Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these.
Transcode checklist under Proxmox, not stream-count theater
A kernel and driver checklist for transcode on a mini PC under Proxmox. Not a stream-count contest. Quick Sync in a container. I won't invent stream counts.
A transcode checklist under Proxmox, not a stream-count contest. The roundup already said: N100 iGPU passthrough is a headache; Quick Sync inside an LXC is the sane path. This is the 2026 checklist. Community reports: N150 needs host kernel ≥ 6.11. GMKtec N150 + Jellyfin LXC reports exist on Proxmox 8.4.1 / kernel 6.11.11. Any N100/N150 with Intel UHD 24 EU is in this class: EQ14, S12 Pro, S13, G3 Plus, VP2430e, N1 Pro, ME Pro. N305 32 EU (CWWK B0CG8JBDCD) is the “more headroom, more idle watts” aside.
Third-party power tables, not ours: N100 headless idle ~6–8 W; 1× HW transcode ~12–16 W (Hobbyist's Hideaway / Jellywatch 2026 posts). Label those as other people’s Kill-A-Watt numbers. Idle and fan are collected in idle watts / fan noise.
What to run it on
| Box class | iGPU | Why it is here | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any N100/N150 24 EU living-room or appliance | Intel UHD 24 EU. Twin Lake N150: QSV / AV1 decode on current copy | Same transcode path. Pick the NIC / RAM story first | Host kernel ≥ 6.11 for N150 reports. LXC, not passthrough. |
| Protectli VP2430e | 24 EU, 1 GHz (maker page) | If the box is already the 4-NIC node | Fanless chassis still has to dump heat. See VP2430e. |
| CWWK N305 6-port | 32 EU | More iGPU headroom | More idle watts. Barebone. CWWK note. |
Skip
Skip iGPU passthrough as the default. Skip buying a box because a haul video quoted a stream count I can't reproduce. Skip 8 GB hosts for this job. Carts are the same living-room and 4-NIC SKUs as the other notes, start at EQ14 or VP2430e.
Sources
Proxmox forum: N150 iGPU passthrough. binarypatrick, 2026, Plex LXC hardware transcoding. Notebookcheck EQ14 review. Protectli VP2430e (iGPU 24 EU, 1 GHz).