Intel NUC vs DIY Computer

Roon Software Discussion
1

Hi,

I am looking for a dedicated music server that will run Roon in my music room. My plan is to have a dedicated computer that will be directly connected to my DAC & headphone amplifier. I know this is not the best way to do things, that ideally my server should not be in the same room as the listening room, but considering the size of my apartment this is not possible. The computer and my DAC will not be side by side, but they will be very close. For this reason, I need something that is, at least, silent (and powerful enough to run Roon, of course).

I do not want to spend a fortune, so I consider that I have three options:

(1) The cheapest mac mini.

(2) An Intel NUC.

(3) Building my own computer from scratch.

I do not think the first option is the best, considering the specifications of the cheapest mac mini. I might be able to have something more powerful for the same price (it will be a dedicated computer, so I do not care too much about the OS, insofar as it runs Roon properly).

I have some worries about the second option, and here I would like to have some feedbacks from users of Intel NUC. Interference problem? Is it noisy? Is the power supply of good quality?

Also, would a i3 processor be good enough for the long term, or should I upgrade to a i5 processor right now? Is 8GB of RAM enough? (These questions apply both for the second and third options).

Regarding the third option specifically, what should I have in mind in building a computer for Roon? My guess is that I should focus on noise and having a good power supply, but maybe I am missing something. So I would be happy to have some advice.

Thank you! David

2

IMHO, a home built DIY computer will beat any NUC, as you will have the ability to choose each part. For example, choosing a motherboard which has usb ports that can have their power turned off, or ones which have their audio path separated from the rest of the motherboard, or a very good power supply.

If you do want to go with a NUC, look at a Brix instead of Intel. If you search on the forums, I’m sure you’ll find a link to the one I’ve used. Also, ask @andybob.

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I wouldn’t buy the new Mac Mini, I’d rather have the 2012 version.

The new Mac Mini doesn’t allow any upgrades of RAM and don’t have Quad Core chips.

I’ve just bought a NUC with loads of RAM and a small M.2 hard drive solely for Roon, it can live in the cellar and run Linux (if I can work out how to get that configured) and RoonServer.

How fast a machine you need is going to depend upon how many albums you’ve got. I’d over spec just in case.

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I have also have a NUC just because it was convenient. I guess I might have gotten a more powerful computer by putting it together myself, but I’m sure it wouldn’t have been as small or as power efficient and would have had to work really hard to make it as silent.

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I’ve done both; I’ve built all my own computers (desktops, server and HTPC) over the past ten years, but a month ago I bought an Intel NUC specifically for Roon and to run our Home Automation system.

I bought an Intel NUC6i3SYH. So it’s a Core i3, and there’s room in the case for a 1TB 2.5" HDD to hold my media. An i3 with 8GB is perfectly adequate for my collection (1,000+ albums). See Suggested hardware for more info on sizing.

I should add that the NUC lives in a cupboard along with another (much bigger) server, so Roon serves endpoints over the network. The NUC does have a fan, so if you were to have it out in your listening room, that’s a consideration you need to take into account. Although it’s quiet (in my perception), fan noise is a very personal thing, and what is acceptable to one person will drive another to distraction. I think if I were to require a Roon all-in-one in the listening room, I might look to building a fanless unit, with media held on SSD. Not likely to be cheap…

6

Thank you for all these replies.

Regarding the size of my library, I actually have 818 albums (which is not a big library). I have another 1,000 albums waiting for me on a hard drive (this is the result of a crashed computer), and I usually add between 10 to 20 albums to my library each month. So by the end of 2017, I could have a library between 2,000 and 2,500 albums. I guess it is wise to get a computer that will be powerful enough to run Roon with a library of about 3,000 albums.

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Is your NUC really silent, in the sense that it would be possible to have it in your listening room? Maybe this is already your setup, but I just want to make sure because this is a real concern for me. Thank you!

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If your library is sized at 3,000 albums, and is an all-in-one, then reading’s Brian’s post, it seems to me that you should be thinking about an i5 rather than an i3. I can happily use an i3 because I’m running RoonServer on my NUC, and not full Roon, and my collection is currently smaller…

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Thank you for your reply! True: fan noise is a personal thing. I might not be able to know if a NUC is really silent without trying it myself.

I should have said from the beginning that I intend to install RoonServer - not the full Roon - on this computer (and to control Roon with my tablet).

10

Just replaced a 2012 Quad Core i7 Mac mini with a NUC6i5SYK this weekend. Really silent and two times smaller than I expected.

Running Linux and purring along quite happily – even upsampling minringFIR/ADSM7/DSD256 in HQ Player without a hitch. Given the current resell value of a QCi7 mini, I’ve got about €300 to spare. Yay - more endpoints!

1 Like
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Any views on speed relative to the Mac Mini?

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I wouldn’t know… since it’s connected to a USB disk that spins :frowning:

I do know that it’s much quieter than the drive.

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The NUC 6i5SYK w/ an M.2 SSD running Linux blows away the Mac Mini. It’s such a huge difference in performance. I recently switched my home system, and Roon feels so much nicer.

The machine got a bump in specs, but the Mac -> Linux bump was probably a bigger deal.

Note: I’m only running Roon Server on it. Same as I was with the Mac.

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The mini wins in hardcore number crunching (the NUC won’t do non -2s poly sinc filters in HQP, as was expected).

For day-to-day Roon (connecting, browsing, searching, playing) the NUC is at least as fast, and oftentimes feels faster. Anything is instant or near-instant with a library of ~17K tracks, including search.

RAM use is ~1,5GB – and that is with a graphical desktop running for HQP.

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Thank you, this helps me! The noise of my actual USB drive does not bother me, so if the NUC is quieter than the drive, it should be okay.

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Cool.

I’ll let you know when I get my new Skull Canyon tomorrow.

Might take me a year-or-so to set it up though, I’m not a Linux expert.

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you need my RoonOS image :slight_smile:

I really gotta figure out how to release that

2 Likes
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Yes! Do! We all know I need microRoon in my life. :smiley:

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Wow. That’s ugly. :smiley:

intel-skull-canyon-nuc-2016-03-17-03.jpg1400×878 127 KB

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Having said that, I also think that it’s not a pretty sight. I’m sure it will appeal to gameplayers though…