can be transcoded simultaneously.
2. NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 – 4K Video Transcoding
High-end card
Reasons to Consider
High-end card with 16GB of memory for streaming 4K videos. Because this chip has a memory clock of 14 Gbps, you can stream your media faster. This GPU provides smooth streaming with no buffering.
Specifications
- Memory: 16 GB GDDR6
- Video Output: 4xDisplayPort
- Bandwidth: 288 GB/s
- Encode/Decode Engines: H.264 and HEVC
- Stream Processors: 3072 CUDA Cores
- Memory Interface: 256-bit
It is a powerful graphics card that is capable of handling complex transcoding workloads. The Nvidia Quadro RTX 5000 is designed for professionals such as video editors, gamers, and designers.
This GPU is equipped with 3072 CUDA cores, 16GB GDDR6 memory, and 288 GB/s bandwidth for handling the toughest transcoding workload.
This chip can also stream your media faster due to its 14 Gbps memory clock. In addition, this video card has a boost clock speed of 1815 MHz for faster computing when under heavy load.
This graphics card is powerful, but it consumes a lot of power. Ensure that your Plex workstation is powered up with a high-end power supply.
You should consider the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 if you are looking for a GPU that is capable of transcoding 4K video smoothly.
3. Zotac GeForce GTX 1660 – Best Budget Range Transcoding GPU
Best Budget transcoding gpu
Reasons to Consider
Most consumers on the market can afford the GTX 1660. It comes with 6GB of GDDR6 an interface with 192 bits. In addition, the GTX 1660 features a dual fan cooling system that keeps the card cool even under heavy load.
Specifications
- Ram: 6GB GDDR5
- Video Output: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
- CUDA: 1408 Cores
- Boost Clock Speed: 1785 MHz
- Base Clock Speed: 1530 MHz
- Supported Video Formats: H.264 & H.265
- Memory Interface: 192-bit
In terms of price and power, it offers reasonable value for money under the $250 price tag and is able to handle 4K transcoding and gaming without a problem.
There are 6GB of GDDR5 memory on board the GTX 1660, which is connected via a 192-bit interface. From the box, the processor runs at 1530 MHz and the memory runs at 14 Gbps.
This processor is clocked at 1485MHz at the base and 1830MHz at the boost. During intense gaming, the GTX 1660’s dual fan cooling system keeps it cool.
As well as being extremely power efficient, the card is also extremely quiet.
You should consider the Zotac GeForce GTX 1660 if you are looking for a powerful GPU that can handle 4K transcoding and gaming on low budget.
4. Nvidia Titan RTX – Exceptional Performance Graphics Card for Plex Servers
Exceptional High end GPU
Reasons to Consider
It’s suitable for 3D modeling and heavy CAD work. Like deep-learning and graphics editing, this card is designed with 24 GB of GDDR6 memory and a base operating speed of 1,350 MHz, and a boosted speed of 1,545 MHz.
Specifications
- Memory: 24 GB GDDR6
- Video Output: HDMI, Displayport, USB-Type C
- Cuda Cores: 4408
- Boost Clock Speed: 1770 Mhz
- Memory Clock Speed: 7000 MHz
- Memory Interface: 384 bits
The Nvidia Titan RTX provides heavy-duty performance to many modern Plex servers, making it an excellent choice for Plex servers.
This graphics card has 24GB of RAM, allowing it to process even the most complex of Plex servers. The bandwidth of the GPU is 288 gigabytes, while the CUDA core is 3072.
The memory interface handles this large quantities of information. On the other hand, the Quadro RTX 5000 expensive cards. They have drastically differing cost structures.
It has a large memory capacity and RAM. Ensure you are able to transcode large plex files. Highcapacity data processing.
5. Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 Ti – Mid Range Plex Transcoding GPU
Mid Range Transcoding GPU
Reasons to Consider
The GTX 1050 Ti is powerful and durable. As a mid-range plex transcoding video card. The GTX 1050 Ti has 4 GB GDDR5, 768 CUDA cores, and a base operating speed of 1,442 MHz, and a boosted speed of 1,329 MHz.
