The Plex Box
BudgetA dedicated Plex media server with Intel Quick Sync for hardware transcoding. Quiet, efficient, and always on.
Suggested Parts
i5-8400
The i5-8400 has Intel Quick Sync (UHD 630) for hardware-accelerated Plex transcoding.
H310 LGA1151 motherboard
H310 is the cheapest 8th gen Intel board — perfect for a headless server.
16GB DDR4
16GB handles multiple simultaneous transcode streams without breaking a sweat.
Not needed
No dedicated GPU needed — Quick Sync handles all transcoding via the iGPU.
240GB SSD
240GB SSD for the OS and Plex metadata. Add bulk HDD storage separately.
400W power supply
A 400W unit is overkill for this low-power build but stays efficient and quiet.
micro ATX case
A compact micro ATX case keeps the server footprint small.
Intel stock cooler LGA1151
The stock Intel cooler is quiet enough for a server closet.