HomeTechOps

Buying & comparison

NAS for Plex & Jellyfin: transcoding

A source-backed guide to choosing a NAS or box for Plex and Jellyfin — why the 2025 Ryzen Synology models can't hardware-transcode, and the Intel options that can.

Who this is for

Choosing a box for Plex or Jellyfin comes down to one question: will your apps transcode, or direct-play? It matters more than ever in 2026 because Synology's new Ryzen Plus models dropped hardware transcoding entirely. This guide frames the decision around that, with every claim sourced. For the operational side of transcoding, see the Plex/Jellyfin transcoding hardware runbook; to compare the NAS platforms themselves, see Synology vs UGREEN vs DIY.

Bottom line

Start with direct play — if your clients (Apple TV, modern smart TVs, Shield, current phones) play your files as-is, the box never transcodes and almost anything works. If you *do* need to transcode, you need Intel Quick Sync (or a GPU): the 2025 Ryzen Synology models (DS925+/DS1825+) have no integrated GPU and can't hardware-transcode — buy them only for direct-play libraries. A UGREEN NASync (Intel) keeps Quick Sync in a turnkey NAS; a DIY Intel N100/N305 mini-PC gives the most transcode-per-dollar. Remember Plex needs a Plex Pass for hardware transcoding; Jellyfin's is free.

How to choose

Will your clients direct-play?
Direct Play sends the file untouched when the client supports it — near-zero server work, no quality loss, and the preferred outcome. If your apps direct-play your library, transcoding hardware barely matters and a Ryzen Synology is fine.
Plex Pass vs Jellyfin
Plex requires an active Plex Pass to use hardware-accelerated transcoding; without it, Plex falls back to CPU software encoding. Jellyfin's hardware acceleration is free. Factor the Plex Pass into the cost if you'll lean on Plex transcoding.
Quick Sync (or a GPU) for transcoding
Hardware transcoding needs Intel Quick Sync (the common path) or a discrete/integrated GPU. The 2025 AMD Ryzen Synology models have no iGPU at all; UGREEN's Intel NASync and Intel N-series mini-PCs do have Quick Sync.
Turnkey appliance vs DIY
A UGREEN NASync gives you transcoding in a finished, warrantied box (younger software). A DIY Intel mini-PC gives the most transcode-per-watt and per-dollar, but you own the OS and updates — a common split is an AMD Synology for files plus an N100 mini-PC for Plex.

The options

AV1 hardware decode works on all the Intel options here (Alder-Lake media engine); AV1 hardware encode does not (it needs Arc or Meteor Lake and newer).

Synology 2025 Plus (DS925+ / DS1825+)

Synology

Synology's 2025 desktop Plus models use the AMD Ryzen V1500B — an embedded CPU with no integrated GPU and therefore no hardware video transcoding. An excellent file/backup/app NAS that is a poor on-the-fly transcoder.

Best for

Buyers whose Plex/Jellyfin clients can direct-play their library, and who value DSM's mature backup, snapshot, and app ecosystem and ECC memory over media muscle.

Watch-outs

If any client needs to transcode (e.g. 4K HEVC down to a weak TV app or remote stream), this is the wrong box — transcodes fall back to slow CPU software encoding. A clear break from older Intel Synology models that had Quick Sync.

SpecValueVerification
CPUAMD Ryzen V1500B (4 cores / 8 threads, 2.2 GHz) in both DS925+ and DS1825+.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Integrated GPU / Quick SyncNone. The Ryzen V1500B has no integrated GPU (unlike the V1605B with Radeon Vega), and Intel Quick Sync is Intel-only — so neither exists here.Researchedsource
Hardware transcode capabilityNo hardware video transcode — Plex/Jellyfin must use CPU software encoding, which struggles with 4K/HEVC. (Synology also removed the i915 driver in DSM 7.2.2, disabling HW transcode on its older Intel models too.)Researchedsource
Best media useDirect play only: store H.264/HEVC files your clients natively support so the NAS never has to transcode.Researchedsource
Strengths elsewhereECC RAM, DSM apps, snapshots, Container Manager — a strong files/backup/app NAS despite the transcode gap.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Synology DS925+ (official)Check price on Amazon

UGREEN NASync (Intel)

UGREEN

UGREEN's NASync line uses Intel CPUs with integrated UHD graphics and Quick Sync, so it can hardware-transcode in Plex (with Plex Pass) and Jellyfin (free) — the turnkey-NAS answer for transcoding that the 2025 AMD Synology line no longer offers.

