Hi Gerard, I have only one fan in the Audio Pc and that´s the one in the CPU. The fan I use is working at 600rpm and is almost totally silent (6db) so if the problem is noise with this fan the problem is solved because it is absolutely inaudible at more than 20cm from the pc, in fact I can´t hear anything even with my ear almost touching the pc case. On the other hand if the problem is the electrical "noise" (interferences) generated by the fan itself, then the problem still exists. I can work in the bios when I need it without any problem.

This is the fan I use: http://noctua.at/en/nf-s12a-uln

Juan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjhWGbv4K5M

Juan

Hi, in the process to have an Audio Pc as clean as possible I removed the VGA. Since then a red light in the mb, near where the VGA was, is on all the time. Although it is not flashing, so I guess it doesn't create interferences, I´d like to know if there is a way to turn it off.

Regards,
Juan

Hi Mani,  as you see in my previous post the Music Server PC I'm thinking about is quite cheap. I don't use either a NAS nor a tablet as I said. As far as I know and based on what I read here it's not necessary a powerful Pc to be used as Music Server Pc. In fact right now I'm using an old AMD pc with 4Gb Ram DDR2, it works perfectly with the RDC and the two hdd of 2Tb each that I have now in a dock connected via USB3 to this Music Server Pc. It is only that I want to make it totally silent.
About to isolate totally the Audio Pc, at this moment I can't build a separate AC mains line but, although I'm using the same AC line for all the system, I can use some AC filters I have to isolate the NOS1a and the active Genelec as much as possible. I'm using also the Intona.
To have the Music Server Pc near me it is, at this moment, more convenient and cheaper than have it in another room.
Thanks anyway for sharing your setup.

Juan

Hi Fred,
I don't think it matters what you do in the Music Server Pc. I mean that no matter the structure of the Music Server Pc, if you have the hdd inside or not, because in the end the Music Server Pc is used to send the music files through the Remote Desktop, to the Audio Pc.
I personally don't use a tablet as I have near me the Music Server Pc, so I use a monitor and a keyboard. The problem may come from the noise generated by the Music Server Pc and the switching devices you plug in same power ring than the Audio Pc, like certain components as a Dock for external hdd. The solution I'm working on now is to make the Music Server Pc completely silent and to avoid the switching plugs. To do it I'm going to use an auto refrigerated motherboard like this one: http://www.asrock.com/mb/intel/q1900-itx/
I will also replace the HDD containing the OS for a 120Gb SSD with W10 and XXHighEnd (in case I want to use Tidal) and another 500Gb SSD with a selection (Flac ) of the music that interests me more. These SSDs are SATA connected internally. I'll keep the other hdds I have with several Tb of music as backup and to record more SSD. As PSU for the Music Server Pc you can use a fanless Seasonic or a Mini-Box picoPSU. As a PC case I'll probably use something like a Thermaltake Cube V1 but won't use its fan. The cost of this Music Server Pc including the SSDs: 300/400€ depending if you already have some of the components.
For the purposes of SQ what matters is how to manage the information once it arrives to the Audio Pc (Ram-disk etc.) and thereafter ( NOS 1 etc.).

Best regards,
Juan

Thanks guys, I almost forgot about those iso files.I don't use Jriver but I'll take a look.

Regards,
Juan

Very good summary George!

Juan

Hi Mani, I was using the switch with the only intention of making the transference of data faster and more stable between the Music Pc and the Audio Pc. I haven't had any device connected to the switch, it was just in the middle of two Ethernet cables. My music is in a dock connected with a USB 3.0 cable to the Music Pc. That I didn't had other devices connected to the switch is probably the reason I could not hear a greater improvement in SQ.

Regards,
Juan

Coincidentally today I removed the switch that was between the Music and Audio Pc. It seems to be a slight improvement in SQ with less edgy sound in general. It appears also that the transfer rate is similar to the one  with the switch. So now the switch is out and the connection between the two computers is made through a direct cable. Peter was right and it seems that the speed does not increase with the switch, at least it isn't perceptible with only one Ethernet cable of 3m length.

Regards
Juan

Hi Peter, yes I know that Mani has a direct connection and that's why I propose the use of a switch. In my experience and also with the information I have a switch can make the connection faster. Of course I can be wrong.

Regards
Juan

Hi Mani, have you tried a Gigabyte Switch? That will transfer the files faster. The problem is that you'll have also a power switch connected to the mains. I use a TP-LINK Gigabite Switch and all goes quite fast.

Regards
Juan

Hi Stanley,

Yes I´m using W10 in the Music Server with no problems at all. As I said in some place my present configuration is:

Dock with 2 music drives (2Tb each) > USB 3.0 cable > Music Server PC (W10) with WiFi for Internet and with its own monitor (not a tablet) > Ethernet Gigabyte cable > Switch > Ethernet Gigabyte cable > Audio Pc with the Ram-disk


The components I use are:

- A docking station like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Inateck-Docking-Station-Function-Tool-free/dp/B00LN0GX4I/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1455363600&sr=8-3&keywords=DOCKING+STATION+USB3.0

- A desktop Pc: Always better with its metal case than the plastic laptops or tablets to protect from interferences.

- A Switch: Like this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-Gigabit-Unmanaged-Desktop/dp/B000N99BBC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1455363403&sr=8-2&keywords=TP-LINK+TL-SG1005D

- A couple of Ethernet Gigabyte cables, better CAT7 for the same reason than above e.g. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ugreen-Ethernet-Gigabit-network-10Gbps-Black-flat/dp/B00QV1F1C4/ref=pd_sim_147_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51QLDGlxAgL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0B6CANZ235YCS40PZWV3

It is important also that the Ethernet ports in the PC´s are up to 1Gb, otherwhise would have a bottleneck there.



The software and the configuration is the most important part to make it work correctly.

To sumarize this part I use:

Windows 10 Pro version 1511. The Remote Desktop. As I don´t use a router I made the IP configuration manually. It is also important to configure it as a Private network not as Public (don´t know if this is the correct word in English). Know how to share the hdds with music and how to map it.

I´ll try to post a step by step tutorial next week with images on how I did it.

Regards,
Juan

Thanks Peter

Juan

Hi Peter, in the Save as button when we make right click appears a window that says Reset to initial Startup? Does it mean the original settings that comes in the Ram-disk? I mean, the very first ones?

Regards,
Juan

Alain, if you're alone in your home you can sing without fear, although, is not too early in Canada? 

Juan