You probably already have the best GPU for Plex and Jellyfin transcoding
Summary
The article challenges the assumption that increased graphical power enhances Plex or Jellyfin server performance, highlighting that video transcoding primarily depends on software encoding and CPU core count for managing multiple streams effectively.
Key Insights
Why doesn't a more powerful discrete GPU always improve Plex or Jellyfin transcoding performance?
Video transcoding in Plex and Jellyfin relies primarily on software encoding efficiency and CPU core count for handling multiple streams, rather than raw graphical power, as even basic integrated GPUs like Intel Quick Sync can efficiently manage transcoding tasks without a dedicated high-end GPU.
Sources:
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Can an integrated GPU handle transcoding for Plex and Jellyfin as effectively as a discrete GPU?
Yes, modern integrated GPUs, such as Intel Quick Sync or basic iGPUs, support hardware-accelerated transcoding for multiple streams in Plex and Jellyfin, often matching or exceeding the performance of older discrete GPUs for these tasks due to optimized fixed-function video codecs.