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So the terminology you’re looking for is Intel Quick Sync for dedicated video transcoding.
Here’s an HP mini with an i5-8500 that supports quick sync and 32gb ram for $250:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/166382639265
Here’s an i5-9500 for $200:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/196220272659
Here’s an i7-8700 for $260:
I'm based in Germany but I'll have a look if I can find something similar here. I've looked at a Dell Optiplex with a i5 9500T. Does that also support Quick Sync? Is there a list of CPUs that have this feature?
Yeah the i5 9500t has quick sync as well. Check ark.intel.com for the processor model, under GPU specifications you’ll see Intel Quick Sync Video: yes/no.
I've been shopping for the same thing. I can report that Intel N100-based computers currently (February 2024) have issues with Linux WiFi drivers. Not a problem if you're hardwiring it.
I'd also avoid the really tiny PCs because they use the shortest M.2 drives (2242), which limits capacity and upgradeability. You want one that fits a 2280 M.2 drive. Or a 2.5" SATA drive.
This is why I like to stick to something a few generations back. More likely to have the kinks ironed out. I've heard good things about the N100 but it still seem to have some teething problems.
I bought a Dell OptiPlex 3070 with a i5 9500T CPU for a good price, filled the RAM up right away, it can run anything I throw at it.
If you go for one of those make sure the CPU supports QuickSync for hardware acceleration.
Sounds interesting. Does this take SATA or NVME SSDs?
Do you transcode right now? Do you want to transcode?
Honestly, I'm not sure about the whole transcoding situation. I watch content on a ChromeCast hooked up to a 4k TV. With video in MKV containers I cannot fast forward or even pause sometimes. Transcoding those to an MP4 container in in Handbrake also didn't help. I don#t really know anything about all this stuff so I'm not really sure what to do.
That's imo the most important question. If you do not transcode the specs don't need to be crazy. Maybe there are test files somewhere. Mkv is judt a container, there could be anything inside of it. I play x265 and 264 in mp4. All devices support it and I don't need to transcode anything. No worries. Very quick.