A picture speaks a 1000 words
Watch the Darko video in the post further up the thread , he literally does what you need with the exception of the internal drive. Once ROCK is running that is dead easy
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The help contained here is superb.
After some careful shopping and using Roonâs approved NUC list, I found a NUC11PAHi7 for $399 at Amazon (U.S.) here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XKZQM9S?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
I have 280,000 tracks, so I chose the i7.
Before reading this, having used Samsung NVMe M.2âs in the past, I chose a slower Kingston NVMe (what was I thinking?).
I just ordered a Samsung 500 Pro tonight. I also initially ordered 16(8x2)GB of memory.
Reading everything I could find regarding NUC-Rock RAM numbers, I later also upped the memory, opting to go with 32(16x2) GB of RAM, to be on the plus side. The cost delta was negligible (so why not?). Fortunately with this thread and others, I havenât received the hardware and for easy returns, I wonât open the shipping boxes (NewEgg and B&H Photo).
Whether itâs absolutely necessary, regarding RAM, I did use Intelâs compatibility tool for my model: https://compatibleproducts.intel.com/ProductDetails?activeModule=Intel%C2%AE%20NUC&prdName=NUC11PAHi7. Memory suppliers like Kingston, Crucial et.al. also generally have memory finders using PC model numbers. I reverted to using Kingstonâs finder, because the Intel approved RAM was discontinued (which is not unusual on older hardware like the NUC 11).
Iâm waiting for all to show-up and look am looking forward to joining the Rock-NUC brigade.
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Sounds like you made the right decision
I have a 10i7, 32 Gb and 4Tb internal SSD plus a 5Tb USB HDD. plus 500 gb M.2 system drive
I keep the USB drive disabled to keep the file count down , I see performance improve when I disable it. I use virtually no DSP , I sometimes use volume levelling.
It may pay to prioritize folders. I have a lot of Big Box sets that I have âextractedâ albums from , so they are duplicates. Since Roon doesnât handle Big Boxes that well , I keep those on the USB drive and out of the library.
The build is really simple if you have nimble fingers , which I donât.
Iâve been in and out of PCâs since our first Zenith IBM PC clone, in the early 80âs.
Not having a clue what to do with it, having an IBM PC put on my desk in '83 was a real treat. 
Learning MS DOS was even more fun. My boss couldnât wait to get his hand on the new beasts. Sneakily, he bought the computers on a PO that designated them as automated calculators. Not being in IT, it was good for me, because I learned from the ground up. The older folks around me were somewhat resistant however.
Since then, Iâve built 2-PCâs. Deciding upon the case and parts was more difficult than the build.
However, after tearing into a laptop recently to install a SSD, I agree size (contrary to the on-going debate) 
and my fat fingers do make a difference. The 5-year old HTPC that presently houses the Roon Server & 6-HDâs is pictured:
Iâm wanting to get away from Windoz, several fans, the heat and noise, with the intention of leaving the NUC-Rock & its 20TB planned external HD run 24/7.
First, the BIOS upgrade seemed straight forward, until it wasnât.
With the USB stick in place with its BIOS CAP file, no F7 prompt was displayed as the instructions said they would be.
So, I booted hitting F7 while doing so. I was put into the BIOS Flash Update menu. From there I didnât know what to do, because there was no USB device to select as instructed (see pic).
So, moving from Roonâs setup instructions, I found Intelâs (file:///C:/Users/music/Downloads/BIOS-Update-NUC-ELEMENT.pdf
).
They read like Roonâs. However, also in them, was a 3-second power button method. But, their pics., didnât appear like what I was seeing. I was back at the BIOS Flash Update screen. I was a bit hesitant to click either the âUnknown Deviceâ or âRefresh Media Listâ.
After some head scratching, I decided to try the âRefresh Media Listâ menu item in the BIOS Flash Update screen. Aha, up popped the USB stick as an option. So, the BIOS was finally updated!
Thereafter, selecting the correct inputs on the BIOS screen were a bit tedious. John Darkoâs video John Darkoâs Rock Video said to disable UEFI. Roonâs instructions said the opposite. So, I followed Roonâs instructions and made sure UEFI was enabled.
