What is the best hardware to install Roon? I see this as good one. I wanted to make sure. Do I need to open and add anything? Also, any accessories like SSD Recommended? Appreciate it.
I would use a samsung m.2 SSD for the OS, you will need a second SSD (not m.2) if you want internal music storage and I like Corsair for the memory.
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The link posted by the OP is confusing. It looks as if if links to a NUC11PAHi7 (which is on the Roon supported list and is fitted with a i7-1165G7) but actually links to “a WEIDIAN 10th Gen. i7 Desktop PC Mini PC Quad Core 10510U 32GB DDR4 512GB SSD 1TB HDD, 2LAN, HD, TPC, DP, Dual Band WiFi, Windows 11 Pro Linux Mini Desktop Computer”.
The i7-10510U processor in this is actually slightly slower than the i7-10710U which is in the NUC10i7FNx which in turn is on the supported NUC list. It also has considerably worse single core performance than the i7-1165G7 in the NUC11PAHi7.
There is no indication of the configuration of the memory. Whilst it has more than sufficient memory, it may only have a single DIMM fitted - which is not optimal.
Whilst the mini PC has a 512Gbyte M.2 SSD (which is more than large enough) and a 1 TByte HDD - which again is perfectly adequate but may not be silent. There is not indication of the make of the SSD so reliability may be unknown.
Not being an Intel NUC, use of Roon OS (as installed by ROCK) will not be supported (although it may well work).
However, it should still be good enough for running Roon Server on the installed Windows OS or even a replacement linux distro even if not so good for extreme DSP.
Appreciate reply. I am flexible to buy anything else is better. I see the link that I put already has windows system. I guess I don’t need it.
Appreciate any links for what is needed. I am in trial period and thinking to take lifetime membership.
I guess I understoodnow that I need to look for Barebone. I find in amazon Nuc11 and Nuc12. Is any advantage to go for nuc12 as listed here.
https://www.amazon.com/NUC11PAHi7-Panther-Mainsteam-Barebone，Intel-i7-1165G7/dp/B0BKQB7X1P/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EogCCjpB49P4_xVuljD3wZVhX1N9sQxQPrVZj4h_oxK0jov6TqXENzaIStgStWahMs0085GV07sNmXRRfKoU-kY9Zlz7rMtHrfjgcULk74nzJW69O2ahS0Ktb2AJlOhl3vMpesDVHLnyyzxrVhPmCQhz2etnCRBqWa30G6T6APphxv3EQOzMvICpVRhzq2CarFkvBcZln_c7Bjcn9cT5-fLMT_EAo_R0s9lUc6w_eGw.5Gqr1b9S_5ulG8hoL6t-72zp4CM4RydsCfcHX1Vjor0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=410127062531&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9057273&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=5316014789811188697&hvtargid=kwd-52083453361&hydadcr=18002_11412151&keywords=intel%2Bnuc%2Bi7&qid=1710185257&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.ac2169a1-b668-44b9-8bd0-5ec63b24bcb5&th=1
I guess I need these as well
- 32gb memory
- internal SSD (512gb)
16GB memory and 128 GB SSD is more than sufficient for a NUC for the majority of library sizes. However, you may find 128GB SSDs are rare, and a 256GB is not a great price differential.
Note that gen 12 NUCs do NOT currently support audio out via HDMI.
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This is a good watch
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Thanks for the link. It seems roon core with database need be on on separate M2 based ssd vs internal music storage. Based on research, I guess I need these. Appreciate validation.
- NUC11 i7 0+0 Barebone
2 Crucial RAM 16GB DDR4 3200MHz CL22 (or 2933MHz or 2666MHz) Laptop Memory CT16G4SFRA32A
- SAMSUNG 980 PRO SSD 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen 4 Gaming M.2 Internal Solid State Drive Memory Card, Maximum Speed, Thermal Control, MZ-V8P500B/AM
- Western Digital 1TB WD Blue SA510 SATA Internal Solid State Drive SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - WDS100T3B0A
Links
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XKZQM9S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AUN9FCRBCOBQZ&th=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09ZYQ84CM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
Actually, the storage drive can equally be an external HDD, cheaper and you can use it to backup Roon’s database, which you cannot do with internal storage drives. The extra speed of an ssd in music playback is basically useles as HDD speeds over USB are already much faster than is needed.
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Thanks for the recommendation. I might use this or 2tb. Appreciate anything else as well. Glad I am close to what is needed to setup
SanDisk 1TB Extreme Portable SSD - Up to 1050MB/s, USB-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, IP65 Water and Dust Resistance, Updated Firmware - External Solid State Drive - SDSSDE61-1T00-G25
Also, the Samsung 980 pro is an exceptionally high performance SSD that comes at a price.
You might save a little money by opting for an M.2 SSD in the Samsung EVO range.
You could put that money towards the extra expense of buying 2 8GByte memory modules instead of one 16GByte module.
