Specs for a box that can handle Plex

by skitchawin

I bought a Globmall Android Box last year (Globmall 4K Android 6.0 TV Box, 2017 Model X1 android TV Box 64 Bits Amlogic S905X Marshmallow OS with Bluetooth 4.0).

I had issues using Plex with audio desyncing, video lag, etc. I thought it was my network, and ran a direct connection to the box. Turns out the box was the issue. I have large 1080p files 6+gb that I will want to run through it.

Are the new boxes capable of handling this with the plex app? Should I be using a different app instead of plex to run these files on the existing box?

Thanks for any help. I ended up using an old laptop to run onto my projector. It does the job fine, but it does not have the ease of use the android box with remote offers....so I would like to switch back.

Berardi1111

Nvidia shield TV

Gunther_AA

Shield TV, MiBox, FireTV/Stick. They'll all play any 1080p video just fine.

Although it's hard to imagine even a cheap box can't handle a 1080p plex stream.

Trying using the Plex for Kodi app, sometimes I get a better experience with that.

BiggussDikkuss

You do not need a new box, the S905X is fully capable.

If you want the most out of it dual boot it from a Sandisk or Samsung EVO microSDHC card and run LibreELEC Kodi Krypton. There is a whole LE sub-forum devoted to such boxes:

https://forum.libreelec.tv/board/38-amlogic/

Once you run LE you can install the Plex for Kodi Addon or PlexKodiconnect.

PS. With LE Kodi Krypton on that S905X you will have a SDR & 4K HDR media player that actually works properly.

Even the NVIDIA Shield cannot do that because it's Google Nougat Firmware does not have auto colorspace switching/conversion support in Firmware for correct SDR/HDR color outputs.

Personally I would ditch Plex completely and just use LibreELEC Kodi Krypton.

ThickAndDirty

Wrong sub my man/woman.

aonysllo

You are talking about a Plex server, not the client, correct. Anyway, you probably want to go on over to r/Plex or something.

JimboLodisC

FYI, this is a sub dedicated to devices that run the Android TV operating system that was optimized by Google for the living room. So the recommendations will be either the NVIDIA Shield TV, Xiaomi Mi Box, or a Nexus Player. Those will easily handle streaming 1080p video from a Plex server. The Shield TV is powerful enough to be its own Plex server and transcode 4K, so it would definitely not have an issue with a 1080p source.

Typically these junk boxes that run the touchscreen version of Android aren't built by the best "companies". Often no support (they've got your money already) and iffy software (just hacked together a lot of times using a common design that dozens of other companies use) and hopefully not loaded with spyware/malware. You really should stay away from these one-off "custom" Kodi boxes. Try to get something official for the living room that Google and an OEM like NVIDIA, Xiaomi, Sony, or ASUS worked together to build. It'll be a much better experience.

lookATmuhLIFE

im using MiBox and Roku Premier. Only tried free Plex at home and they work well with 720p encodes. will stop being a wuss and try 1080p file, later.