Building a DIY Music Server

[ASRMichael]

1 minute ago, elan120 said:

With this setup, what is the typical CPU running temp (assuming no upsampling)?

Using HQP DSD64 ECv2 XTR

[Dev]

7 hours ago, ASRMichael said:

With my i9 10900k I have dissolved Turbo. Set to 3.7k. HT on. It’s dynamic enough with Turbo off. But do appreciate system dependent.

 

 

6 minutes ago, elan120 said:

With this setup, what is the typical CPU running temp (assuming no upsampling)?

 

I have experimented with running all the cores at base clock freq (3.7Ghz for 10900k, Turbo off, HT enabled) and found the temps around 45 C.

[Dev]

@ASRMichael nice temps. I vaguely remember, are you running external fans or got rid of it ?

[elan120]

8 minutes ago, ASRMichael said:

Using HQP DSD64 ECv2 XTR

Nice!  Is this running upsampling from 44.1 or using PGGB file?

[ASRMichael]

1 hour ago, Dev said:

@ASRMichael nice temps. I vaguely remember, are you running external fans or got rid of it ?

I’ve got them turned off at present. I’ll run them in hotter days. I use new HDPLEX cooler & Grizzly - Kryonaut thermal paste. 

[ASRMichael]

1 hour ago, elan120 said:

Nice!  Is this running upsampling from 44.1 or using PGGB file?

Hi good point, 384kHz @ 32bit. So good bit of processing has already been done. 
 

Similarly using PGGB converting to 2822k @ 64bit results in tiny amount of CPU processing to DSD64. 44.1 x 64 = 2822. 
 

Probably one of the reasons it sounds so good. 

[ASRMichael]

2 hours ago, Dev said:

@ASRMichael nice temps. I vaguely remember, are you running external fans or got rid of it ?

See my post above. PGGB helping temps

[RCDingen]

23 hours ago, LTG2010 said:

I agree but the top part of the supply in the Extreme doesn't seem to be 36V the caps are 25V (I might be wrong) the circuit might be different to the DIY ATX.

That's correct they use Mundorf MLGO 47000uf 25V

[Gavin1977]

New one... HDPLEX 250W GaN ATX PSU

 

https://hdplex.com/hdplex-fanless-250w-gan-aio-atx-psu.html

 

 

[MarcelNL]

I'll pass on that one, but am interested to hear someone compare it to a Taiko ATX with unregulated linear PSU😋

[Gavin1977]

Yes, I suspect it won't be close - but useful for some. 

[drjimwillie]

What I am interested in is the Micro-Audio SMPS 440 TK vs the ULPS on the Taiko DC ATX. 

 

I am not sure, but I do not think that is the SMPS that Nenon was referring to previously.

 

 Thank you 

[MarcelNL]

organize a get together and do a shootout! a Crazy Computer Nerd Society is born....or sumting along these lines.

It's what ETF etc thrive on.

 

[Nenon]

@drjimwillie If you are planning to use a SMPS, I highly recommend not to waste your money on a Taiko DC-DC ATX. A well designed, super efficient / low voltage drop, and low output impedance SMPS with good parts might be a really good match for the HDPlex 400W or 800W DC-DC ATX.

 

I do not recommend feeding the Taiko DC-DC ATX with a regulated LPS either. The regulation does not have a benefit here, but its negatives and added noise at high current draw are quite apparent. 

 

In fact, my recommendation for the Taiko DC-DC ATX is pretty straightforward - ULPS. Get the best ULPS you can get. If you are into DIY, there are tons of possibilities to make the ULPS match your sound preferences by using different caps, bypass caps, inductors, wire, connectors, fuses, power cords, etc. The Taiko DC-DC ATX is super transparent and you can really hear every change in the power supply feeding it. 

 

Also, the ULPS + Taiko DC-DC ATX is only recommended for high power CPUs. 

If you are using a low powered computer that consumes let's say 10W, like the ones from Innuos, a good multirail LPS will work better. There are plenty of good LPS on the market. 

[Gavin1977]

Anyone come across this before… flat cool pipes. Looks like a potentially nice solution :-)

 

https://amecthermasol.co.uk/product/?cat=aluminium-cool-pipes&family=flat-aluminium-cool-pipes

 

Someone has already tried it:

 

https://silentpcreview.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=555520

[MarcelNL]

16 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Anyone come across this before… flat cool pipes. Looks like a potentially nice solution :-)

 

https://amecthermasol.co.uk/product/?cat=aluminium-cool-pipes&family=flat-aluminium-cool-pipes

I've come across flat heatpipes on Ali, but never examined them closer. WOW acetone filled aluminium, why not copper?

