Dust-gathering PC becomes streaming hub

An old laptop or desktop under ten years old can become a private Netflix or Spotify alternative in an afternoon.

Software runs on nearly any hardware

Plex and Jellyfin media server software work on low-end machines. Beginners can use Windows; tech enthusiasts can tinker with Linux.

Choose Windows or Linux for your OS

Windows is familiar but Linux is lighter and safer for older hardware. Windows ten is past end-of-service, making it a security risk.

Reset Windows eleven before starting

Back up your data to an external drive, then use Settings to reset the OS. This can take several hours on older machines.

Plan storage for your media files

Avoid using the boot drive to serve media. Many enthusiasts use multiple drives with RAID for protection against failures.

Plex is easiest, Jellyfin is free

Plex requires minimal setup but locks advanced features behind a subscription. Jellyfin is open-source and free but needs more tinkering.

Transcoding differs between the two

Plex keeps transcoding CPU-bound unless you pay for Plex Pass. Jellyfin offers free GPU transcoding but requires setup.

“Plex makes this process automatic but keeps transcoding CPU-bound, with no hardware acceleration able to take place on your GPU unless you pay for the Plex Pass subscription.”

Emby offers a middle ground option

Emby sits between Plex and Jellyfin for ease of use but charges for hardware transcoding like Plex does. All three offer free trials.