PC - cheap optimisation?

[barrows]

33 minutes ago, jabbr said:

Now something like the ultra Rendu might use onboard linear regulators ( @barrows can confirm ) — and this is a network renderer. But you know otherwise these crazy expensive dedicated servers might use expensive LPS to, err, feed a little switcher onboard. ??‍♂️

This is one of the main advantages to using a made for audio device like the Rendu Series Renderers.  Unlike off the shelf ordinary commercial computer products, a (yes more expensive), made for audio device can use lower noise parts, and better parts, and more different power supply domains (more independently regulated supplies) at the PC board level.  and this is also why Sonore gave up making audio "Servers", as the commercial Mother Board was always noisy, no matter how many linear supplies, and special USB output boards we put in there.

So with Ethernet distribution and a well designed and built Renderer, you get all the noisy gear away from the audio system, and the isolation inherent in Ethernet.

[barrows]

12 minutes ago, jabbr said:

So for example, independent linear regulator 1.3V for RAM?

 

All onboard regulators in the ultraRendu and Signature Rendu SE are very low noise, linear types.  So each circuit/device need is powered by a low noise linear regulator, and there are no switching regulators (or even "ordinary" less than really good, linear regulators).

[barrows]

1 hour ago, mansr said:

There are also on-chip regulators. Good luck replacing those.

Of course, but why get ridiculous about it?  As has already been discussed on many threads at this forum: custom chips for this purpose are just never going to happen due to the very high expense of chip development.

The fact remains that when a manufacturer/developer pays as much attention as is reasonably possible to reduce the noise/interference issues which can be problematic in computer based audio, the audio performance is improved.  What is really surprising (to me) is that the system clock for a Renderer really matters as well, and that there are sonic gains to be had by using a low phase noise clock, for both the processor and the USB hub.