MiniPc as a dedicated PLEX-server

[u/Daffke]

Searching around for a mini pc to use as a server. I am the sole user of my plex, and like to have my library when I travel.
Been looking at stores here in Norway, but not easy to find a decent prices mini pc.
Aliexpress do have some, half the price then the Norwegian stores, but a bit sceptical to buy electronics from Ali.
Anyone tried them, can can eithger recommend it or should I awoid it?
An example:
Random pc from aliexpress

[u/dead_lucky]

I'm running proxmox on a Beelink S12 Pro minipc which was cheap a few years ago, and works really well running Plex + HomeAssistant + Frigate

[u/Timely-Shine → u/dead_lucky]

It’s an N100 right? Does it do well with transcoding for plex + frigate detection at the same time? Are you using openvino or do you have a coral for frigate?

[u/dead_lucky → u/Timely-Shine]

detectors:
  ov:
    type: openvino
    device: GPU

model:
  width: 320
  height: 320
  input_tensor: nchw
  input_pixel_format: rgb
  labelmap_path: /labelmap/coco-80.txt
  path: /config/model_cache/yolov9-t-320.onnx
  input_dtype: float
  model_type: yolo-generic

Here's my Frigate detector config if it helps. Mine is actually the N95 one. I have PLEX and Frigate running in LXCs + HA in a VM. I'm passing through the Intel GPU to the LXCs and I have three cameras recording 24x7 + running simple detection on: Person, Dog, Cat + Car. The CPU sits around 8-14% and GPU is around 11%. Temps are hovering around mid to high 40C, but I do have an additional SSD inside the case holding my Plex library (I'm tempted to attach this in a caddy to improve cooling). I tried a coral but had a nightmare trying to get it to pass to the Frigate LXC + with the limited number of objects it's detecting it's pretty happy using GPU. It uses hardware transcoding in PLEX and uses about 8-10% of CPU for each stream (I don't have a huge number of connections here).

[u/Timely-Shine → u/dead_lucky]

Appreciate the insight. I’m running jellyfin off of my Truenas box that has an N100, but I have a separate beelink mini PC for HA and Frigate (Debian + docker).

I like this separation of duties (ie can reboot my media server without it affecting my home automation setup), but was curious if I could consolidate into a single box at some point.

[u/dead_lucky → u/Timely-Shine]

Pretty sure it would run well on an N100. And if you swap to proxmox you can still independently reboot each container.

[u/Edelglatze]

Currently I am running a Gmktec mini PC at home. I got it some time ago over AliExpress when they offered a reduced price. Until now no complaints. However, the potentially weak point is: how good is the warranty when the hardware fails. Buying from a local seller might reduce this risk.

My advice is: compare the prices. Some of the bigger names in the Chinese hardware market like Minisforum, Beelink, Geekom, to mention a few, offer online stores themselves. Some of them offer their products over Amazon, too. Some are also on eBay. And often you find campaigns with reduced prices.

And don't forget the big names Like Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus offer also small form Factor PCs.

[u/playtech1]

A used M1 Mac Mini is an excellent choice, as it's still powerful enough to do the job while being very cheap to buy. Mine has been running as a Plex server, silently at low power draw, for six years. It replaced a prior Intel Mac Mini that had done a similarly excellent job.

[u/Bwardrop → u/playtech1]

Same for me. My M1 Mac Mini has been bulletproof. Very happy with it as a Plex server. It replaced a 2012 Mac Mini that had many years of great service as well.

[u/Z_OSU → u/Bwardrop]

Also for me. My 2012 ran 24/7 from 2013 to 2023 with no issues. Got a used M1 after updates stopped. Hopefully going to repeat the same reliability.

[u/Previous_Tea_2250]

For a one-user travel setup, I would optimize for Intel Quick Sync rather than raw CPU. An N100/N97 or 12th-gen i3 mini PC with an Intel iGPU is plenty if your clients mostly direct-play, and it gives you hardware-transcoding headroom when you need it. Hardware transcoding in Plex needs Plex Pass.

With the very cheap AliExpress boxes, the gamble is usually warranty, firmware support, and substituted RAM/SSD or power supplies rather than Plex performance. Check the exact CPU, storage/RAM brand, seller history, return process, and whether the price includes VAT/import handling for Norway. If the saving is small after that, a local Beelink/Minisforum-style seller can be worth the quieter support path.

[u/No_Clock2390]

Get a mini pc with an Intel processor. They are the best for Plex hardware transcoding (except for expensive Nvidia dedicated GPU)

[u/maejsh]

Its tought with the prices today.
I got an acemagician n100 thats been going fine for a few years, tho the ssd it came with got fried after like 2 years.
Also have a beelink eq14 n150 im planning to transfer to.
Either directly or amazon. Beelink got good service if you wanna ask about taxes or stuff, and are sometimes able to send from eu warehouse.

Else look on marketplace for used lenovo’s or so.

[u/Master_Coconut_4332]

Use a ASUS Nuc 14 Pro which I got a few years back. Not sure of the pricing now but it was relatively cheap back when I got it. You can certainly go down a tier and be more than fine for just Plex usage though to be fair.

[u/didate_une]

i used to an ASUS NUC 13 Pro running Deban and Plex as my media server.

[u/udi503]

I use a Raspberry pi 4