Separate direct play from transcoding, then size storage for the actual media library.
Updated 2026-08-31 · Editorial recommendations based on researched specifications, not hands-on testing.
2 bays · 1 × 2.5GbE
Intel N100 graphics, 8GB memory, and 2.5GbE give a low-cost two-bay Plex box enough headroom for Direct Play and conditional hardware conversion.
Watch: Two bays limit growth, UGOS is younger, and hardware acceleration still requires Plex Pass plus a supported codec path.
4 bays · 1 × 10GbE + 1 × 2.5GbE
The Intel 8505, four bays, 8GB memory, dual M.2, and built-in 10GbE create the strongest current hardware-value step for Plex plus light containers.
Watch: Software maturity trails DSM/QTS, and 10GbE does not solve subtitle burn-in, tone mapping, or incompatible clients.
6 bays · 2 × 5GbE
Six bays, Intel Quick Sync, dual 5GbE, four M.2 slots, and a more established ADM ecosystem fit a large all-in-one Plex library.
Watch: The N5105 is not a desktop-class transcode engine; high-end here means storage scale and appliance maturity, not unlimited 4K conversion.
Read the full guide before choosing a tier.