It looks like it is the first time lower than $800 for this new model.
Please beware that there is no hardware transcoding if compared to previous DS920+ and DS918+ models.
Mod Note: Almost all Scorptec eBay Listings are at '5 available' and generally restocked with sold.
I'm still rocking a DS214play…
DS13j here and going strong
Honestly the transcoding thing isn't as big a deal most of the time. I use a 418play and it seemed the easiest way of doing it was just to get a firestick and not transcode in the first place.
Can someone please ELI5 why this is worse and what it impacts specifically?
I'm not sure, but I'd assume it's because some of the latest models can do hardware encoding from the NAS side of things so that there's no compatibility issues between the video format and the TV that you're using.. just my guess though
Plex does hardware transcoding to convert some high-res/different format movies into a format that can be consuming natively by older TVs, older phones/tablets, and also to share your content when away from home(so it reduces the data consumed/uploaded)
This model does not have built in GPU (Graphics processing unit), as in CPU the brain, the computer processor does not have graphics capabilities built in, and as such it does not provide hardware processing of media files to convert them into a format suitable for target device (your mobile phone while you are riding Cronulla to Central train). If that is important to you, perhaps best to go with older model which does have GPU capabilities.
In other words, do you have lots of media stored locally on hard drive, that you would like to watch on the go while out and about, than you will need something like Plex media server that can manage the stored media, and convert it into to suitable format (such as 4k converted down to 1080p format, Dolby Atmos converted down to 2 channel that better suits watching on mobile phone). Given that Plex is working with media, a GPU is better suited to do the job. So, in this case this model does not have it and it may struggle to do the job, it can still do it, it is just that it will use CPU instead of GPU and perhaps there may be some lagging.
Other than that it is superior than previous models.
![[Afterpay] Synology DiskStation DS923+ Tower 4 Bay NAS 4GB $798.15 Delivered @ Scorptec eBay](https://files.ozbargain.com.au/n/36/762836.jpg?h=9e19339d)
No hardware transcoding is a deal break for me which sucks because my DS 918+ is getting on…