Article: Computer Audiophile Pocket Server C.A.P.S. v3 Carbon

[StreamFan]

Great design. Great case.

Regarding USB 3.0, I'm wondering if the usefulness for having 3.0 might be bandwidth for reading 24/192 flac files from a stick, since StreamMagic 6, and MF M1 CLiC seem to have trouble reading those files from USB sticks.

While most usage of this server for me would be via NAS access, it would be useful on occasion to put in a USB stick for files. Someone comes over or whatever. Is there a difference between USB 2 and 3 related to the reading of 24/192 flac files.

Again, Thanks for the design.

cheers,

SF

[StreamFan]

I just finished building my CAPS v3 and installing windows. Everything is as expected thus far except the video performance. I'm thinking it has to be a driver issue.. It's not that it doesnt play HD video, but it lags significantly on just the windows 8 GUI

 

I'm using the Intel dn2800mt

4GB crucial ddr3 (1 stick)

32GB Crucial Msata drive

Current Resolution is 1920x1080

If I lower the resolution to 1368x7XX it gets a little better

 

Intel doesn't appear to have a windows 8 driver for this video, only windows 7 which is what I had to install. I'm wondering is anyone has this problem with windwos 7 too? Updated to latest bios aswell

 

Any help is appreciated

 

Try How to optimize Windows 8 on old hardware | PCWorld. For Win 7 on Atom chips, it helps to disable Aero, set background to color with no pictures, fix swap file size, and disable unneeded services.

[StreamFan]

I understand that CAPS doesn't include video in the requirements, but there was a call for improvements for different needs, so haven't seen any mention of fanless video cards, such as EAH6450 Fanless Video Card, which work well for 1080p video to monitor. They do work silently. A headless music server is very useful, but can be useful to to have it connected to monitor for visuals or selections or whatever, especially now that JRiver has HD TRacks built in, surfing and having the video card offload that work is good. cheers, SF

[StreamFan]

StreamFan, thanks for the pointer. I am actually looking for a way to stream the few concert concerts I have. Im not necessarily looking to make this thing an HTPC at all, but this looks great. Two things though; I assume it would be ok, but think there will be power problems? also how that work w/ 32 bit windows (5 total GB of memory [4 gm RAM + 1 GB graphics card])?

 

Thanks

 

Hi, The graphic card memory is managed by the card, and so is not part of the OS memory, and doesn't count against the 32bit 4GB limit. Also, IE 9/Chrome/FF now use the CPU power of video cards to offset CPU cycles, meaning the main CPU isn't doing the drawing for browsing, so it does help in that regard. Also, the card will draw more power, which goes against the CAPS requirements. See these test results, Power, Temperature, And Noise Benchmarks : AMD Radeon HD 6450 Review: Caicos Cometh. There are other similar fanless cards. Search Amazon.

The card would likely require a 100w power supply instead of 60w per the spec, which can be had for $25.

I have not added a fanless graphics card to an Atom processor board. Someone else, perhaps Small Green Computer can confirm if this particular board takes it. But for other boards with available PCIexpress slot, it works great.

[StreamFan]

Chris, I just wanted to mention in particular that, to me, the most important parts of your CAPS design are: Bit perfect playback, headless JRiver service via remote JPad, NAS centric, and USB research on SOtM tX-USBexp card. Silent parts are critical as well, but I had silent parts before but without knowledge of clean USB, remote control, or a BitPerfect path and therefore was lacking. Other parts may come and go, but these core aspects actually fundamentally changed and liberated my digital experience and increased my enjoyment of digital audio fidelity. No other place has made it clear how to achieve this result, end to end, which seams important to the success of digital HIFI. So thank you most sincerely for that. Cheers, SF