Old PCs Can Become Media Servers With Plex or Jellyfin, Engadget Reports

According to Engadget, nearly any PC can run media server software such as Plex or Jellyfin, and even low-end hardware will miss only a slim number of features. Media servers are approachable to beginners and advanced users. A less technical user can put Plex on a Windows laptop, while enthusiasts can tinker with specialized Linux distributions and Jellyfin servers or tweak network architecture. The setup involves some specifics, but it is not beyond anyone who can click through menus and do light web searching.

The first choice is whether to run Windows or Linux. Engadget says there is no wrong choice. Linux is easier to use than commonly assumed, but staying with Windows is fine. The most popular media server software runs on either OS, with Linux being more lightweight and able to breathe new life into older hardware. The main argument for Linux is that Windows 10 is past its end-of-service date, meaning any computer that cannot upgrade to Windows 11 is a major security risk when connected to the internet. If a computer does not support Windows 11, consider a Linux distribution. Some versions are built to host servers, and general-purpose server distros such as Fedora Server or Ubuntu Server let users try a broad range of options. If keeping Windows 11, it is best to reset it first. Back up data to an external SSD or hard drive, then press Win + I, go to System, Recovery, Reset PC, and follow the prompts. This can take hours on low-powered hardware.

Once the operating system is ready, it is time to load media and stream it to the household. The size of the media collection determines how much storage is needed. Serving media from the PC's boot drive is possible, but risks losing all files if something goes wrong. Many home server enthusiasts prefer multiple storage drives and redundant solutions such as RAID. This takes some setup and reduces usable storage space, but gives peace of mind if a drive fails or another emergency occurs.

The remaining choice is media server software, with Plex and Jellyfin the two most popular options. Engadget reports that Plex is the easiest to set up, and users rarely have to touch it after initial configuration, but its advanced features are locked behind a steep subscription. Jellyfin is a free and open-source alternative, so users never pay and have more control over how everything works. On the other hand, they need to be more comfortable tinkering with the server and network. Both options offer clients for most major TV platforms as well as iOS and Android mobile apps.

Transcoding is the best example of the differences. Engadget reports that when a media file is incompatible with a device, both Plex and Jellyfin can use a GPU to transcode it for universal playback. Although pretty much any PC can run a media server, a dedicated GPU is needed for the best results with transcoding, because CPU-bound transcoding can be slow or glitchy. Plex makes the process automatic but keeps transcoding CPU-bound, with no hardware acceleration.