SSD with QNAP TS251+ - internal or external?

Roon Software Discussion QNAP/Synology NAS
1

Hi, I’ve installed RoonServer on my QNAP TS251+ NAS, and the music folder is also on the same WD Red spinning disk.

All working fine, with no issues so far.

If I were to get an SSD drive instead of the WD, would it be better to get an internal one to run RoonServer/store music on, or would an external one be better, plugged into the USB port? If it were external, would it need to be powered?

Thanks!

2

I use an external SSD connected via USB3. I don’t think the performance will suffer when using USB3 or I don’t experience it on the TVS-471.
You should just make sure to have the volume formatted with an ext4 filesystem. Other filesystem might cause trouble and the performance might suffer. At least that’s my observations.

3

Thanks Christopher, may ask which SSD drive you use?

Thanks,

Tom

4

It is a Transcend ESD400 externe SSD-Festplatte 128GB.

5

Thanks for the info, Christopher.

T.

6

I am also planning to setup roon on TS251+. For more idea, Can you let me know what your system is?

7

Hi,

Roonserver and music folder are on the TS251+, this is connected by Ethernet to a Netgear router, then I have a Sonore Sonicorbiter SE also into the router via Ethernet. The Sonicorbiter is hooked up via USB to a Schiit Bifrost Multibit DAC, which in turn feeds a Quad 44/Quad 520 pre-amp/power amp combination.

I’ve had this setup for a month or two, and it has worked very well with no dropouts or other issues. The main purpose for me is to listen to higher resolution music and to escape the Apple ecosystem.

The TS252+ has 4gb of RAM installed, and I noticed the other day that CPU was running at 80%. I will probably increase the RAM to 8gb soon.

8

Tom,

I have a very similar set up to yours… except, you know what your are doing!! I am currently using the room core on my macbook Air. I just loaded the room server onto my QNAP TS251+ with 8 gigs of memory hoping to improve performance and avoid drop outs of my DSD files.

How can I check if my room server software is operating correctly vs the core on my MacBook Air?

Obviously I am a newbie

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

David

9

Hi @Tom_Williams

I am new to Roon on my Qnap but so far I’m loving it. I also have a 251+ but have 8gb RAM. I’m surprised at your 80% CPU usage. Is that fairly constant? Or just a peak every now and then. And do you have background audio analysis running? I disabled audio analysis because I don’t need crossfading or volume levelling and my CPU usage is averaging 2% now.

Hi @Charlie_Parker

I would say try and use it the same way you use it on your Macbook Air (i.e. same settings). If you are using it as per normal and you have no performance issues that will be a good sign. But also (I’m no expert, so anyone else please jump in) just have a look at your Qnaps CPU usage during normal use as well as CPU temperature.

As per above, I have the same 251+ with 8gb RAM and CPU usage is 2% and total RAM usage is 1gb max. I have nothing else running in the background of my Qnap though. No media sharing, no video playback. It’s just pure storage and Roon for me :slight_smile:

I hope the music listening is going good for everyone - it certainly is for me :slight_smile: