Best Synology NAS for Plex and Jellyfin Transcoding

Synology

Synology’s recent hardware direction has created an unusual situation for media-server users. Some older Intel-powered DiskStations remain particularly attractive because their integrated graphics can accelerate video transcoding, while newer Plus models such as the DS925+ use AMD Ryzen processors without an integrated GPU.

That difference matters enormously when Plex or Jellyfin needs to convert HEVC video, tone-map 4K HDR content, or create a compatible stream for a remote device.

For media-server buyers, therefore, newer does not automatically mean better.

Direct Play vs Transcoding: Understand the Difference First

Before comparing Synology models, determine whether you actually need transcoding.

Direct Play occurs when the client device already supports the video’s codec, resolution, bitrate, audio format, and container. The NAS essentially delivers the file without converting the video.

Transcoding happens when the client cannot play the original format or when bandwidth limitations require a smaller stream.

Typical triggers include:

4K video played on a 1080p device
HEVC sent to an incompatible client
HDR converted for an SDR display
Unsupported subtitles requiring burn-in
Remote streaming at reduced bitrate
Unsupported audio or video codecs

Jellyfin’s documentation confirms that client capabilities and constraints determine when transcoding is requested.

This distinction changes the buying decision completely.

Why Intel Quick Sync Matters So Much

For a compact NAS, Intel Quick Sync Video has historically been one of the best solutions for hardware-accelerated transcoding.

Instead of asking the CPU cores to decode and encode every frame in software, Quick Sync uses specialized media hardware inside the Intel GPU.

Jellyfin supports Intel Quick Sync and VA-API acceleration and specifically recommends Intel graphics for many Linux-based media-server configurations.

This is particularly important with HEVC.

Jellyfin documents hardware decoding and encoding of 10-bit HEVC on Intel Kaby Lake, Apollo Lake, Gemini Lake, and newer compatible graphics architectures.

That is why an older low-power Intel Celeron can sometimes be a more useful Plex/Jellyfin processor than a newer CPU with considerably more general compute power but no integrated video engine.

Synology DS224+: A Strong Two-Bay Media NAS

The DS224+ remains one of the most interesting Synology choices for users who specifically prioritize Plex or Jellyfin transcoding.

Synology equips the DS224+ with an Intel Celeron J4125, a four-core processor running at 2.0 GHz with boost frequencies up to 2.7 GHz.

The J4125’s integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600 supports Quick Sync, making hardware-assisted media processing possible when the media-server software and configuration support it.

For a household running a relatively small media library, the DS224+ offers an appealing combination of:

Two drive bays
Low power consumption
Intel Quick Sync
DSM applications
Plex/Jellyfin capability
Compact physical size

Its biggest limitation is storage expansion. Two bays can become restrictive for large 4K libraries.

DS423+: Better for Larger Media Libraries

For users who want the same general Intel media advantage but need more storage, the DS423+ is particularly attractive.

Its four drive bays make it much easier to build a larger media library while retaining the Intel J4125 platform.

For Plex and Jellyfin, those extra bays can be more valuable than additional CPU cores because high-quality 4K media consumes enormous amounts of storage.

A four-bay configuration also provides more options for capacity and redundancy than a two-bay NAS.

For that reason, the DS423+ remains one of the more compelling Synology media-server configurations for users who need both local storage capacity and hardware-assisted transcoding.

The DS925+ Changes the Equation

The newer DS925+ is a much stronger NAS in several areas, but that does not automatically make it a better transcoding server.

Synology equips it with an AMD Ryzen V1500B, providing four cores and eight threads at 2.2 GHz. It also includes 4 GB of ECC DDR4 memory, expandable to 32 GB, four SATA bays, two M.2 NVMe slots, and dual 2.5GbE networking.

Those are meaningful upgrades for general NAS workloads.

But the Ryzen V1500B does not provide the integrated GPU media engine that makes the J4125-based models so attractive for hardware transcoding.

That creates an important distinction:

DS925+ = stronger general NAS platform

DS423+ = potentially better dedicated hardware-transcoding platform

For storage, backup, containers, and many other applications, the DS925+ can be the more capable machine. For Plex/Jellyfin users expecting frequent video transcoding, its lack of an integrated GPU is a major consideration.

What About 4K HEVC Transcoding?

HEVC/H.265 has become extremely important for modern media libraries because it can provide high-quality 4K video at significantly more manageable file sizes.

The problem is computational cost.

Jellyfin warns that HEVC, VP9, and AV1 can place extremely heavy demands on CPUs when hardware decoding is unavailable. It therefore strongly recommends hardware capable of HEVC 10-bit decoding for media-server builds.

