XBMC vs Plex

[MartyMarts]

Yep, but I updated my previous post with some extra info. The MicroServer won't handle transcoding very well though and no you cannot use your GPU to aid transcoding, but modern CPUs won't have any issues.

+1 You will need more firepower...

 

[MartyMarts]

Meh, I'd have to buy a new server then. Not worth it - I'll stick to XBMC then.

But at last, it's only taken a year, but I finally understand the actual difference between XBMC and Plex. Thanks.

 

[DJ...]

What I love about the microserver is that it is dead quiet, does what it says on the box, and can handle a crap-load of data storage by my standards. Hell, I've only filled up half a 3TB hard drive so far. And it was easy enough for a tech-pleb like me to setup...

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Meh, I'd have to buy a new server then. Not worth it - I'll stick to XBMC then.

But at last, it's only taken a year, but I finally understand the actual difference between XBMC and Plex. Thanks.

Yep, would recommend you stay on XBMC then if you don't have a machine around that can efficiently transcode.

Plex also allows you to sync media to mobile devices, so instead of just directly copying the files the media gets transcoded (smaller size) and then sits in your library like any other file in the library but will play off the local device.

I'm just bummed that Plex screwed up the iOS app with their last update, the problem when everything is cutting edge. Just glad I had a iTunes restore of the previous version.

 

[MartyMarts]

What I love about the microserver is that it is dead quiet, does what it says on the box, and can handle a crap-load of data storage by my standards. Hell, I've only filled up half a 3TB hard drive so far. And it was easy enough for a tech-pleb like me to setup...

Very useful little box. Mine is a storage sever, source for my Plex server & general use PC.

Yep, would recommend you stay on XBMC then if you don't have a machine around that can efficiently transcode.

+1

Plex also allows you to sync media to mobile devices, so instead of just directly copying the files the media gets transcoded (smaller size) and then sits in your library like any other file in the library but will play off the local device.

Didn't know that :erm: Thanks!

I'm just bummed that Plex screwed up the iOS app with their last update, the problem when everything is cutting edge. Just glad I had a iTunes restore of the previous version.

Little one hasn't complained ...yet. /makes mental note to check this out later

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Didn't know that :erm: Thanks!

Paid PlexPass is required at the moment for this functionality. It's 30 bucks a month, don't mind paying these guys as they really do an incredible amount of work.

Little one hasn't complained ...yet. /makes mental note to check this out later

Depends what features you mainly use I guess, but new version has some audio playback issues for me as well as the AirPlay functionality being completely borked.

 

[MartyMarts]

Paid PlexPass is required at the moment for this functionality. It's 30 bucks a month, don't mind paying these guys as they really do an incredible amount of work.

Oh... I just have the 'normal' paid-for app for Android and iOS (PC client & server was free iirc). Will still check this out though. Sounds useful.

Depends what features you mainly use I guess, but new version has some audio playback issues for me as well as the AirPlay functionality being completely borked.

She pretty much just browses the library and watches stuff with Plex. ...I think.
I haven't used AirPlay.

 

[Off-The-Chart]

guys, what would cause XBMC to load really slow when you add a 1st time video source, even if you already have metadata stored?

running i5-3330 with single module 4gig, but it is really slow.

 

[DJ...]

guys, what would cause XBMC to load really slow when you add a 1st time video source, even if you already have metadata stored?

running i5-3330 with single module 4gig, but it is really slow.

I think it copies all the meta-data and images into a separate database for it to reference so that it doesn't have to go searching for it each time. So the first few times you load the libraries it can jerk/freeze for a sec or two while it loads the images but it speeds up quicker and quicker as you go along. At least that's my understanding, and is how it works for me on all of my machines...

 

[Off-The-Chart]

when you choose to Export your library, you have choice of SEPARATE FILES or SINGLE FILE.

when you choose SEPARATE, it actually saves all the data files into each movie/series' folder.

did the following before this cpu and it worked fine:
- load XBMC on my own pc, add the video sources and then when done, export it into SEPARATE.
- re-load it on the main HTPC/NAS pc and when I then load the files, it speeds through it

 

[DJ...]

