Setting up a home entertainment center can be daunting. There are so many streaming services out there. Some are not available on different platforms. And some platforms require specific hardware be attached to the system like Chromecast, Roku or Apple TV. Even so, you may not get all the functionality you want as the interaction with these services may be minimal. Even then, what about content you own? The mini PC can help! Let’s look for the best Mini PC for a Plex Server, a solution that gives you access to your own content as if it were in the cloud, but keeps it private.
What Is Plex?
Plex is a versatile media streaming platform that revolutionizes the way we store and consume digital media. At its core, Plex organizes video, audio, and photos from personal media libraries and streams them to smart devices, including mobile, TV, and computers. Unlike conventional streaming services that offer predetermined content, Plex gives you control over your own media collection, allowing you to access your favorite movies, TV shows, music, and photos anywhere, on any device.
The magic of Plex lies in its server software, which can be installed on a mini PC, transforming it into a powerful Plex server. This setup enables you to host your media files and stream them to the Plex app on any connected device, effectively turning your mini PC into a personal Netflix. With its user-friendly interface, Plex also enriches your viewing experience by adding descriptions, artwork, and other metadata to your media, making it easy to navigate your collection.
In essence, Plex bridges the gap between your media and your devices, offering a seamless, integrated streaming experience that puts you in control of your digital entertainment library.
What are the Benefits of using Plex?
Plex can be an attractive solution for media enthusiasts seeking a centralized, seamless streaming experience.
Here are some of the key advantages:
- Centralized Media Library: Plex consolidates your media files from various sources into one organized, easily accessible library. This means no more jumping between different platforms or devices to find your content.
- Access Anywhere, Anytime: With Plex, your media library isn’t confined to your home network. You can stream your content over the internet, allowing you to enjoy your movies, music, and photos no matter where you are, provided you have an internet connection.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Plex supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers. This universal compatibility ensures that you can enjoy your media library on your preferred device without hassle.
- Rich Media Organization: Plex automatically adds metadata to your media, such as movie summaries, cover art, and ratings. This feature not only beautifies your collection but also makes navigating and selecting content more intuitive.
- Customizable User Experience: Users can create multiple profiles, each with its own watch history and recommendations, perfect for households with varied tastes. Moreover, Plex offers parental controls, ensuring a safe viewing environment for younger viewers.
- Expandable Features: While the basic Plex service is free, Plex Pass subscribers gain access to premium features like live TV and DVR, offline downloads, and more, enhancing the overall streaming experience.
In summary, Plex offers a sophisticated yet user-friendly platform for managing and streaming your media content with ease and flexibility. Whether you’re at home or on the go, Plex ensures your favorite entertainment is always at your fingertips.
How Can You Use a Plex Mini PC Server?
Using a Mini PC server for Plex is a straightforward process that turns your digital media library into a personal streaming service. Here’s how you can set up and utilize a Plex Mini PC server:
- Choose Your Mini PC: The first step is selecting a mini PC that suits your needs. Key factors to consider include processing power, storage capacity, and network connectivity. The mini PC will act as the server, so it needs to be capable of transcoding video files if you plan to stream to devices that require different media formats.
- Install Plex Media Server: Download and install the Plex Media Server software on your mini PC. This software is available for various operating systems, ensuring compatibility with most mini PCs on the market.
- Organize Your Media Files: Before adding your media to Plex, organize your files into clear, descriptive folders (e.g., Movies, TV Shows, Music). This organization will make it easier for Plex to categorize and display your content correctly.
- Add Media Libraries to Plex: Open the Plex Media Server application and add your media folders to the appropriate libraries. Plex will then scan these folders, adding metadata and artwork to each file, which enhances the browsing experience.
- Configure Server Settings: Dive into the server settings to fine-tune your setup. You can adjust the quality of streams, manage user access, and configure remote access settings to ensure you can access your media outside your home network.
- Connect and Stream: Install the Plex app on your preferred streaming devices—smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and more. Log in to your Plex account, and you’ll see your media library ready to stream from your mini PC server.
- Enjoy Your Personal Streaming Service: With everything set up, you can now enjoy streaming your personal media collection. Whether you’re watching a movie on your TV or listening to music on your phone, Plex provides a seamless experience across all your devices.
