Compulab Airtop-G - new interesting, fast industrial server

[bibo01]

 

This is a new industrial server by Compulab - maker of excellent products like Fit-PC and Fitlet.

It can be configure with Xeon E3-1285 or i7-5775C; with GeForce GTX 750 Ti, GeForce GTX 950 or Quadro M4000. It's small (25.5 x 10 x 30 cm), no fan and all aluminium.

In a configuration for a fast HQPlayer server it costs $1661:

- i7 5775C

- 2 x 8 GB

- GeForce GTX 950

- no HD

- no OS

 

Compulab Airtop - Airtop-G – Airtop for gaming

Compulab Airtop - Specifications

Compulab Airtop - Airtop-G

[matthias]

This is a new industrial server by Compulab - maker of excellent products like Fit-PC and Fitlet.

It can be configure with Xeon E3-1285 or i7-5775C; with GeForce GTX 750 Ti, GeForce GTX 950 or Quadro M4000. It's small (25.5 x 10 x 30 cm), no fan and all aluminium.

In a configuration for a fast HQPlayer server it costs $1661:

- i7 5775C

- 2 x 8 GB

- GeForce GTX 950

- no HD

- no OS

 

Nice(no fan), but the performance(no Skylake) seems to be not better than the best Intel NUC:

 

Intel® NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK Features and Configurations

 

Matt

[bibo01]

Nice(no fan), but the performance(no Skylake) seems to be not better than the best Intel NUC:

 

Intel® NUC Kit NUC6i7KYK Features and Configurations

 

Matt

I don't know where you are taking that claim from, but in benchmarks the NUC's I7 6770HQ is about 18% slower than Airtop's i7-5775C, plus you can install a GeForce GTX 950 if needed.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Very cool

[craighartley]

I don't know where you are taking that claim from, but in benchmarks the NUC's I7 6770HQ is about 18% slower than Airtop's i7-5775C, plus you can install a GeForce GTX 950 if needed.

 

So how does it fare upsampling to DSD512 compared to a 6700 or 6700k?

[bibo01]

So how does it fare upsampling to DSD512 compared to a 6700 or 6700k?

 

Ideally, one would need to use an actual PC with HQPlayer to compare, taking in consideration also PC setup and how resources are allocated.

However, in PassMark benchmark a 6700 scores 9,973; a 6700K, 10,990; a 5775C, 11,109.

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

 

You can compare CPUs here too, just insert 6700k and 5775C in "CPU Product Benchmarks":

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/CPU/39

[craighartley]

Ideally, one would need to use an actual PC with HQPlayer to compare, taking in consideration also PC setup and how resources are allocated.

However, in PassMark benchmark a 6700 scores 9,973; a 6700K, 10,990; a 5775C, 11,109.

PassMark Intel vs AMD CPU Benchmarks - High End

 

You can compare CPUs here too, just insert 6700k and 5775C in "CPU Product Benchmarks":

CPU Benchmarks - Compare Products on AnandTech

 

Thanks. It really waits for a real-world trial then. On that scale, my 6-core Mac Pro has a benchmark of 12,563 but it won't upsample in HQP to DSD512 on the non-2s polysinc filters without stuttering. But of course I can't fit a helpful graphics card for CUDA offload.

[firedog]

Yes, it looks like a really "cool" device.

 

But we already know that this one, with a small, quiet form factor and 6700K works upsampling to DSD 512- because members here are using them for the purpose.

 

https://www.falcon-nw.com/desktops/tiki/design/detail

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Guys - I just received a PM from Compulab asking if I want to review the Airtop-G.

 

It looks like a really good HQPlayer machine and should have CUDA offloading.

 

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

[BobSherman]

Hi Guys

 

Anyone see a reason why I shouldn't get one in for review?

No more room for another computer!

 

 

It actually looks like a nice system, I think a good number of users would be interested in your review.

[orgel]

Hi Guys - I just received a PM from Compulab asking if I want to review the Airtop-G.

 

It looks like a really good HQPlayer machine and should have CUDA offloading.

 

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

 

I think you should definitely get one in for review. I'm very curious about how well it does upsampling to DSD512.

 

--David

[EuroDriver]

Hi Guys - I just received a PM from Compulab asking if I want to review the Airtop-G.

 

It looks like a really good HQPlayer machine and should have CUDA offloading.

 

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

 

On the Sound Galleries project team we have extensively tested 4970K, 5775C and the 6700K. The bench mark scores of these three processors are very close, but the sound quality of the playback of HQ Player doing PCM to DSD 256 and above is just not comparible, the 6700K Skylake is way ahead. The 4970K sonics were also significantly better than the 5775C.

 

Our sonically rejected 5775C is now doing sterling service running Solidworks 3-D CAD and has done a great job on the SGM chassis drawings

[bibo01]

On the Sound Galleries project team we have extensively tested 4970K, 5775C and the 6700K. The bench mark scores of these three processors are very close, but the sound quality of the playback of HQ Player doing PCM to DSD 256 and above is just not comparible, the 6700K Skylake is way ahead. The 4970K sonics were also significantly better than the 5775C.

