Is ASUSTOR AS5304T a good NAS for Plex 4K playback?

Impressive Intel performance

What makes the ASUSTOR AS5304T a good match for Plex and 4K content, in particular, is the choice of processor. The Intel Celeron J4105 sounds similar to what you'd find in slightly more affordable Synology NAS models, but it's more powerful and thus able to handle even some 4K content transcoding.

It's not the best CPU to use for this task, and I'd still recommend a desktop-class Intel Core i3 or i5 processor (or AMD Ryzen 3 or 5 if you want to go down the custom NAS route), but for the price, this is one compelling NAS for streamers and those who enjoy consuming UHD content.

You should be able to stream 4K media without issue, so long as you pick up the Plex Pass.

Do more with Plex Pass

The ASUSTOR AS5304T is great for Plex on paper, but to make the most of the hardware available, you'll want to consider upgrading your Plex account with the Plex Pass. It's optional but comes with numerous benefits, including access to hardware transcoding support.

Less powerful software-based transcoding is available out-the-box, but this isn't anywhere near enough for handling 4K content to devices that do not support the same file type. With Plex Pass, you have the choice of three plans: $5 per month, $40 annually, or $150 for lifetime access.

The one-off payment of $150 would save you a lot in the long run, especially if you have everything set up as you like. A 30-day free trial is available for you to try out.