Best NAS for Plex in Australia (2025)
Quick take: Plex shines when your NAS matches your streaming habits. Direct play is light on CPU; transcoding demands more horsepower. In 2025, most households benefit from a NAS with 2.5GbE networking, NAS-rated HDDs for storage, and SSD caching for snappy metadata loads. For remote streaming or multiple 4K HDR plays, step up to Intel Quick Sync or GPU-enabled NAS options.
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1. Why Plex on a NAS?
Plex centralises your movies, TV, music and photos into one library. Running Plex on a NAS gives you always-on access, RAID-protected media storage, and efficient, quiet 24/7 hardware. Unlike PCs, NAS units are built for continuous uptime and resilience.
2. Direct play vs transcoding
Direct play sends the file as-is. Great for modern TVs and devices that support common formats (H.264, H.265). Minimal CPU needed.
Transcoding converts files on-the-fly (e.g., 4K HEVC to 1080p H.264). This requires CPU/GPU acceleration. Essential for remote streaming, older devices, or when reducing bandwidth.
3. CPU & GPU needs for Plex servers
- Direct play households: Intel Celeron-based NAS like the QNAP TS-464 is plenty.
- Mixed usage: For a family library with occasional transcoding, an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen based unit (like Synology DS925+ or QNAP TS-873A) provides headroom.
- Enthusiasts: For multiple 4K HDR streams or creator workflows, step up to QNAP TVS-h674T with GPU assist and 10GbE/Thunderbolt.
4. Network design for smooth streaming
Plex streaming quality hinges on your LAN. 1GbE is fine for 1080p; 2.5GbE is the 2025 baseline; 10GbE is perfect for multi-stream 4K and creators. Pair your NAS with a multi-gig switch for futureproofing.
5. Storage: drives and RAID
Bulk media belongs on NAS-rated HDDs such as Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus. Use RAID 5/6 for balance of safety and space. Snapshots add ransomware resilience; SSD cache accelerates poster artwork and previews.
6. Recommended Plex NAS models (with SKUs)
7. Example Plex setups
Starter (Single household)
- NAS: QNAP TS-464
- Drives: 2–4× IronWolf HDDs
- Network: 1–2.5GbE
- Use: 1–2 simultaneous 1080p plays
Family setup
- NAS: Synology DS925+
- Drives: 4× NAS HDDs + NVMe cache
- Network: 2.5GbE
- Use: Several family members, occasional mobile transcoding
Enthusiast / Creator
- NAS: QNAP TVS-h674T
- Drives: 6–8 bay mix HDD + SSD
- Network: 10GbE
- Use: Multiple 4K HDR streams, editing + Plex, remote sharing
8. Backup & safety
Plex libraries represent years of collection. Follow 3-2-1 backup: NAS as primary, USB/secondary NAS as backup, and cloud/off-site as final safety. Immutable snapshots defend against ransomware.
9. Plex tips for Australian households
- NBN uploads: Remote Plex relies on your upload bandwidth (20–50 Mbps typical).
- Data caps: Monitor usage if sharing libraries widely.
- Power efficiency: A NAS uses far less power than a gaming PC running 24/7.
10. FAQs
Do I need a powerful CPU for Plex on a NAS?
Only if transcoding many streams. For direct play, modest CPUs like the QNAP TS-464 handle it. For multiple 4K streams, step up to GPU-enabled units like the TVS-h674T.
Is 10GbE networking necessary?
Not for 1–2 users. For enthusiasts with many 4K HDR streams, 2.5/10GbE reduces buffering and ensures smooth playback.
Which drives are best?
NAS-rated HDDs like Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus for bulk, plus SSDs for cache or active artwork. See our NAS HDD collection.
