I recently came across a benchmark tool designed to measure how many simultaneous live transcodes a server can handle. While this is particularly relevant for those running media applications like Plex or Jellyfin, the tool, developed by a member of the Unraid community known as SpaceInvaderOne, is a Docker container that functions on any system supporting that environment.
Check it out in my latest video!
For those using Unraid (compensated affiliate link), the installation is generally a one-click process, though systems with Nvidia GPUs require some specific configuration. I began by installing it on my Intel-based server. After ensuring the default port assignment 8088 was free of conflicts, the container downloaded the necessary components. Before running a benchmark, the tool requires downloading several test clips to local storage.
The interface offers choices between hardware and CPU-based transcoding. Given that my machine used an Intel N150 processor, I focused on hardware transcoding. I initially ran a test involving 4K HDR10 source files being converted to H.265 with tone mapping to SDR. The benchmark adds streams incrementally until the hardware can no longer maintain a viewable playback speed. My first machine, a Beelink ME Mini, managed only a single stream under these specific settings. When I switched the test to a 4K to 1080p H.264 conversion, the result was two simultaneous streams.
These results were lower than expected for an Intel N150. However, the benchmark helped identify a hardware bottleneck. The Beelink machine I was using lacks fast memory, which appears to limit its transcoding capacity. To verify this, I ran the same H.264 test on another N150-based machine, a GMKtec G3 Plus, which has faster RAM. That system achieved three streams. This comparison highlights how secondary components like memory speed can impact the performance of a processor’s integrated graphics.
I also tested higher-end hardware using an Nvidia RTX 3080. On Unraid, this required installing the Nvidia driver and adding a specific “runtime” parameter to the Docker container’s advanced settings. In the H.264 to H.264 test, the Nvidia GPU managed seven concurrent streams. While the performance is higher than the mini PCs, the tool also indicated that this setup consumes significantly more power – especially when it’s not under load.
Beyond live transcoding, the tool includes a benchmark for file conversion speeds. This is intended for users who prefer to pre-encode their media libraries to reduce the workload on their server during playback. There is also a community leaderboard available, which allows for a comparison of hardware performance against data submitted by other users.
These benchmarks function as a stress test. In a standard home environment, performance might be slightly higher than these results suggest because media servers typically buffer ahead to account for temporary performance dips. Having this data provides a baseline for what a server can realistically handle. I plan to integrate this tool into my regular hardware evaluation process, especially as I prepare to transition to a new server in the coming week. Stay tuned!