Short answer: If your Plex or Jellyfin clients can play your media files as they are, your NAS mainly needs to store and deliver them; it does not need to re-encode each video. If a client, subtitle, or remote-quality limit forces video transcoding, the NAS needs a processor or supported graphics hardware capable of decoding and encoding the specific formats involved. There is no universal minimum NAS model: the right choice depends on your media, playback devices, and expected streams.
What Direct Play and transcoding mean
The terms describe different amounts of work on the server. Jellyfin distinguishes four playback paths:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Playback path | What the server does | Video-processing demand |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Play | Delivers the file without modification. | Almost no additional server load. |
| Remux | Changes the container while leaving audio and video untouched. | No full video transcode. |
| Direct Stream | Converts audio while leaving the original video untouched. | No full video transcode, though audio is processed. |
| Transcode | Changes the video stream, typically by decoding and re-encoding it. | Can demand substantial server capability. |
As the Jellyfin playback documentation explains, Direct Play delivers the file without transcoding, with no file modification and almost no additional server load. In practical NAS shopping, the key question is often whether playback requires changing the video stream—not whether the server does any work at all.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhy Plex or Jellyfin may transcode a file
Direct Play is possible only when the playback client accepts the file’s container, video codec, audio codec, and subtitles. The server and client negotiate a path based on that compatibility and the playback conditions.
#1 Best Overall
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 64TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 22 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 43K 1.5GB movies or 67 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, a UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB RAM on Board, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
- Container or audio incompatibility: The server may remux the file or convert its audio while leaving the video intact.
- Unsupported video codec or format: The server may need to transcode the video into something the client can decode.
- Subtitles: A client may display a subtitle format directly, or the server may be able to remux it. If the subtitles must be burned into the picture, video transcoding is required. Jellyfin documents this distinction in its codec support guidance.
- Resolution, bitrate, or requested quality: Plex says a mismatch in file type, resolution, bitrate, or codec—or content above the quality requested in the app—can lead to transcoding. A remote playback bitrate limit can therefore change the path even when the same file plays directly on a local client. See Plex’s transcoding overview.
When a stream is not Direct Play, check the playback details in the app or server dashboard. Identify whether the server is remuxing, converting audio, or transcoding video; those paths have different hardware implications.
What the NAS needs for your workload
If your clients mostly Direct Play
If every client can play the library’s files as stored, the NAS can focus mainly on storage, network delivery, and running Plex or Jellyfin. It does not need to re-encode each video. This makes client compatibility an important part of the hardware decision: a capable playback device can avoid a video transcode that a less-compatible client would require.
Rank #2
- 【Advanced Home Data & Media Hub】For advanced home users who need phone backup, file storage, and centralized data management. Centralize family photos, 4K videos, movies, computer backups, and personal files in one place while running multiple apps for home entertainment and everyday data management. Suitable for households with growing digital libraries and multiple NAS use cases.
- 【Built for Creators, Media Servers & Advanced Apps】Powered by the Intel N100 Quad-Core CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and dual M.2 NVMe slots, DXP2800 handles large files and heavier workloads with ease. Run Docker, virtual machines, and media server applications compatible with Plex—ideal for content creators, tech enthusiasts, and advanced home users managing 4K videos, RAW photos, personal media libraries, and multiple NAS apps.
- 【Up to 80TB for Growing Digital Libraries】 Supports up to 80TB of storage using two HDD bays and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for family photos, movies, RAW photos, 4K videos, work files, and device backups. AI photo management supports recognition of people, objects, scenes, and locations, album organization, and duplicate photo detection. HDDs and SSDs are not included.
- 【AI-powered Home Surveillance】Turn DXP2800 into a centralized home surveillance hub by connecting compatible network cameras and storing recordings locally on your NAS. AI-powered features include Face Recognition, People Detection, and Pet Detection, helping advanced home users review important events more efficiently while managing home surveillance and personal data in one place.
- 【One data Center Across Your Devices】Keep files from desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices together instead of scattered across cloud accounts and external drives. Access, back up, organize, and share data across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and compatible smart TVs—ideal for creators and advanced home users working across multiple devices.
If video transcoding is expected
Check the exact processor or graphics hardware for decode and encode support for both the source and target formats. Then confirm that the operating system, drivers, server software, and installation method can use that hardware. A processor’s brand or product family alone does not establish that the needed transcoding path is available.
Jellyfin lists Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVDEC/NVENC, AMD AMF, Linux VA-API, Apple Video Toolbox, and Rockchip RKMPP as hardware-acceleration methods. Their availability and completeness vary, and some stages may fall back to software, increasing CPU use and reducing speed. Consult the Jellyfin hardware-acceleration documentation for the relevant platform and codecs.
