Very slow search - Nils Frahm [large library, 248 K tracks]

[andybob (Andrew Cox)]

Best hardware for Core for large library

Since I started using Roon a few years back, there have always been some issues with maintaining the library for large collections. I don’t remember the details, but I think the consensus was that it was an OS X limitation, and that for large libraries a dedicated PC as core would perform better. So my question for the community / developers is: If you were starting from scratch with new hardware for Roon Core, and you intended to use a library with 200,000 tracks (just for example) what would …

If your library fits on one SSD and you have no intention to run HQ Player on the same machine then the fastest i7 NUC you can find (with a storage SSD or connecting to USB storage) running ROCK remains the best current solution. That may change when support for NET 6.0 on Apple Silicon is rolled out (see Brian’s post linked above). That is a current project under development atm, but it is subject to Microsoft progress and release cycle.

If you want multiple SSD storage or think you might like to try HQ Player in the future then a fast i7/i9 or AMD in your favourite ATX case and appropriate cooling running Windows 10. See this thread for the latest suggestions regarding most intensive HQ Player settings:

Suggestions for current hardware - DSD512, ECv2

I’d wait for gen 13 chips and hope to get a better deal on a gen 12. If you go lastest gen Nvidia it’d be rtx 30xx. I’d consider 3060ti as they’re smaller or a 3070ti but they’re a lot longer. Ti cards have more CUDA cores than non Ti cards. Keep it simple and you’ll be happy. Get a good air cooler, I’d look at Noctua. I’ve always used the D15 but they are big, the NH-U12A is worth a look. The NF-A12x25 fans are super quiet and move a lot of air. I’d use an nvme drive for the system, roon…

Whether you opt for a NUC or an ATX server I would suggest separating the inevitably noisy Core from your DAC with a Roon Ready device (NAA for HQP). I use a Sonore microRendu, but with your resources and gear I would opt for an Optical Ethernet link using the opticalRendu and an opticalModule or Optical Ethernet card at the NUC/Server end. Optical Ethernet is the best separation from the Core available and is a lot cheaper than trying to tweak a NUC or ATX box into being quiet.

Whatever Roon Ready device on the ‘clean end’ you opt for, I would recommend powering it with an UltraCap LPS-1.2. This uses switching capacitor banks, one running the Roon Ready device while the other recharges, meaning complete isolation from the wall power supply. This did wonders for transients on my system.