Common processors and the video profiles that they support

In order to stream media from your Windows Server 2012 Essentials server, you can use a computer that is running the Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating system or other networked devices (such as digital media players), or Media Center extenders (such as Xbox 360). When you are away from your network, use Remote Web Access Media Player to play files that are stored on your server.

You need a data transfer rate between 200 KBps and 10 MBps. You need to use media formats that your computer and devices can recognize and play. Not all devices support the same media formats, so there must be a way for your computer and devices to play the media files you have.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials contains transcoding support that determines the capability of the computer or device, and then dynamically converts an unsupported video file into a supported one. In general, if Windows Media Player 12 can play the content on a computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows 8, the content on the server will play on the network-connected device.

The format and bit rate chosen for transcoding is highly dependent on the performance of the server processor. The processor performance is identified as part of the Windows Experience Index. To determine the performance score of your server, do one of the following:

• On a network computer running Windows 7 or Windows 8 that has the same processor as your server, go to the Control Panel, click Performance Information and Tools, and then review the information on the Rate and improve your computer’s performance page.
  
  
• Contact the manufacturer of the processor.
  
  

For the best user experience, choose a video streaming resolution quality that is appropriate for your server processor. The server will automatically adjust the bit rate to one of these settings:

• Low if the processor score is less than 3.6.
  
  
• Medium if the processor score is greater than 3.6 and less than 4.2.
  
  
• High if the processor score is greater than 4.2 and less than 6.0.
  
  
• Best if the processor score is greater than 6.0.
  
  

If you choose a video streaming resolution that requires more processing power than your server has, you may experience buffers and stops while streaming media from the server.

Note
To stream high-definition video through Remote Web Access, you need a processor with a score of at least 6.0.