I am looking to purchase a QNAP (either the TVS-h874 or the TVS-h1688) and want to use it as my main PC by using a Windows VM. I have 2 monitors that have HDMI and DisplayPort. What I would like to do is use the HDMI port to access QTS directly and use a Thunderbolt port to a Thunderbolt Dock for the monitors. Once I launch the VM just switch to DP and have 2 monitors. I think I could use a graphics card to do this but I want to use the graphics card for PLEX transcoding and I wont be gaming on the VM. Can I passthrough the Thunderbolt ports to the VM so this would work? If not, could I use one of the USB-C ports to do the same thing?
I have never used a NAS before and am simply in the research phase of purchase. Please excuse and ignorant or inappropriate use of terms or acronyms. Thank you for your help.
Multiple monitors with VM
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QNAPDanielFL
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Re: Multiple monitors with VM
My understanding is the Thunderbolt doc connecting to the NAS through thunderbolt won't let you view HDMI.
Thunderbolt on our NAS is for Networking and won't forward the HDMI.
TVS-h1688X or TVS-h874 have intel QuiskSync for hardware transcoding. 4K should not be a problem even if you don't use the GPU for Plex.
But I would also like to mention that if you put a GPU in QTS mode, you can use it for HD station to attach a monitor and access QTS and at the same time you can use it for apps and containers for things like Plex transcoding.
It is important to choose a GPU compatible for Hardware Transcoding and a 1050 or better should be needed to be helpful in 4K transcoding.
I don't think you will need a GPU for Plex. But you should be able to use a GPU both for Plex transcoding and HD station at the same time.
Thunderbolt on our NAS is for Networking and won't forward the HDMI.
TVS-h1688X or TVS-h874 have intel QuiskSync for hardware transcoding. 4K should not be a problem even if you don't use the GPU for Plex.
But I would also like to mention that if you put a GPU in QTS mode, you can use it for HD station to attach a monitor and access QTS and at the same time you can use it for apps and containers for things like Plex transcoding.
It is important to choose a GPU compatible for Hardware Transcoding and a 1050 or better should be needed to be helpful in 4K transcoding.
I don't think you will need a GPU for Plex. But you should be able to use a GPU both for Plex transcoding and HD station at the same time.
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Wizard6646
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Re: Multiple monitors with VM
Would the VM be able to see a USB C Dock connected to a USB C Port?
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QNAPDanielFL
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Re: Multiple monitors with VM
It is hard to say for sure if VM would see the USB Dock.
We do have the ability put a USB card in a PCIE slot and pass it to a VM.
https://www.qnap.com/en/how-to/faq/arti ... on-station
But that would take a PCIe slot. I don't know if a hub would work.
We do have the ability put a USB card in a PCIE slot and pass it to a VM.
https://www.qnap.com/en/how-to/faq/arti ... on-station
But that would take a PCIe slot. I don't know if a hub would work.
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dolbyman
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Re: Multiple monitors with VM
I just did a quick google and it seems USB-C to HDMI is based on an MHL bridge mode, compatible with the USB-C pinout that these adapters can negotiate, if this bridge is missing or any USB-C adapter card or hub is used..this MHL bridge to the GPU is missing and they will not output anything.