Yeah I get that it saves it in separate folders but that's simply for storage, not necessarily where it will read it from each time if memory serves correct.

All I can tell you is from my own experience, and when adding a new source filled with content, the navigation of tv shows and movies will be slow the first few times as it appears to build a separate database to read the images and metadata from. I might be wrong, but mine is sluggish each time I do so, on various machines, and speeds up considerably after the first few navigations...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Yeah I get that it saves it in separate folders but that's simply for storage, not necessarily where it will read it from each time if memory serves correct.

All I can tell you is from my own experience, and when adding a new source filled with content, the navigation of tv shows and movies will be slow the first few times as it appears to build a separate database to read the images and metadata from. I might be wrong, but mine is sluggish each time I do so, on various machines, and speeds up considerably after the first few navigations...

Depending on how you've setup XBMC, it does stash it into a DB...

 

[DJ...]

Depending on how you've setup XBMC, it does stash it into a DB...

Well mine appears to be a separate DB, even though I export to separate folders often. So how does one set it up so that it references the folders each time instead of the database...?

 

[Keeper]

DJ is right with the performance increase after a while.

the reason is XBMC caches the metadata into formats that load faster. the more you use xbmc, the faster it will become.

if you export to files, they will be used first when scraping (they have priority over internet) unless you tell xbmc to refresh/rescrape an item.
afaik XBMC will always build a DB, never heard of any other setups.


Further, it might be a good idea to delete all your metadata once every few months/years...
I've just done that and am rescraping everything.

XBMC changes, and so do scrapers, artwork, and also info, trailer links and other new features.

I am now rescraping using the "Universal Scraper" perfectly set up to use IMDB data, but MovieDB's covers, instead of using the MovieDB scraper.
-Better and more acurate Ratings, from IMDB
-Movie collections are now grouped properly (this is a newish feature)
-Latest and better quality covers & artwork.
-More movies now have Trailers enabled.

For TV series, I also now have the correct filenames for Frodo (poster.jpg instead of folder.jpg) along with all the banners.

Saving your NFO files are great, but don't use them for TOO long, they get stale every year or so.

 

[Off-The-Chart]

well the reason I asked is cause, even with something like a 3770k, if you have a lot of stuff to import into XBMC, you would find it 'slowly' adds stuff.

this however was not the case. on my 1st import, after doing a metadata fetch with Media Center Master which exports properly for Frodo, it basically flew through adding the stuff into XBMC.

however on HTPC/NAS that is running i5-3330, it was pretty slow. at times I was sure my old i3-560 was faster.

also, the thing why I like XBMC, is because it reads local data, where as Plex doesn't. well not sure with the newest version.

also Plex is extremely hungry, resource wise.

oh and think my 'terms' got mixed... understand what DJ means with the actual DB as what I kept thinking about is just basically the library.

 

[IceQB]

Resurrecting an old topic, but which is better/prefered - plex or xbmc for 2015?

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Resurrecting an old topic, but which is better/prefered - plex or xbmc for 2015?

Answer hasn't really changed.

Each still has it's own use case depending on how you have your setup configured.

 

[Smokey_sa]

Resurrecting an old topic, but which is better/prefered - plex or xbmc for 2015?

I started with Plex as I was new to to the whole topic and was at the time downloading my movies and streaming them from my PC to the TV via a WD box.

Got myself a Fire TV and started playing around with XBMC. Now I am streaming more than I am downloading so for my current setup and requirement XBMC is the better option due to the fact that I can stream through addons like Icefilms without downloading. This allows me to watch movies even though shping is in place.

So really it depends what you are looking for.

XBMC takes some time and configuration, where Plex works out of the box.

 

[IceQB]

I personally am using xbmc with openelec. Was just wondering in the almost 2 years since anything added on topic that there were any significant changes.

 

[Chingha]

Running OPENELEC 5 yet?