CPU/iGPU selection for new homeserver

[Nicola Durighetto]

Hi! I'm about to get a minipc, and I can't really wrap my head around CPU/GPU selection, so I'm kindly asking for your advice. My usage case will be a Ubuntu server handling jellyfin, possibly within docker, together with a really low traffic web server. I'll be the only one using this server, so no concurrent streams from jellyfin. My go-to resolution is 1080p since my devices are 1080p.

It is my understanding that for jellyfin GPU is much more important than CPU because it handles transcoding. Jellyfin docs recommends an Intel N100 CPU (among others), and Intel UHD 710 iGPU.

However, I found some Amazon listings (like this, in Italy) specifying N100 as CPU and UHD Graphics 600 as iGpu. Other mini pcs report N100 but don't specify the UHD Graphics version. Intel's webpage for the CPU doesn't specify which UHD Graphics is equipped in the N100. A google search didn't clarify this thing for me (I'm confused), while chatgpt said the N100 should have UHD Graphics 710. A second query to chatgpt resulted in UHD Graphics 24EUs, which should be faster than either 600 or 710. At this point I don't know which website to trust, as there is constrasting info out there. I also found this thread on this forum saying that N100 should be fine with Ubuntu, even though they're talking about video watching, not transcoding.

Given these infos my questions are:
- are there different versions of the Intel N100 equipped with different iGpu?
- is there possibly an inconsistency in jellyfin's docs page? (i.e., cpu-wise the N100 is fine, but it could not meet the gpu reccomendations?)
- which UHD Graphics do you think are suitable for my application?
- and to conclude, can I go with the N100 or should I find something better?

Thanks!

[TheDreadPirate]

The N100 has a UHD 730 iGPU.  No variations on that.

https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/pr...n100.c3007

[quote="Nicola Durighetto" pid='50676' dateline='1738270790'
- is there possibly an inconsistency in jellyfin's docs page? (i.e., cpu-wise the N100 is fine, but it could not meet the gpu reccomendations?)

Yes, it is fine for Jellyfin.  Many many users here have N100 based mini-PCs and use it with Jellyfin with good results.  It has good codec support and performs pretty well for its power usage.

Anything with a UHD 6XX or 7XX iGPU.

[quote="Nicola Durighetto" pid='50676' dateline='1738270790'
- and to conclude, can I go with the N100 or should I find something better?

Depends on your needs and budget.  If you only need to support one or two users, the N100 would easily meet that for pretty much any kind of content.  If you only have SDR content, you could support several more users.

[WoodenBleachers]

Yes, it is fine for Jellyfin.  Many many users here have N100 based mini-PCs and use it with Jellyfin with good results.  It has good codec support and performs pretty well for its power usage.
...
Depends on your needs and budget.  If you only need to support one or two users, the N100 would easily meet that for pretty much any kind of content.  If you only have SDR content, you could support several more users.

You seem very knowledgeable.  For someone looking to build a server themselves, but who has a 4ktv with dolby vision and 5.1 audio, what chip and iGPU could work for me?  I would be the only stream, but sometimes I may want to watch on my phone which would likely require transcoding as I understand it.  I've been looking for tips everywhere with some people seeming to say a raspberry pi or a CM3588 would work fine and others suggesting a 12th gen i3/i5.  Any tips?

[TheDreadPirate]

Similar to the OP, for a single user a mini PC with an Intel N100 would meet your needs. Including HDR to SDR tone mapping. If you have future plans for more self-hosted apps or adding more users, a full PC would probably be advisable so you can expand memory, add a GPU, add more storage, etc.

If you plan to add a dedicated GPU, either an AMD or Intel CPU is fine. If you don't plan on adding a dedicated GPU, stick with Intel desktop CPUs for the far superior Intel Quick Sync built into the iGPU. For Intel CPUs, I recommend 12th gen and newer since 12th gen is the first generation to finally get off Intel's 14nm process and are much more power efficient. Make sure you do NOT get a F SKU CPU as they don't have iGPUs.