@Reply #3 - good point! Client devices really dictate how hard your server works. But since you have family visiting and need absolute reliability, I suggest building in a safety margin. If you want this running in a closet 24/7, keep these safety tips in mind:

• Make sure to avoid any Intel CPU ending in F, like the 12400F. They lack integrated graphics, meaning QuickSync wont work and you will need a hot, expensive graphics card.
• Be careful with K-series chips. They run hotter and draw more power, which is risky in a confined closet space.
• I would suggest the Intel Core i5-12500 3.0 GHz 6-Core Processor. It fits your budget and features UHD 770 graphics, which handles multiple 4K transcodes easily. This gives you enough headroom so the server wont crash when everyone connects.

Like someone mentioned, QuickSync is the absolute key to keeping your power bill low while serving multiple streams. Before jumping into a specific CPU purchase though, I have a quick question about your setup. What devices are your family using to watch these movies? If they are using modern streaming sticks or smart TVs that support direct play, the CPU barely has to work. But if you have older tablets or remote users who need transcoding, the requirements change. If you want a solid middle ground that fits your budget perfectly, I have been using the Intel Core i5-12400 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor in my own home server. I am very satisfied with its performance. It has the Intel UHD Graphics 730 built in, and I have had zero complaints. It easily handles three or four simultaneous 4K transcodes without breaking a sweat, and the power draw at idle is incredibly low, which keeps the electricity bill down. Just make sure you avoid any model ending in F, like the Intel Core i5-12400F 2.5 GHz 6-Core Processor. Those chips do not have the integrated graphics chip, meaning you would have to buy a separate graphics card, which destroys your budget. Stick to the standard non-F models and you will be very happy with the results.

I set up a family Plex server last year and ran into the same confusion. I ended up choosing the Intel Core i3-12100 3.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor and it works perfectly. Here is why:

• QuickSync handles multiple 4K transcodes easily, so no separate GPU is needed.
• It draws very little power at idle in a closet setup.
• It fits your budget at around 110 dollars. Just avoid the F-series models since they lack the integrated graphics.

Just saw this thread and wanted to jump in because I absolutely love building media servers! Setting up a dedicated Plex box is honestly a fantastic project and you are going to love the results once it is up and running. Here are a few technical details and alternative routes you should consider based on what I have experienced:

• Avoid the F-series CPUs at all costs for this. Someone told me they lack the integrated graphics, which means you lose Intel QuickSync completely. Without it, you would need a discrete GPU, which totally ruins your budget and spikes your power bill.
• Look into something like the Core i5 13400 or even a 12th gen i5. I think the extra cores on the i5 compared to an i3 help a lot if you run background tasks like Sonarr, Radarr, or audio transcoding. Iirc, audio transcoding is purely CPU-bound and cannot use QuickSync, so having those extra cores is amazing for multiple users.
• Power draw is actually fantastic on these modern Intel chips. They idle down to almost nothing when nobody is watching, so your electricity bill will barely change, which is awesome for a 24/7 closet setup. Not sure if you need 4K HDR tone mapping yet, but if you do, running Plex on Linux apparently makes QuickSync work much better than Windows. Just something I read on the forums while troubleshooting my own rig!