 

Our sonically rejected 5775C is now doing sterling service running Solidworks 3-D CAD and has done a great job on the SGM chassis drawings

 

Hi,

 

I believe you, but you have done those tests on a commercially available motherboard whereas Compulab designs its own system. Given its track record, I wouldn't be surprised if its Airtop has SR/EMI much lower than other assembled PC systems - SG aside.

[The Computer Audiophile]

On the Sound Galleries project team we have extensively tested 4970K, 5775C and the 6700K. The bench mark scores of these three processors are very close, but the sound quality of the playback of HQ Player doing PCM to DSD 256 and above is just not comparible, the 6700K Skylake is way ahead. The 4970K sonics were also significantly better than the 5775C.

 

Our sonically rejected 5775C is now doing sterling service running Solidworks 3-D CAD and has done a great job on the SGM chassis drawings

Fortunately the Compulab Airtop-G costs less than the sales tax / VAT on the SGM server :~)

[Dev]

Hi Guys - I just received a PM from Compulab asking if I want to review the Airtop-G.

 

It looks like a really good HQPlayer machine and should have CUDA offloading.

 

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

 

There is no reason why it shouldn't be reviewed. In fact, it would be of great help. There are a lot of folks struggling to build or buy a PC that is capable of HQPlayer up-sampling to DSD512 with the toughest filters/modulators. Also its a fanless design and looks great - two important factors for many of us to put a PC in the audio room.

[sdolezalek]

Ah, but until you tell us which other component's review will be delayed because you take this on, it's too easy a question. For example if you had asked "would you rather I delay my review of the T+A DAC DSD in order to review the Airtop-G?" you mighht be getting a buch of very different answers.

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ah, but until you tell us which other component's review will be delayed because you take this on, it's too easy a question. For example if you had asked "would you rather I delay my review of the T+A DAC DSD in order to review the Airtop-G?" you mighht be getting a buch of very different answers.

You are too logical :~)

 

There's no free lunch, and depending on the review circumstances, something else could be delayed.

[davide256]

Hi Guys - I just received a PM from Compulab asking if I want to review the Airtop-G.

 

It looks like a really good HQPlayer machine and should have CUDA offloading.

 

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

Kind of a niche group audience if you are focused on HQPlayer. I think a review of the Rednet 3 with Dante virtual sound card sounds more likely to cover new useful territory

[matthias]

Hi,

I believe you, but you have done those tests on a commercially available motherboard whereas Compulab designs its own system. Given its track record, I wouldn't be surprised if its Airtop has SR/EMI much lower than other assembled PC systems - SG aside.

 

bibo,

why do Compulab not offer the 6700K Skylake?

 

Matt

[Rexp]

Kind of a niche group audience if you are focused on HQPlayer. I think a review of the Rednet 3 with Dante virtual sound card sounds more likely to cover new useful territory

+1

[matthias]

There is no reason why it shouldn't be reviewed. In fact, it would be of great help. There are a lot of folks struggling to build or buy a PC that is capable of HQPlayer up-sampling to DSD512 with the toughest filters/modulators. Also its a fanless design and looks great - two important factors for many of us to put a PC in the audio room.

 

Dev,

with a single review you have no comparison to a computer with a 6700K Skylake. Maybe another computer/chip offers better SQ in the same price range.

 

Matt

[bibo01]

bibo,

why do Compulab not offer the 6700K Skylake?

 

Matt

 

Well, I am not Compulab. I suppose that in their design they cannot accommodate a cpu with a 91W TDP...

[EuroDriver]

Well, I am not Compulab. I suppose that in their design they cannot accommodate a cpu with a 91W TDP...

 

the 5775C leaves the 6700K and 4790K in the relative dust doing on board 3-D graphics

 

If I were building a low heat workstation for 3-D graphics, the 5775C would be my choice. The 5775C is easier to passively cool than a 6700K. Our CPU cooler block supplier in Germany is very critical about the 6700K's poor heat dissipation characteristics, and told us that the 6700K was a bad CPU choice for a passively cooled PC.

 

However even with a powerful graphics card installed, The 5775C is still an attractive choice due to its L4 cache

 

we were hoping that L4 on the 5775C would help HQ Player processing, but we could not hear any sonic improvement

[manisandher]

Anyone see a reason why I should or shouldn't get one in for review?

 

Nice package. But for audio purposes, I'm personally only interested in PCs with linear power supplies. Not many of those around that would be able to operate at HQP's most demanding settings though. But they do exist.

 

Any SMPS, whether in the audio PC or in another component, screws the sound up in my experience.

 

Mani.

[Dev]

Nice package. But for audio purposes, I'm personally only interested in PCs with linear power supplies. Not many of those around that would be able to operate at HQP's most demanding settings though. But they do exist.

 

Any SMPS, whether in the audio PC or in another component, screws the sound up in my experience.

 

Mani.

 

 

I am interested to know which off the shelf linear power supply are you using for your DSD512 up-sampling PC ? I was under the impression that for doing DSD512, i7 6700 (k) can consume quiet a lot of power. Jussi recommends Seasonic 400 watts fanless smps at minimum. Moreover, when I used a hdplex linear power supply (in a dual Jplay setup), I found it restricted dynamics - I didn’t even notice until I swapped out the hdplex for a Seasonic and this was only up-sampling to DSD128.