The next 2-instructions were:
-
Enable USB Boot but make sure the SSD has boot priority (OK, makes sense)
-
You may need to enable the M.2 slot, depending on the BIOS version
Only the Internet and USB were Boot options. I went back to the menus and made sure that my Samsung 500gb M.2 drive was installed and enabled. It was installed and I believe enabled. After drilling through all the BIOS menus, I donât see where I could enable or disable my Samsung M.2 drive.
Thus, I proceeded with the Rock install. Following those instructions, I was able to select the M.2 drive. Rock seemed to install properly.
I then received Rockâs instruction about the Internet. I wasnât connected, nor near an Ethernet port, and it was getting late, so I stopped.
Before I finish the Rock install, should I go back into the BIOS and make sure the M.2 drive is first in Boot order? What if I still canât find where/how to make it an option in the boot sequence menu? Any help would be appreciatedâŚThanks, -Mike
That video was made back in the day when ROCK had no UEFI support. ROCK and RoonOS has had UEFI since November 2022:
Until the M.2 SSD has had RoonOS and a Boot partition installed on it by ROCK, then naturally you wonât see it as a choice in the Boot menu.
In dealing with hardware and software, changes are to be expected which supersede previous advice and why it made sense to chose to go with Roonâs instructions, which I assumed would be more up-to-date.
But for PC and device issues in general, thatâs why I cross-my-fingers that the specific instructions and screen shots Iâve found are still relevant, knowing that they may have been obsoleted by a software/firmware version change(s).
Thanks for the confirmation.
As I was scanning all of the NUC 11âs BIOS options, I was wondering if there any defaults that need-not-specifically be changed for Rockâs needs, but nevertheless would be a good practice to change. That is, are there any other options in the NUCâs BIOS that you generally change, or would be recommended to be changed from their defaults?
I canât answer this, since itâs years since I set up my ROCK/NUC system and itâs been just sitting and doing its thing since thenâŚ
Thanks Geoff_Coupe. Maybe someone with more recent BIOS experience with the newer NUCâs may have an answer.
However, you ROCK/NUC systemâs âbeen just sitting and doing its thingâ for âyearsâ, bodes well for those of us just starting a new ROCK/NUC system 
!
I took some screenshots during my ROCK build last monthâŚalso a NUC 11. Sharing in case they help.
Iâm hoping they are somewhat explanatory. Good luck!
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Pictures are worth aâŚwellâŚyou know. Thanks for these, they will remove some of the guess work. Iâm sure there are some processes and system device options that can be disabled and even more for one running a single M.2 drive/USB HD, ROCK-NUC like myself.
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Perhaps, but I would keep the BIOS configuration simple and let Roon OS handle optimization. I generally just load BIOS defaults, disable Secure Boot and Network Boot, and make sure that boot order does not have anything silly in it.
Iâm not keen on doing anything that would jeopardize Roon doing what it was designed to do; or worse, negatively effecting Roon. Thatâs exactly why I asked the question.
If I donât understand the effect, I generally error to doing nothing and hence, minus a cause & effect reason by Roonâs staff, or based on an an experienced community user, I will leave BIOS items as they are, following todayâs ROCKâs initiation on my new NUC 11.
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I am considering installing Roon ROCK on a NUC
I see Intel NUC11TNHi7 listed as approved for ROCK. This unit is listed on Amazon Canada for $1139 https://www.amazon.ca/NUC11TNHI7-Computer-i7-1165G7-Processor-Graphics/dp/B0BNBKH69L?th=1
There is a similar unit listed on Amazon Canada but with a different model number for $849.
https://www.amazon.ca/i7-1165G7-Graphics-Bluetooth-Support-Built/dp/B0C7L96FYY?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1
Can anyone inform me on the differences between the two and whether the lesser priced unit is suitable for ROCK.
Welcome to the Roon community, @Blake_Murphy.
The first is a NUC11TNHI7 whereas the second is a NUC11PAHi7. Both models are supported. Incidently, the other variant with a 512 GB PCie SSD is all you need for ROCK ($699)
The product codes, which explain the differences, can be seen here.
Quick question. Where can one find the bios update file? Iâm so confused
You can skip the BIOS update step if you want.
Dan, thanks very much!!
Yes, I do wish that Roon Labs would update the ROCK Install Guide to remove this step. It was introduced very early on because an earlier generation of Intel NUCs (5 or 6?) when first released had a problem with the power circuitry that could brick the NUC. In order to fix this, Intel released a BIOS update that was mandatory.
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Yes, many of the FAQs need to be updated as well.