Is ASUSTOR AS5304T a good NAS for Plex 4K playback?
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Is ASUSTOR AS5304T a good NAS for Plex 4K playback?
Impressive Intel performance
What makes theASUSTOR AS5304Ta good match forPlexand 4K content, in particular, is the choice of processor. The Intel Celeron J4105 sounds similar to what you’d find in slightly more affordable Synology NAS models, but it’s more powerful and thus able to handle even some 4K content transcoding.
It’s not the best CPU to use for this task, and I’d still recommend a desktop-class Intel Core i3 or i5 processor (or AMD Ryzen 3 or 5 if you want to go down the custom NAS route), but for the price, this is one compelling NAS for streamers and those who enjoy consuming UHD content.
You should be able to stream 4K media without issue, so long as you pick up the Plex Pass.
Do more with Plex Pass
The ASUSTOR AS5304T is great for Plex on paper, but to make the most of the hardware available, you’ll want to consider upgrading your Plex account with the Plex Pass. It’s optional but comes with numerous benefits, including access to hardware transcoding support.
Less powerful software-based transcoding is available out-the-box, but this isn’t anywhere near enough for handling 4K content to devices that do not support the same file type. With Plex Pass, you have the choice of three plans: $5 per month, $40 annually, or $150 for lifetime access.
The one-off payment of $150 would save you a lot in the long run, especially if you have everything set up as you like. A 30-day free trial is available for you to try out.
Powerful NAS for gamers
The ASUS AS5304T is a powerful NAS for not only streamers but homeowners looking to create a media hub. Plex will work wonders with the available hardware, even with 4K media.
Upgrade your media storage hub
Plex Pass is an optional upgrade that allows your NAS server to use hardware transcoding when streaming movies to devices that do not support the file format. This is especially important for 4K content.
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Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He’s been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at@RichEdmonds.