Using a mini PC as a Plex server offers a compact, efficient, and cost-effective solution for streaming your media content. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to create a personalized entertainment hub without the bulk or expense of traditional server hardware.
How can you Use Plex with a Single 4K TV?
Using Plex with a single 4K TV means setting up a dedicated Plex Media Server for that TV. This setup involves installing the Plex server software on a device (e.g., a mini PC or a computer) and connecting it to the 4K TV directly or over the local network.
The hardware requirements are pretty basic. Most any Windows 11 (we don’t recommend Windows 10 because its being end-of-lifed) mini will work with any celeron processor and at least 4GB DDR4 RAM, which is just about anything out there. And of course, a gigabit ethernet or stable wifi connection. Still, you want something with some power and reliability.
The only other issue is storage. If your collection is small, then 512GB of storage might be enough. Otherwise, you have two options. If you have a single TV, then an external hard drive will get you to 1-2 TB. If this is going to be across multiple TVs, then a Network Attached Storage drive is the answer.
Pros
Cons
For a single 4K TV, the BMax B1 Pro Mini PC can be an excellent choice as a Plex Media Server. It meets the recommended hardware requirements for 4K streaming with its Intel Celeron J4125 processor, 8GB of RAM, and support for gigabit Ethernet. Its compact size and fanless design make it a convenient and energy-efficient solution for a dedicated Plex server.
How can you use Plex with Multiple 1080p Streams?
Using Plex with multiple 1080p streams means setting up a Plex Media Server that can handle transcoding and streaming to multiple devices simultaneously at 1080p resolution. This setup is ideal for households with multiple TVs or users streaming content concurrently. The requirements for this are a little bigger. Plex itself recommends an i3/Ryzen 3 CPU or equivalent, 8 GB of DDR4 memory or better, and no change from the server for a single TV for storage or network.
However, it seems to me that the more TVs you have the more processing power you need. So I would bump the specs up a little.
That is why I am recommending the PELADN Mini PC. The PELADN Mini PC Gen N5095 is an excellent recommended solution for handling multiple 1080p Plex streams. It features an Intel 11th Gen N5095 processor and 8GB of RAM, providing ample processing power for smooth transcoding and streaming. Additionally, its compact size and fanless design make it a convenient and energy-efficient choice for a dedicated Plex server.
Pros
Cons
How Can you use Plex as a Whole-home server with 4K transcoding?
Setting up a whole-home Plex server for 4K transcoding demands robust hardware to deliver seamless streaming throughout your household.
- Processor: Per Plex recommendations, choose an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 for the heavy lifting required by 4K transcoding.
- RAM: Equip with 16GB DDR4 or more to handle multiple simultaneous streams without a hitch.
- Storage: An SSD is recommended for the operating system and most accessed media, complemented by additional HDDs for expansive libraries.
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet ensures stable, high-speed streaming across devices.
Recommendation: The Blackview Mini PC, with its 16GB RAM DDR4 and 1TB storage, stands out as a solid choice. It balances processing power and storage efficiently, ideal for a whole-home 4K Plex setup.
This setup allows for streaming high-definition content to any connected device in your home, ensuring a high-quality viewing experience without the need for complex configurations or additional servers for each TV.
Can I use my Gaming PC as a Plex server?
- Leverage the existing hardware specifications of your gaming PC, ensuring it meets the requirements outlined in use case #2 or #3 above [2: https://support.plex.tv/articles/200375666-plex-media-server-requirements/]
Recommendation: Beelink Mini PC, AMD Ryzen 7 5700U(8C/16T, Up to 4.3GHz), 16GB DDR4 RAM 1TB PCIe3.0 x4 SSD, SER5
Where to go from here to get a Mini PC Plex Server up and running?
Explore these mini pcs and Plex. Plex has lots of support for bringing up a mini PC as a server! And we’ve provided you a step-by-step guide to put together a Plex system in this article.
Happy streaming!
I am a retired software engineer with experience in a multitude of areas including managing AWS and VMWare development environments. I bought a relative a mini-PC a year ago and have become passionate about the technology and its potential to change how we deploy software.