Best for

Buyers who want a finished, warrantied NAS appliance and real hardware transcoding for mixed or older clients — e.g. transcoding 4K HEVC down to 1080p for a weak TV app or a remote stream.

Watch-outs

UGOS is younger and less mature than DSM. Confirm the specific SKU's CPU — the 2-bay DXP2800 uses the N100, the DXP4800 Plus the Pentium 8505, higher models Core i5 variants — since the transcode ceiling differs.

SpecValueVerification
CPUIntel N100 (DXP2800) or Pentium Gold 8505 (DXP4800 Plus), both with Intel UHD graphics; higher models use Core i5 variants.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Intel Quick SyncYes — Intel Quick Sync Video enables hardware transcode offload for Plex and Jellyfin.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Codecs decoded in hardwareH.264, HEVC (incl. 10-bit), VP9, and AV1 hardware decode; hardware encode targets H.264 and HEVC (no AV1 encode).Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Plex vs JellyfinPlex hardware transcode requires an active Plex Pass; Jellyfin's Quick Sync hardware acceleration is free.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Trade-offTurnkey transcoding NAS, but with younger software than DSM — confirm the SKU's CPU before relying on a transcode ceiling.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus (official)Check price on Amazon

DIY Intel N100 / N305 mini-PC

DIY / Intel

A low-power Intel Alder-Lake-N mini-PC (N100, or the 8-core N305) is the enthusiast's transcode workhorse: a ~6–15 W box whose Quick Sync engine can hardware-transcode multiple 4K streams. Run Plex/Jellyfin bare-metal or in Docker, alongside a separate storage NAS.

Best for

Hands-on operators who want the best transcode value and don't mind self-managing the OS and containers — including the popular split where an AMD Synology holds files and the mini-PC does all transcoding.

Watch-outs

No appliance warranty on the software stack — you own setup and updates. Plex still needs a Plex Pass; mini-PCs lack ECC and built-in multi-bay redundancy, so pair with real storage and backups.

SpecValueVerification
CPUIntel N100 (4 cores, ~6 W) or the 8-core Core i3-N305 — both with Intel UHD graphics and Quick Sync.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Transcode valueBest transcode-per-watt and per-dollar here — a tiny box can hardware-transcode several streams; the N305 adds CPU headroom for apps.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Codecs decoded in hardwareH.264, HEVC (10-bit), VP9, and AV1 hardware decode; hardware encode is H.264/HEVC only (no AV1 encode on Alder-Lake-N).Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Plex vs JellyfinPlex hardware transcode needs a Plex Pass; Jellyfin's hardware acceleration is free.Manufacturer-confirmedsource
Trade-offYou're the integrator and support desk; pair with a real NAS for storage and backups. A common build is AMD Synology for files + N100 mini-PC for Plex.Researchedsource
Intel N100 (Intel ARK)N100 mini-PCs on Amazon

Pick by use case

Every client direct-plays your library, and you want the best file/backup NAS

→ Synology 2025 Plus (DS925+ / DS1825+). If nothing has to transcode, the Ryzen Synology's lack of Quick Sync is irrelevant and you get DSM's mature ecosystem and ECC.

You need real hardware transcoding in a finished, warrantied NAS appliance

→ UGREEN NASync (Intel). Its Intel Quick Sync handles 4K-to-1080p transcodes out of the box for mixed/older clients — the turnkey Intel option the 2025 Synology line dropped.