This will result in a slightly higher performing roon server. However, even with just one DIMM memory module, it would be good enough for your purposes so you could just do whatever is cheapest with regard to memory.
If intending to build a Roon OS system using ROCK, don’t forget that you will need a USB memory stick on which to put the ROCK installer. I can’t remember what the minimum size for the USB stick is - I used a 128GByte stick because that was what I had.
Thanks a lot for the recommendation. This is 3 to 5 year investment or more along with lifeitme membership and don’t mind spending whatever helps better in the long run.
I did not know that 2 8gb gives better performance than 1 16gb. I will get 2 of 8gb. I don’t mind buying 2 16gb, but my understanding so far is total of 16gb is enough.
I will stick to 980 pro , along with 2 8gb.
For external ssd, I find Sandisk has one for 2000MB/sec vs 1050 MB/sec. Does it make difference for streaming at most 4 or 5 devices at the same time. Mostly 2 at most.
Appreciate all the input.
Just as a datapoint… On my Roon server I installed a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 250 GB for the OS and Roon database… It has been running 4 years without any problem, on a heavily used sever, which started out with about 70 k tracks and now stands at 306 k.
Here’s today’s SMART report:
=== START OF SMART DATA SECTION ===
SMART overall-health self-assessment test result: PASSED
SMART/Health Information (NVMe Log 0x02)
Critical Warning: 0x00
Temperature: 49 Celsius
Available Spare: 100%
Available Spare Threshold: 10%
Percentage Used: 6%
Data Units Read: 5,636,418 [2.88 TB]
Data Units Written: 63,946,168 [32.7 TB]
Host Read Commands: 61,472,055
Host Write Commands: 285,567,074
Controller Busy Time: 2,161
Power Cycles: 234
Power On Hours: 5,931
Unsafe Shutdowns: 182
Media and Data Integrity Errors: 0
Error Information Log Entries: 115
Warning Comp. Temperature Time: 0
Critical Comp. Temperature Time: 0
Temperature Sensor 1: 49 Celsius
Temperature Sensor 2: 46 Celsius
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Any external USB connected SSD will offer the required performance. Many such USB SSD’s are actually SATA3 SSDs in a USB enclosure and so are limited to the theoretical maximum of 600MBytes/s of SATA3 but actually achieve about 500-550MBytes/s.
By contrast, even an extreme high resolution files - say 768kS/s at 32 bits per sample (about 35 times the data rate of a CD) is about 6 MBytes/seconds so that external SSD will support more streams than you could possibly want (even allowing for overheads it is likely to be more than 50).
Even an external spinning hard disk will support multiple such streams without too many issues although they will likely be more limited by seek times rather than transfer performance.
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I would go with WD
And you need to reformat the driver to exFAT on another computer before use.
Is there any difference buying 2x8bg vs 16gb kit which is claimed as still 2 8b?
This is a 2x8gb set, so you are indeed getting what works best. It is the same RAM I am using on my ROCK with the same NUC11PAHi7. Works great!
I second using a Samsung M.2 drive for the OS. They are generally much more reliable than other brands.
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Glad we are same page for RAM and NUC. I will also get Samsung 980 pro ssd and guess it is similar to m2.
If I buy 2tb ssd (1000MB/sec) and find I don’t need all that space for music, can I use part of it for any personal data. I don’t think it is required. Just curious to know in case
You could do this. When connected to a ROCK/NUC, it will be exposed as part of an SMB share which you can obviously use for whatever your want - at least if you keep your music library and other stuff separated in different top level folders (relative to the disk file system root) and don’t let Roon Server scan the non-music folders for music tracks.
However, Roon OS (as installed by ROCK) is not designed to be a general purpose OS (or a file server OS - although it has to support some degree of file server functionality for local library management). Also, since, the external drive connected to the NUC is exposed as part of the single SMB share that includes the Roon database (and other items that should not, in general, be modified), using it for any non-Roon related purpose increases the possibility of an user error that could render your Roon Server inoperable (although there are mechanisms by which such possibilities can be minimised).
Consequently, I, personally, would be somewhat reluctant to do this - at least for regularly or frequently accessed content. I don’t suppose that there would be too much of an issue with using it as a backup location for important, but rarely changing data. It should be remembered that the data stored is accessible to anyone (both when accessed through Roon OS and when considered as portable USB storage) so sensitive data should probably not be stored on it.
I think I would rather buy a USB HDD/SSD sized according to my anticipated local library size (with room for expansion) connected to the NUC for Roon library storage (and DB backup) and, if and when a need arises, buy another to be connected to your computer for other data.
I think I calculated that a 1TByte disk could store about 13000-15000 albums in FLAC 44.1kS/s 16bit. Obviously this number falls in inverse proportion to the sample rate and bit depth. For 192kS/s 24bit, the same 1TByte disk would hold aproximately 2000 albums.
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