XXHighEnd

As I just mentioned in another thread, I'm getting ready to upgrade from my current setup(2010 core duo mac mini) to a more powerful PC. I notice that most "boutique" builders in the US either have hex core CPUs running in a large and often noisy PC or quad core CPUs(specifically, the 3770k or 3770s) running in smaller and much quieter enclosures. I know what Peter has said about hex core with XXHE but I wonder what one gives up by choosing a quad core CPU in a PC(I'm excluding quad core i7 mac computers from this conversation) for use with 0.9z-7.

Esau

It's funny you should mention this. I've got a i7 3770K sitting on my desk right now. I want to 'upgrade' the music PC in my office, but as this uses a silent Zalmann TNN300 case (with heatpipes, no fans), I'm kind of constrained as to the max TDP I can use. Otherwise it would have been an i7 3930K sitting on my desk.

It should be quite easy for me to compare the 3770K to the hex-core 3960K (not a 3930K, but theoretically as good if not better), as I use the latter in Le Monster. I'm not sure that more horse-power necessarily guarantees better sound as earlier today I tried overclocking Le Monster and I didn't really like the affect on the sound - it was a little bit harder and more 'brittle' than normal.

Will let you know how I get on...

Mani.

Esau,


As far as my experience goes, SQ is not related to processor speed. "Throughput speed" yes, but this is only for a minor part related to processor speed. Otherwise it can well be the other way around (less processor speed is better SQ).

What you'd give up is the additional possibility in the SQ leage regarding "processor core dedication". So, what people may have forgotten or may have implied to be there right now, is still not there : exploit SQ explicitly by making use of all the cores there are.
Uff, that was a tough sentence. But long story short : at this moment the processor cores are hardly used for improving SQ. In a next version they will ...
(and then counts : the more cores the better)

What you'd give up is the almost instant loading of a FLAC album. This is related to the number of tracks on an album which often are more than 8 and usually not more than 12. So, the hexa core processor (in hyperthread mode, thus 12 cores) just allows to process all the tracks in parallel for most albums. Thus, supposed it will take 1 second per track to convert, then 12 tracks convert in 1 second just the same. With the quad core (HT=8) that will take 2 seconds.
N.b.: The 1 second may be on the low side, depending on how the disk subsytem is organized, so if the base would be 3 seconds, then it becomes around 6 seconds with the quad core.
Is this important ? well, I guess that with the Mini you are used to something like 30-60 seconds ...


There is logic in this of course, because of the extraordinary cooling which is needed for those fast processors. So, it is not easy at all to squeeze everything - and especially the processor cooler - into a small case, which case already gets hot because it is so small. So next thing which is not easy is to get the heat out. And then all without noise ...
But okay, it can be done, as we know ... :grazy:
(and not "quieter" but quiet)

Peter

Peter,

Where is that topic with "your" build pc. 

 :)

I didn't look now, but I too never can find it. I guess it is time to put it in a more prominent space.

Got it  :)

http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=2084.0

Thanx

"Less powerful" can mean a lot of things.  Specifically what is different, as far as you know?

Edit: I see you've already asked Peter himself in another thread about the differences between this "boutique" PC and his, so if you want to continue over there rather than responding here, I won't mind.   ;)
[/quote]

Jud, we're talking about a PC with Intel core i7 quad core(specifically, 3770S or 3770K) and 2 internal hard drives, plus a firewire slot versus Peter's PC with Intel core i7 3930 hexacore(overclocked to 4 GHz), 3 hard drives, room for 2 additional hard drives if desired and no firewire slot. The builder also practically begs me to go completely SSD to make the PC quieter. Also, 3770S(maxing out at 3.1 GHz without overclocking) is quieter than 3770K(maxing out at 3.5 GHz without overclocking). Sound quality for the 3770 CPUs with overclocking is, at this point, an open question.

Peter is now telling us that quad core gives faster load times for music but no difference in sound quality for 0.9z-7, and he also says that a future version of XXHE will be somewhat thread(and therefore, core)dependent in regards to sound quality.

Esau

Somewhat ??
You have high expectations from me today ! haha

[/quote]
at this moment the processor cores are hardly used for improving SQ. In a next version they will ...
(and then counts : the more cores the better)[/quote]

I thought that "somewhat" would be a safe, if conservative, bet. We'll see if a future 0.9z-8 release with a hexacore leads to a WOW WOW WOW thread.

Esau

So the 3770 will almost certainly run hotter than the 3930 (unless you reduce the speed of the 3770 - probably not what you want).  Peter can therefore afford to run the cooling fans in his rig reasonably slowly, making it nice and quiet.  And as Peter says, the 3930 has more cores/thread capability.  (Peter, are you really going to be able to take advantage of, for example, 8-10 threads in XXHE?)

Many people, including me, really like SSDs almost everywhere.  I don't think Peter does so much, but I'd have to review more threads here to remember exactly where he thinks they may be good (if anywhere), and where they may not.  My guess is that in terms of noise, the CPU cooler fans and power supply and case fans, if any, will be the major contributors, reasonable HDDs not so much.  (I have the same CPU cooler fans in my homebuilt PC as Peter does in his rig, and they are *very* quiet.)

I'd say between the SSDs the other builder wants you to get and the CPU, you've got the best part if not all of that $1000 difference.