Rank #3
- Your Personal Streaming Server - Build your own Netflix-style media library and stream 4K movies, shows and photos to any device without monthly fees
- Create Your Own Cloud - Store your entire photo, video and music collection; access from anywhere with fast 282 MB/s transfer speeds
- Creator-Grade Backup Solution - Protect your irreplaceable content with automated backups to cloud services, external drives and remote NAS
- Multi-Layered Data Protection - Combine RAID redundancy, automated backups and snapshot technology to prevent data loss from any cause
- Smart Home Surveillance - Support up to 30 IP cameras with AI detection, instant alerts and secure remote monitoring
Plex’s hardware-accelerated streaming guidance describes requirements that include an Intel CPU with Quick Sync for the relevant path, plus compatible Plex Media Server and operating-system conditions. Verify the exact CPU and supported codecs rather than assuming that any Intel processor provides the required acceleration. Hardware acceleration addresses transcoding workloads; it does not improve Direct Play.
General Jellyfin deployment guidance
For an average deployment, Jellyfin’s hardware-selection guidance recommends 8 GB of system memory; it says 4 GB may suffice for a Linux server without a graphical interface. It also recommends a 100 GB SSD for the operating system, Jellyfin files, and transcoding cache; gigabit Ethernet or faster; and at least 20 Mbps upload for remote access. For total upload below 100 Mbps, Jellyfin suggests limiting its use to 70% of the available upload. These are Jellyfin recommendations, not universal minimums for Plex or every installation, and the SSD is not a Direct Play requirement.
Rank #4
- Entry-level NAS Home Storage: The UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus is an entry-level 4-bay NAS that's ideal for home media and vast private storage you can access from anywhere and also supports Docker but not virtual machines. You can record, store, share happy moment with your families and friends, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage, or external drives to create your own private cloud, access files from any device.
- Smart Photo Backup & AI Album: Automatically back up photos and videos from your phone in real time and keep growing family memories organized with AI-powered photo albums. Semantic search, custom learning, and recognition of people, objects, pets, and similar photos help you quickly find the moments you want. Duplicate photo removal also helps keep your library organized—ideal for families and users with large photo collections.
- User-Friendly App & Easy Setup: Connect quickly via NFC, set up simply and share files fast on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and smart TVs. You can access data remotely from any of your mixed devices. What's more, UGREEN NAS enclosure comes with beginner-friendly user manual and video instructions to ensure you can easily take full advantage of its features.
- More Cost-effective Storage Solution: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, A UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $629.99 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $1,439.76 for 2 years, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $7,198.80 for 10 years. You will save $6,568.81 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH4300 Plus + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Your Data, You Control：No third-party clouds, no hidden access, UGREEN NAS provides a more secure and private data storage solution. It stores data locally on your private hard drives and does automatic backups. Thus, you can keep full control over it. The advanced encryption is TRUSTe certified in the United States and is awarded the first (and only) ETSI EN 303 645 certification mark for NAS products by TÜV SÜD Group.
How to compare NAS and server options
Assess the whole playback path rather than ranking devices by CPU name alone. The decision factors below can reveal whether your system needs to convert video, and whether a prospective NAS can do it:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →- Your files: List the containers, video and audio codecs, resolutions, and subtitle formats in your library.
- Your clients: Check whether each television, streaming device, phone, or browser supports those formats. Client support may remove the need for a server transcode.
- Your playback conditions: Account for local versus remote viewing, remote bitrate limits, and subtitle use. A quality cap or subtitle burn-in can turn otherwise compatible playback into a video transcode.
- Your expected load: Consider the number of simultaneous streams and the source and target formats for the conversions you expect. The cited guidance does not establish a universal stream-count benchmark.
- Your installation: Confirm the exact processor or GPU’s codec support, acceleration interface, drivers, operating system, server version, and whether the app installation can access the hardware.
- Storage and networking: Size these for the library and the delivery demands of your household. They matter even when video is played directly.
Plex calls its NAS compatibility list a general guide, not a substitute for checking the workload. Jellyfin also cautions that installing third-party software can be more challenging on prebuilt appliances; see its hardware-selection guidance. Validate the exact model, firmware, operating environment, and media-server version before buying or configuring a device.
Best Value
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
A practical way to choose
- Check what your clients already play directly. Test representative files on the devices people actually use, including files with the subtitles and audio tracks you commonly select.
- Inspect playback details when Direct Play fails. Determine whether the issue is a container change, audio conversion, video transcode, or subtitle burn-in.
- Decide which limitation to address. You may be able to choose a more compatible playback client, adjust the requested remote quality, or select a server with suitable video acceleration. Each option addresses a different cause.
- Verify a prospective server against the specific conversion. Match the source and output codecs to the device’s decode and encode support, then check OS, drivers, installation method, and the relevant Plex or Jellyfin documentation.
Plex notes that processor capability is a major limitation on many NAS systems and that some low-power NAS devices have transcoding disabled. Its NAS limitations guidance was last modified January 7, 2025. Do not assume that a device able to run the server app can also transcode your files.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
