Does a desktop need a break-in/burn-in period?

[Dean Shias]

Does a desktop (used for audio/HT) also need a break-in/burn-in period? For those that use a computer>USB/Network>DAC. Using a newer desktop and it doesnt sound as good as my older desktop. JRiver>Matrix Audio Element H USB Card>Modwright Oppo 205.

[One and a half]

For burn in, I would not believe that to occur for a computer. Both machines have the same OS , the Dell is a Xeon and the other an i7.

 

I prefer a Xeon over an iSomething, for audio, not sure why technically, the Xeon is effortless and less noisier than the i7,9,5,3 etc. Speed and having a super fast graphics card is not an issue, but allocating cores to certain cores does have advantages, let the OS have a couple and keep a core just for audio server like Roon.

 

For Fidelizer, I found the last few builds not so good on a server OS but there’s a new version just out, will give this a try.

 

AT power supplies are much of a muchness as far as noise is concerned, so don’t be too concerned over that.

Processing and bonding structures is at a guess better with the Dell as a workstation, if it’s like a HP more welded joints in the case structure and less pop rivets which are really bad for bonding. Plastic drawers for HDD isolates the case from the frame which is not good for audio. XT 1990’s computers paid a bit of attention to bonding , drawers for HDD were steel and using screws to secure them to the chassis. This is of course in an ever controlled world by bean counters, counter productive to cost, so the plastic drawers are used sadly to a detriment for audio purposes.
 

As @sandyk points out, hard drives emit noise and this is picked up by neighbouring components. Bonding these to the chassis helps channel the noise back to the power supply and not via USB so much to the DAC.

[Dean Shias]

20 hours ago, One and a half said:

For burn in, I would not believe that to occur for a computer. Both machines have the same OS , the Dell is a Xeon and the other an i7.

 

I prefer a Xeon over an iSomething, for audio, not sure why technically, the Xeon is effortless and less noisier than the i7,9,5,3 etc. Speed and having a super fast graphics card is not an issue, but allocating cores to certain cores does have advantages, let the OS have a couple and keep a core just for audio server like Roon.

 

For Fidelizer, I found the last few builds not so good on a server OS but there’s a new version just out, will give this a try.

 

AT power supplies are much of a muchness as far as noise is concerned, so don’t be too concerned over that.

Processing and bonding structures is at a guess better with the Dell as a workstation, if it’s like a HP more welded joints in the case structure and less pop rivets which are really bad for bonding. Plastic drawers for HDD isolates the case from the frame which is not good for audio. XT 1990’s computers paid a bit of attention to bonding , drawers for HDD were steel and using screws to secure them to the chassis. This is of course in an ever controlled world by bean counters, counter productive to cost, so the plastic drawers are used sadly to a detriment for audio purposes.
 

As @sandyk points out, hard drives emit noise and this is picked up by neighbouring components. Bonding these to the chassis helps channel the noise back to the power supply and not via USB so much to the DAC.

Finally a decent explanation!.. Thanks! Would a dedicated audiophile USB card with a linear PS resist the noise coming from the hard drives? The other thing I like about this workstation is that the motherboard doesnt have too much on it lile a dedicated video card.. wonder if that helps with less noise. 

[One and a half]

4 hours ago, Dean Shias said:

Finally a decent explanation!.. Thanks! Would a dedicated audiophile USB card with a linear PS resist the noise coming from the hard drives? The other thing I like about this workstation is that the motherboard doesnt have too much on it lile a dedicated video card.. wonder if that helps with less noise. 

I have a Jcat USB (the old one) and the linear supply, yes makes a difference, the bonding of the hard drives is dramatic again on top,  so do both. The new JCAT does an even better job and is $$$ more oh well.

 

You kind of have to give up on the motherboard in trying to find a quiet one that works with a Xeon,  there are so many DC DC converters each one is noisy,  graphics , PCIE lanes, ethernet noise all that. Certainly,  the extra work on that Dell desktop can outclass a commercial NAS. I've tried low power servers, diy, just not in the same ball park. 

 

I believe @sandykhas used linear supplies to power HDD, any noise travels back to those but bonding is still important.

 

There's no need to bond the CPU heatsink read a study where the structure didn't allow an antenna effect to occur, so safe to leave that alone. 

 

Fans are another topic, the voltage that is applied is garbage, another time for that experimentation.