XXHighEnd

Ultimate Audio Playback => Your questions about the PC -> DAC route => Topic started by: fralippo on December 08, 2014, 06:29:55 pm



Title: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: fralippo on December 08, 2014, 06:29:55 pm
Would you suggest a Intel i3 CPU or would a i5 be a better choice?
Maybe there is no need for higher "power".

Motherboard would be a quality one, such a entry level Asus Z or H97, with a good PSU in the Eur 100 range.

Suggestions? Thanks!


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: CoenP on December 08, 2014, 11:06:55 pm
Hi

My i5 playes the tunes most of the time, but not all the time. Also not sure if its the PSU, motherboard and/or processor that's holding back SQ.

Now I would be wise and buy a more performant processor. The more cache and cores, the better -it seems-. Graphics processing by the CPU chip (aka the IGP) is not relevant and its use should be avoided by installing a cheap graphics card. i7 standard would be my absolute minimum. I'm contemplating on upgrading to extreme series in 2015.

regards, Coen


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: PeterSt on December 09, 2014, 08:47:02 am
Quote
Maybe there is no need for higher "power".

There always is. This is because "we" are always working against the limits. And sadly it is so that these limits always show the better SQ.
So trust me : My SQ will be better because I have the more powerful PC. I just can dial in "more" from XXHighEnd ...

Peter

PS: This counts for everyone not owning a NOS1a.


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: AlainGr on December 09, 2014, 01:58:48 pm
Peter,

When I will have my NOS1 with an "a" at the end of it, it will mean that I can use a less powerful PC to play my music ?

Alain


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: PeterSt on December 09, 2014, 06:53:47 pm
Hi Alain,

To some degree, Yes. But it is a dangerous assumption. So about the "XXHighEnd limits" etc. - not needed anymore. But running everything cool etc. and the famous 430MHz thing ... that is something else.
So I wouldn't count on it.

Regards,
Peter


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: fralippo on December 09, 2014, 08:14:07 pm
Quote
Maybe there is no need for higher "power".

There always is. This is because "we" are always working against the limits. And sadly it is so that these limits always show the better SQ.
So trust me : My SQ will be better because I have the more powerful PC. I just can dial in "more" from XXHighEnd ...

Peter

PS: This counts for everyone not owning a NOS1a.


Interesting Peter. But how does this requirement for higher power relates to heavy clock slow down? It looks as you use 500MHz, or less on CPU.


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: PeterSt on December 10, 2014, 12:55:48 pm
Hard to explain in a few words when you didn't follow this all. But think over-dimensioning ... OK, now you still won't understand.

Today's better (or best) CPU's are not only faster for frequency, but they contain fast memory caches, more memory lanes and a lot more. These parts won't be divided by 10 when the frequency goes down by a factor of 10. Frequency (speed) is important, but it is by far the least important (for what we do with it). So notice :
When this is optimized like I did it for Windows 8 (see sig for Windows 8 (not the NOS1a link)) then the PC uses 48 Watts during playback of 32/750600. And that with a CPU usage of virtually 0%. Still e.g. a laptop with the normal CPU frequency (say 10 times higher) may use 30% of CPU and it takes ages to load a track in the mean time.
It just can't be compared ...

Peter


Title: Re: A new PC for XXHighEnd...
Post by: christoffe on December 10, 2014, 03:06:36 pm

Still e.g. a laptop with the normal CPU frequency (say 10 times higher) may use 30% of CPU and it takes ages to load a track in the mean time.
It just can't be compared ...


The main point since **NOS1a** is, what PC configuration produces the best SQ, and everything else (components) follows this judgement.

A) PC system with an internal PS
or
B) PC system with an external**linear** PS

Joachim