ION 330 HT as base for XXHighEnd?

[ivo]

Hey guys,

It's been a while since I was online last time - several changes in life, now it is OK
So, let's get back to audio...
This all started when I bought M2Tech HiFace unit and was not able to use it with my AMD based HP laptop (you might heard in another thread about some tech problems there), therefore decided to move on to a different platform which would allow me to utilize HiFace for 100%. After browsing the web for a while I found this one: http://www.asrock.com/nettop/overview.asp?Model=ION%20330HT as potential base platform for running XX in all possible modes via HiFace in KS mode. Seems like it is a nice little Atom+Nvidia combination and to me it should provide enough resources for hosting XX in various modes.

My question would be: What you people think of running XX in 24/176 mode on such an item together with HiFace via KS driver? My only concern is the CPU usage during playback because if it raises, the cooling noise will raise as well cause it has 2 small fans inside. According to the reviews, 1 fan can be disconnected, but anyways?

Peter: Atom CPU is a new generation stuff out there just for a while, so is XX somehow optimized for newer CPUs like this one or there are no specific instruction sets you are utilizing in your brilliant player code?

Thank you all,
Ivo

[Marcin_gps]

Hi ivo,

I personally wouldn't go with Atom as a base for audio server. It's to slow in my opinion. However, if you manage to get it running with Quad Arc Prediction, that would be nice. I wouldn't worry about these fans, Atom's TDP varies from 2.5 to 13W (depending on model). I would disconnect these fans and pay attention to temperatures. If they reach dangerously high level, upgrade heatsink and thermal paste. I currently run quad core Phenom II totally passive and temperature never goes higher than 50*.

[ivo]

Anybody else: what are your experiences using Atom CPU as a base for XX, given that XX runs into QAP mode via KS?

Thanks

[Marcin_gps]

Last year I got reference NVIDIA's ION nettop for testing. From what I read, the only difference is in number of cores. Asrock is dual core, but still - I don't think it will be able to play @Quad Arc Prediction without dropouts. Mine had troubles with upsampling to 96kHz, only I used Secret Rabbit Code resampler back there, so it's not fair comparison.

[PeterSt]

Although I don't have the experience myself, and thus must rely on what users report back to me, this one should be fine : http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27254

No guarantees ! (but it looks good enough for theories).

The XX inherent cpu useage isn't that high, although it depends on how you overdrive things yourself. For example, I can play now (0.9yz ) with 4 samples of latency into 24/358.2 and in that case with Scheme-3 the 2nd core is at a continuous 30-40% (for my over 3 years old dual core 2.4GHz). But this is totally crazy of course (I tried to outbetter Russ with his 2 samples, but 2 samples into 352.8 is too much for my poor machine haha).

What the driver makes of it is more important, and what I recall from the HiFace it is very ok regarding that.

In either case, when the driver doesn't mess up, and you go to more normal latency levels, the cpu XX uses is virtually zero.

But

When you want to assure yourself that you can go as low as your ideas about the SQ require, you may be sorry not to have done it the best as currently possible. For the low latency thing (and the high sample rates !) this means the more cpu cycles available, the better it is.

Peter

[ed linssen]

Hi Ivo,

I've worked with both 240 and 330 Atom. No big problems untill AP was introduced! AP 2 worked reasonably well, 4times will not work without little tics and stutterings. This with dead tweaked w7 and Vista.
Changed to a core 2 duo, 3.2, and everything runs smooth and fast with minimal tweaking.
Also look a bit in the future. You can be shure Peter will think of more SQ-improving tricks which will be a bigger burden for your PC!
You can count on that.
So go at least for something like C2D or better! Not just dual core but Core2Duo. The 65 watt-ones.
Succes in choosing!

Ed

[ivo]

Thank you Ed very much. Seems like I will have to look for C2D rather rather than Atom, because I am planning running XX in QAP mode. Also a look into future is a smart step a swell. Thanks.

Ivo

[Marcin_gps]

A I can play now (0.9yz )

I don't see that anywhere on the page. Could you give a direct link to that version? LOL

Looking forward to hear it soon!

Cheers,
Marcin

[ivo]

Hi there,

So, I am still working on choosing the right box for XX, but I am still curious about the Atom CPU compliance with XX. Can you guys help me out by posting your data, following these rules: HiFace users are especially welcome!!!

Your CPU (e.g. C2D E5300, AMD X2, Atom 330,....):
Your OS (e.g. XP, Vista, 7):
Your 'Device Buffer Size' in QAP in KS Special Mode:
Your CPU usage (%) when running XX in QAP in KS Special mode:

Here is my setup details (not a PC I listen music on, but another one):
My CPU: C2D E6300 1.8 GHz
My OS: Windows 7
My 'Device Buffer Size' in QAP in KS Special Mode: 512
My CPU usage (%) when running XX in QAP in KS Special mode: 2-3%

Another interesting thing on my C2D: XX in QAP in KS Special mode consumes much less CPU than my Firefox web browser when I read my local news site. So, if Atom CPU is meant for web browsing why could not it be enough powerful for XX in QAP in KS Special mode then? I hope your data guys will help me out in choosing the right box. I am kind of stuck on that Atom....

Thank you,
Ivo
 

[ivo]

Although I don't have the experience myself, and thus must rely on what users report back to me, this one should be fine : http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27254

Peter,

Is the above CPU enough to handle QAP in KS mode under Windows7?

Ivo

[PeterSt]

This one was use to test the DAC with OAP ...

... But it doesn't say much because this was scope work only ...

Anyway, out of everything it looks good enough to me. Don't blame me when it's not !

[ivo]

Well, well, well. I think I am going to brake some rules here...

I bought the WindBox DE500 (http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=729&prod_no=2050) and thought to try it with XX before making it as a work PC. I was expecting that XX will perform badly in QAP in KS mode, but I was surprised because:

I did manage to run XX latest version in QAP in KS mode via HiFace device with Device buffer set to the lowest value, e.g., 32 in Special mode. And you want to know the CPU usage - it was between 0 and 10%. And the main message is that sound is awesome, no cracks, no bad anything, just pure pleasure. This all under fresh install of Win7 HP.

So, Atom based PC (at least D510 CPU) qualifies for XX usage in QAP mode.

However, as I said, I left it for work purposes and migrated my XX listening stuff to C2D E6300, however, the latter is no better in terms of CPU usage if compared to the Atom CPU based box.

The bottom line: CPU alone is just one half, the other half is the system integration of all the components that makes a computer personal.

Ivo