Specifications
- Ram: 4GB GDDR5
- Boost Clock Speed: 1455 MHz
- Memory Clock Speed: 7008 MHz
- Video Output: DVI, HDMI, Mini HDMI, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort
- Memory Interface: 128 Bit
The GTX 1050 Ti is extremely durable and functions well in midrange uponnet transcoding graphics cards.
Unlike other memory cards, its performance is comparable to Nvidia GTX 1070 and GTX 1070 Ti (4 GB). The file transcoding, it is an excellent option. If you want to do the 1080p video transcoding.
With the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, you will then get the transcoded stream of 14. It enables H265 video, with a maximum of 3 sessions and 112 gigabytes of bandwidth.
The GPU’s efficiency is almost guaranteed, even during demanding use. While featured with Plex transcoding, the GPU uses only 75W of power. 5V-compatible cards are optimal for those who need to integrate a GPU into an old pre-built system with limited resources.
A good low-profile GPU, perfect for plex transcoding.
6. EVGA GeForce GTX 1070
Mid Range Plex Transcoding GPU
Reasons to Consider
The GTX 1070 8GB is good at transcoding 4k streams. It’s got the best cooling system and it’s quiet. In addition to 1920 Cuda cores, 120 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, the GTX 1070 8GB has 1920 CUDA cores. It comes with 8 GB of GDDR5 memory with a 256-bit memory bus and 256 GB/s data transfer rate.
Specifications
- Memory: 8GB GDDR5
- CUDA Cores: 1920
- Memory Interface: 256 Bit
- Boost Clock Speed: 1797 MHz
- Base Clock: 1607 MHZ
- Video Output: DVI-D, DisplayPortx3, HDMI
- Supported Formats: AA
- Memory Clock: 8008 MHz Effective
A GPU transcoding solution for mid-range users. A powerful option for transcoding 4k streams is the EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB.
It comes with an EVGA GeForce GTX 1070 8GB graphics card, 1,607 MHz Base Clock, 1,797 MHz Boost Clock and 1920 Cuda cores.
There will be a nice backplate for you. The EVGA branding will appear here. When the fan is running at half speed. You won’t be bothered by its noise. A power source connector with 8 pins will also be provided. With 256 GB/s bandwidth speed, the Geforce GTX 1070 transcode streams are 22 and the session limit is 3.
In addition, the card maintains very low temperatures during intensive use. In the course of transcoding, it consumes about 150 watts of power.
Advantages of Plex Hardware Acceleration
A number of videos could be streamed at the same time on multiple devices. With exceptional streaming speed and streaming consistency, videos can load more quickly and begin buffering less frequently. Also, support 4K HEVC streaming for smoother picture performance and a wider range of movement.
FAQs
Do you need a good GPU for Plex?
When you are doing heavy work load video stream then is good to have GPU for plex other wise you can work without GPU for plex.
Do I need a powerful PC for Plex?
PC with requirment minimum for plex can do your work. However, PC with higher configuration can smoth your work.
Does Plex transcoding use CPU or GPU?
Plex transcoding main use CPU upto 60% and remainng part for GPU upto 40%.
What Is Plex Transcoding?
Using real-time conversion to convert the video. The video could be 4K or 1080p in most cases. Plex media server videos can also be converted to your computer and streamed seamlessly.
Does Plex use GPU for transcoding?
GPUs are used in the plex transcoding process. Transcoding heavy videos such as 4k or 1080p requires heavy hardware. GPUs are then useful for plex transcoding.
Conclusion
Thanks for taking the time to read this article. To determine the most suitable GPU for plex transcoding. These are the most powerful GPUs on this list. You can choose from a variety of GPU types. Depending on your needs, you can choose. Transcoding of 1080p and 4k video.
The p2000 essentially has the same profile for plex transcoding is cheaper and easier to find than the p2200. Also, in Linux servers uiu may not be able to use the card due to lack of driver support and inability to recognize the card. That’s a big deal when people running homelabs use a Linux distro for their plex server.
A Quadro P2200 is an all-around better card. There is more memory bandwidth, more TFLOPS, etc.