The Intel J4125 generation can provide hardware acceleration for HEVC Main 10 workloads, making older Intel-based Synology models useful for common 4K media formats.

However, real-world results still depend on subtitles, HDR tone mapping, bitrate, resolution, concurrent users, software configuration, and the target output format.

Do not interpret hardware codec support as a guarantee of unlimited simultaneous 4K transcodes.

HDR Tone Mapping Can Be Especially Demanding

HDR creates another challenge.

A 4K HDR movie displayed on an SDR device may require tone mapping in addition to decoding, scaling, and encoding.

Without hardware acceleration, this process can overwhelm relatively modest NAS CPUs.

Jellyfin supports hardware-accelerated HDR10 and HLG-to-SDR tone mapping and notes that Intel GPUs with HEVC 10-bit decoding can support hardware-assisted tone-mapping methods.

For users with large HDR libraries and remote clients, GPU capability therefore matters even more than basic CPU benchmarks suggest.

AV1 Is the Weak Point of Older Synology Media NAS Models

AV1 is where the older Intel Synology models begin showing their age.

Jellyfin’s current Intel documentation lists AV1 hardware decoding starting with Intel Gen 12 Tiger Lake/11th-generation Core graphics and newer. AV1 hardware encoding requires still newer Intel graphics, including Arc-class hardware and later architectures.

The J4125 does not provide modern AV1 hardware acceleration.

Therefore, an Intel-based Synology that performs well with H.264 and HEVC should not automatically be considered future-proof for AV1 transcoding.

This matters increasingly as AV1 becomes more common.

Plex and Jellyfin Users Should Prioritize Different Things

A general Synology buying guide might prioritize CPU cores, RAM, network speed, NVMe, or expansion capabilities.

A media-server buying guide needs a different order:

Can clients Direct Play your library?
Does the CPU provide a usable integrated GPU?
Which codecs can that media engine decode?
Can it encode the required output format?
Will you need HDR tone mapping?
How many simultaneous transcodes are expected?
How much storage will the media library require?

Only after answering these questions should features such as additional CPU threads become decisive.

When the DS925+ Still Makes More Sense

Do not dismiss the DS925+ simply because it lacks Intel Quick Sync.

If almost every television, streaming box, tablet, and computer in the household can Direct Play the media library, heavy video transcoding may rarely occur.

In that environment, the DS925+’s stronger general-purpose CPU, ECC memory support, 2.5GbE connectivity, NVMe options, and expansion capability can be more valuable.

It can also make sense to separate the two functions.

Use the Synology NAS for storage and run Plex or Jellyfin on a separate Intel mini PC or another system with a modern GPU.

The media server accesses the library over the network while its GPU handles transcoding.

For demanding users, this can provide the best combination of Synology storage management and modern media acceleration.

A Separate Media Server Is Better for AV1

This approach becomes especially attractive for AV1.

Modern Intel graphics can offer AV1 hardware decoding, while Intel Arc and newer graphics architectures can provide AV1 encoding capabilities. Jellyfin also supports AV1 acceleration on newer NVIDIA and AMD GPU generations.

Instead of selecting an older NAS solely because it has Quick Sync, users building a serious modern media environment can deploy:

Synology NAS → high-capacity media storage

Intel mini PC / GPU server → Plex or Jellyfin transcoding

This architecture also allows the transcoding hardware to be upgraded independently of the storage system.

Best Synology Choice for Different Media Users

For a small library with occasional hardware transcoding, the DS224+ remains a practical choice.

For larger libraries where four bays and Intel Quick Sync are priorities, the DS423+ is arguably the stronger all-around media-focused Synology option. Choose the right Synology hardware with expert consulting services.

For mostly Direct Play environments that also need stronger storage, networking, memory, and general NAS capabilities, the DS925+ is more compelling.

For demanding 4K HDR, AV1, or multiple simultaneous transcodes, however, the best answer may not be a single Synology NAS at all. A modern dedicated media server paired with Synology storage provides substantially more flexibility.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology helps users and organizations design Synology storage around the workload rather than selecting a NAS from specifications alone. Services include Synology consultation and deployment, large storage solutions, RAID and capacity planning, 10GbE and 25GbE networking, SSD and NVMe configuration, backup architecture, virtualization, cybersecurity, and performance optimization. For media-heavy environments, Epis Technology can also help determine whether processing should remain on the NAS or be separated from storage for better performance, scalability, and long-term upgrade flexibility.