Bit strange that the specs say the length does not matter for the max power transfer.

 

Actually it may be a great find! Far easier to apply on a CPU and connect to a heatsink!

[Gavin1977]

4 minutes ago, MarcelNL said:

I've come across flat heatpipes on Ali, but never examined them closer. WOW acetone filled aluminium, why not copper?

Bit strange that the specs say the length does not matter for the max power transfer.

Yes the thermal resistance appears to be fixed, still ultimately limited by the thermal resistance of the final heat sink.  But these flat heat pipes could be used to join heat sinks on opposite sides together as well…?

 

A lot easier to DIY as well - opens up the ability to easily use any off the shelf heat sink.

[MarcelNL]

hehe, I AM using an off the shelf 300 W heatsink in which we routed grooves, which IS a PITA to do with a hand router...

 

Guess I'll be calling belgium tomorrow, I need to add a heatsink to the network card and will try to test fly this. 

bending round copper heatpipes is a PITA too so if it works equally well for heat transfer this is a winner!

 

[MarcelNL]

Their Ceramic heatsinks may also be interesting! Huge chunks of metal are not great for audio. Perhaps too small, unless you use a couple in parallel.

[Gavin1977]

8 hours ago, MarcelNL said:

Their Ceramic heatsinks may also be interesting! Huge chunks of metal are not great for audio. Perhaps too small, unless you use a couple in parallel.

I’m completely up for this, they can be tiled.

 

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/making-cases-and-heatsinks-using-ceramic-heatsinks.380763/

[Gavin1977]

2 hours ago, Gavin1977 said:

I’m completely up for this, they can be tiled.

 

https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/making-cases-and-heatsinks-using-ceramic-heatsinks.380763/

Looking further into this, Thermal Conductivity w/mk 5~6 is not so good for CPU cooling - really only good if you want to cool a 5-10w part.  Could have applications in other areas though.  

 

The flat heat pipes are still of interest though.

[MarcelNL]

the flat heat pipes are sold a.o. through Farnell, and you loacted in the UK can probably order directly from Marcom components.

 

[Gavin1977]

Is HDPlex the only manufacturer who does a low profile chassis with 7x PCIe slots?

 

 

I don't need a fanless chassis, just something similar that will take ATX / eATX.

[Gavin1977]

On 6/5/2022 at 7:17 PM, Exocer said:

Speaking of actual listening, I’ve done just that with the Mundorf Angelique 15awg solid core wire over the last 24 hours. It is currently used between the ULPS (V3) and Taiko DC-ATX module.

 

There have been some changes over the last two days. I will say outright that the breakin process has been nothing but pleasant and it extracts a bit more detail than the Solid core Neotech Teflon insulated wire it replaced. Where it really walks away from the Neotech is dynamics. I am not saying the difference is night and day but worthwhile. Overall, the sound is more enjoyable with this wire.

 

Do I suggest replacing all Neotech with this wire? No, but in critical areas there are definitely some benefits in doing so. The Oyaide wire I’m using with the ULPS works really well but I have not compared it to other solutions in that usecase. Neotech Teflon Insulated solid core 15awg wire sounded better than the Oyaide wire in The few DC cables I built.

 

Do I think the Angelique dethrones Mundorf Sg? I can’t quite answer that yet since I do not have the right cables to test this yet. Keep you posted!

 

I am comfortable giving it a recommendation if SG is out of your league price wise and you want a taste of the magic sauce lol.

 

Also a pleasant surprise: Mad Scientist Graphene contact enhancer. I prefer it to the Furutech Nano Liquid. Particularly with my unplated copper contacts. I know others have suggested silver contact enhancer but I forget the brand. Will need to do some digging.

 

Happy listening folks! Let’s all listen and enjoy.

 

@matthias - what are you listening with these days? Do you have an Extreme? You know a lot about their gear 😎

Tip with the Angelique - purchase the bare wire and ptfe sheathing separately.  Way cheaper than factory insulated.

 

Also have a look at Antrans.

[Exocer]

10 minutes ago, Gavin1977 said:

Tip with the Angelique - purchase the bare wire and ptfe sheathing separately.  Way cheaper than factory insulated.

 

Also have a look at Antrans.

I would have done this if my supplier offered the uninsulated version. Good tip!