Hello there. After using Roon for some years, I finally took the leap of faith and became a lifetimer, so the next logical step is to get a dedicated core. Unfortunately, for the time being I can’t afford a Nucleus, so I’m looking for a decent alternative capable of performing DSP. From what I’ve read, Intel NUC10 i7 is an obvious candidate. But I still have some doubts: Is that so, or is there a better alternative to Nucleus now? How much RAM should I use? And what about the newer NUC11? Will it work with Roon?
Any input will be highly appreciated.
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I think a brand new $699 Mac Mini is the best Nucleus alternative and (shhhh) it’s more powerful than a Nucleus+
But that aside, it’s pretty easy to work with and works well with Roon even if you’re not a Mac person. Just opt for automatic login and it’s pretty much a headless server if you want it to be
I’m on a Nucleus+ now but that is only because I just really like the hardware and I found another purpose for the Mac Mini. If I were constrained on my budget I wouldn’t hesitate to put all but the freakiest largest library on the base model Mac Mini
There are lots of options that don’t cost a lot. Have fun.
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I did not even buy a separate system for Roon. I have a Xenon server running Vsphere / Esxi Virtualization. I just spun up a Ubtunu 20.04 virtual machine on the server. Works wonderfully without a hitch. I also added OpenVPN to the roon server so I can use Roon remotely if I want. I do prefer ARC when mobile as it handles network instability well - but like Roon classic when I am at a fixed location. As long as you have reasonable hardware, getting a super machine won’t make an audible difference. On the digital end bits are bits. There is more to talk about on the analog and DAC side!
Bob
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I would highly recommend picking a NUC from the supported hardware list. If the hardware is not on the list, Roon Labs is not going to be able to support it. As far as processing power, the number of cores is not primary, and the driver of your decision is basically clock-speed. (Yes, I am glossing over a lot.) I picked up a barely used 8th gen i7. The NUC was already built when I bought it, and is far over-spec’ed. I have just begun this journey, but as hard as I try I have not been able to do more than barely wake-up this little system. (8th gen is no longer Intel-supported, but the architecture/BIOS appears to be similar to 10th gen.) I am sure someone will much more experience can give you much better specifics.
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@fedocable, this is the only accurate answer to your question. You wanted a Nucleus? This is the next best thing.
The other suggestions all have their merits, from Tinkering to running Roon on an OS you’re familiar with.
With the NUC, it’s pretty much setup and forget. It simply works.
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Thanks a lot for all the answers! Actually I’m waiting for the new Mac Mini (which will hopefully be released this month) to replace the MacBook Pro on my desktop. But I’ll definitely go with the NUC for Roon. So I’ll just check the current supported hardware list and pick the most powerful one. It’s not as elegant as the Mini, but it’s Roon certified, and also its size and weight look perfect to take with me everywhere. Thanks a lot!
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Excellent choice but just to be really clear… Running roon server on macOS is not regarded as “tinkering“. It’s fully supported provided the specs are up to date
It’s when you get into trying to run ROCK on various and sundry hardware Roon hasn’t said they support that it’s considered tinkering.
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I agree, it’s not. This is what I said:
Running Roon server in a VM or ROCK on unsupported hardware is Tinkering. Running Roon or ROCK on supported platforms is not.
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You can always add an aluminium case to your order. However, my ROCK core sits in a cupboard with router and switch, so looks don’t matter.
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Thanks. That’s what I’ve been doing up until now, with zero problems. But I expect using Roon’s OS in a dedicated core will always be best.
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Thanks for the tip, I’ll look into that. If the case doesn’t add too much weight and looks cool enough, I’ll definitely get one.
Many of us use the Akasa cases, which are designed for specific Intel NUC models, so choose carefully.
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If you do go for an aftermarket case, the Akasa Turing case is a match for an i7. I have not yet installed mine in the recently received case. Any of the cases will work for the i3. The Turing is heavier and will dissipate the heat of a loaded i7. I personally think it is as nice as the Nucleus case. BTW, the guideline I used was to choose an i7 that supported Windows 11. Not a fan of Windows at all, but if the box supports the BIOS and processor necessary for that complicated excuse for an OS, I consider it adequately future-proofed. (You truly do not need the latest and greatest CPU, just one with a decent clock-speed. As far a I understand, ROCK uses a minimal number of cores. Power is not the primary challenge; speed is. I am finding 8th gen setup is amazingly fast.)
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Sounds like you’re already in the Mac ecosystem, so I thought I’d mention my setup for your consideration. I’m running Roon Server on a headless late 2014 Mac Mini (2.6 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5, 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 ram, 250GB SSD), in MacOS 12.6.1. Picked it up on eBay for $150 and it handles everything very well. Connected via USB to DAC input on Cambridge integrated amp. Admin access via Screen Sharing in MacOS or via the Screens app in iOS. This has been a great setup for me with no issues at all.
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I completely agree. I ran on a Mac Mini for a while with constant problems (mainly dropout), bought a NUC i7 and have never had a problem Wrks perfectly with ARC.
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Thanks again for the invaluable feedback. I’m almost set here. Following Roon’s list, I’ll go with the NUC11TNHi7, which is also small and light. A couple of doubts though.
- Roon recommends getting 8 Gb RAM for DSP or large libraries. Since RAM is pretty inexpensive, wouldn’t it be better to get, say, 16 Gb instead? If not for today needs, maybe future-wise?
- My current music library is in a 4 Tb external HDD. It would be great to expand that with a 2 Tb internal SSD, and thus be able to store inside the NUC. But can I have my library in two separate drives?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Yes I would get 16GB RAM to avoid a future upgrade.
And yes you can store the database across multiple disk’s if you need too.
Though I recently upgraded mine onto a 4TB SSD has made my NUC in an Akasa Turing case completely silent. I do recommend getting one of those if the fan noise becomes annoying.
My NUC fans used to get clogged up with dust over time.
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Terrific, thanks a lot Michael!
No problem, you have fun with this project.
Always an exciting time
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