You want maximum transcode-per-dollar and will self-manage the stack

→ DIY Intel N100 / N305 mini-PC. A ~6–15 W Quick Sync box transcodes multiple streams cheaply; pair it with a NAS for storage.

You already own a 2025 Ryzen Synology but now need to transcode

→ DIY Intel N100 / N305 mini-PC. Add a cheap N100 mini-PC to run Plex/Jellyfin with Quick Sync and keep the Synology purely for files — the standard files-plus-mini-PC split.

Run the numbers

Turn the decision into a calculation before you buy — size the capacity, the backup, and the UPS for your exact setup.

NAS storage and backup planner

Plan NAS usable capacity, parity vs cache behavior, daily-change headroom, and offsite copy gaps before buying drives or restructuring an array.

Related runbooks

Plex and Jellyfin hardware transcoding: what worksPlex buffering on a NASPick a mini-PC home server by workloadNAS media server basicsFirst NAS setup checklist

How we verified this guide

2026-06-16 · Reviewed by HomeTechOps. Verified against Synology and UGREEN product pages, Intel ARK, AMD's Ryzen Embedded page, and Plex/Jellyfin official docs on 2026-06-16. The Synology 2025 'no hardware transcode' point is a sound first-party inference (the AMD V1500B has no integrated GPU; Synology lists no transcoding) and is labeled researched, as is the DSM 7.2.2 i915-driver-removal context. No prices are listed; Plex Pass tiers link out.

Source-backed checks

HomeTechOps turns official docs and conservative safety rules into a shorter runbook. These links are the source trail for the page direction.

Plex Support: How Plex works (direct play and transcoding)Used for direct play vs transcoding behavior, client-codec impact, and server CPU/GPU load assumptions when buffering.Jellyfin Docs: Hardware AccelerationUsed for VideoToolbox hardware acceleration on macOS, and that hardware encode/decode needs direct media-engine access — which a Linux container on a Mac cannot reach, so keep the media server native.XDA: the best value GPU for Plex transcoding is an Intel CPUUsed for why Intel QuickSync (iGPU) handles multiple 4K transcodes at near-zero added idle vs a discrete GPU that adds ~35W idle + heat + noise for no transcode benefit.Synology: DS925+ product & specificationsUsed for the DS925+ spec row: AMD Ryzen V1500B 4C/8T, 4 GB ECC (max 32 GB), dual 2.5GbE (no 10GbE/PCIe), 4 bays + 2x M.2, expandable to 9 bays via DX525.AMD: Ryzen Embedded V1000 SeriesUsed to confirm the V1500B (in the 2025 Synology DS925+/DS1825+) has NO integrated Radeon graphics — so no hardware video transcode (and no Intel Quick Sync, which is Intel-only).UGREEN: NASync DXP4800 Plus product pageUsed for the DXP4800 Plus spec row: Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (5C/6T), 8 GB DDR5 (max 64 GB), 1x 10GbE + 1x 2.5GbE, 4 bays + 2x M.2, and the open / any-drive compatibility stance.Intel: Media capabilities supported by Intel hardwareUsed to verify QuickSync per-SKU codec support — AV1 decode on Alder Lake-N but no AV1 hardware encode (encode is H.264/HEVC).Plex: Using hardware-accelerated streamingUsed for the rule that Plex hardware transcode requires an active Plex Pass plus a capable GPU (e.g. Intel Quick Sync); without it Plex falls back to CPU software transcoding.Intel ARK: Processor N100 specificationsUsed for the N100 spec baseline: 4 cores/4 threads, 6W TDP, 16GB validated max, single memory channel, no ECC.Intel ARK: Core i3-N305 specificationsUsed for the 8-core N305 DIY tier: 8 cores/8 threads, 15W TDP, 16 GB max single-channel non-ECC memory (the shared ceiling of the N-series mini-PC tier), 9 PCIe Gen3 lanes.