HOW I´VE BUILT MY NEW PC FOR XXHIGHEND AND WHY I´VE CHOSEN THE COMPONENTS

[PeterSt]

Btw, I don´t remember how to put images that I have in my computer in the posts, I know that I did it before but now I can´t find the way. To put the pictures (the links) in this  post I had to use Picasa. Please could someone give me a remind on how to do it directly from my PC?.

Hi Juan,

If you mean like with attachments, see the "Additional Options" at the bottom-left during posting. That allows you to put in pictures as attachments.

Peter

[Eric]

All,
If you put the NOS1 DAC on small Cones, Spikes or what have you, it is much easier to keep a proper distance between Powercable, DVI cable and Line output cable.
In addition this could have a positive effect on the sound.

Cheers,
Eric

[juanpmar]

Thanks Peter, now I´ve put some more pictures in the previous post including one with spikes that I forgot before (thanks Eric, you´re right it gives more room for the cables)

[juanpmar]

I think that could be a good idea if I add some more information once in a while on the subjects covered by the "How I´ve build a PC for XXHighEnd..." post in the form of articles that I´ve found in the web or the new components that could be more up to date to maintain it helpful. I invite all of you to post here whatever you find interesting.

Today I´d like to post information about Memory because, as you know, it´s an important issue for XXHighEnd. It´s from Hardware Secrets and is titled "Understanding Ram timing" http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Understanding-RAM-Timings/26

I hope it helps

Juan

[juanpmar]

Another interesting article, this time about SSD used as a cache: Intel Smart Response Technology Explained

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Intel-Smart-Response-Technology-Explained/1292/1

[juanpmar]

For those interested in learning about hardware and how to build a PC I'd recommend a couple of books that are probably very familiar to most of you, but just in case. These books, although easy to read and written even for the less experienced in this area among us, can give you enough knowledge to build your own PC:

- Upgrading and Repairing PCs, Scott Mueller http://www.quepublishing.com/imprint/series_detail.aspx?st=87406
This is a great book and has it all on the hardware. You can find versions in different languages and can be bought directly from the Scott´s Forum at a cheaper price. Amazon UK price is around 20GBP (19 Edition)


- Build it. Fix it. Own it: A Beginner's Guide to Building and Upgrading a PC, Paul McFedries http://www.amazon.co.uk/Build-Fix-Own-Beginners-Upgrading/dp/0789738279/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1307181878&sr=8-3
Teaches you about the components and how to built different types of PCs.

[PeterSt]

Thank you for all your efforts on sharing this Juan.

Regards,
Peter

[juanpmar]

You're welcome!

[PeterSt]

Juan, I was just looking at your (Picasa) pictures once again, and I suddenly notice the maybe strange (??) position you put the PC case in. I didn't look up anything, but be careful about how the disks are spinning now. I mean, they can be flat or upside down, but not vertically mounted. So, the platters should move in the horizontal plane, not the vertical.

Look at the picture in this link (my former PC) for the *wrong* situation. This wears out the bearings in one direction (downwards) and in the end the spindle will be in too much space, and it will go up and down.
I have it like this (wrong) for years, but it really isn't the best (and quite careless ).

Peter

[juanpmar]

Hi Peter, thanks for your advise on the disks placement. Do you think that the sound is affected by the disks position?, I´ve took a look at google to see what could I find on this issue and there´s a general concern about the heat problem in the vertical position but not if the disck could be affected in the way they work. If I understand you well the problem will arise after some years of work.
The case I use is designed to work with the disks in vertical position and the optimun ventilation is made in that position. Anyway now I´ve tried the other position and it works fine also, no differences in sound at first glance, for sure it´s not worse though. I´m checking the heat to see if they go up and so far I see the same temperatures except the motherboard that´s 3ºC or 4ºC higher.

[PeterSt]

No, I can't think of any SQ influence were it about the different positioning. Unless all falls apart of wear of course.

Please keep in mind, it's only theory. But let's say that the wheels of a car wear under the same conditions. Ok, maybe they won't make as many revs as a disk will do in its life.

At least *I* don't worry too much about it, or otherwise I had changed it myself (which I actuuall can't, the PC laying on its side in a cabinet). But I just thought to notify you. You did so well on it all, and maybe you didn't consider it.
But you did, so it's allright !

Regards,
Peter

[manisandher]

Hi Juan. Thanks for doing this. I'm not looking to put togther any more music PCs right now, but if I were, this post/thread would be an absolutely invaluable resource.

I'm not sure if there's yet any definitive answer as to which sounds better: more CPU power or less CPU power? At some point, I'll do a comparison of the 3 dedicated music PCs I have here. The CPUs are:
1) i7 on Gigabyte mobo
2) E8600 on Gigabyte mobo
3) Dual-core Atom on Jetway mobo

I only wish I had the means to objectively measure any differences, as opposed to subjectively listen out for them - I find hearing differences quite easy, but deciding which ones actually sound better, I find sometimes very difficult.

Mani.

[juanpmar]

Hi Juan. Thanks for doing this. I'm not looking to put togther any more music PCs right now, but if I were, this post/thread would be an absolutely invaluable resource.

I'm not sure if there's yet any definitive answer as to which sounds better: more CPU power or less CPU power? ...

...I only wish I had the means to objectively measure any differences, as opposed to subjectively listen out for them - I find hearing differences quite easy, but deciding which ones actually sound better, I find sometimes very difficult.
Mani.

Thanks to you, Mani. We all need that kind of tests and take advantage of it.

On the issue of if a faster or slower cpu with more or less cores has an influence on the sound or the way the DAC receives the data (if there are different ways to receive digital data) I have no experience because I only have one music pc. Maybe Peter can help. I suppose, however, that if XXHighEnd is a memory player perhaps a faster CPU can help to put the data faster in the memory, convert flac files faster, etc.

I wonder what would you do, or anyone else, if  a cpu configuration measures better than other one but sounds worse, or just different, and you like more the one that measures worst. I personally would choose the one I like more no matter how it measures.

Juan

[manisandher]

At some point, I'll do a comparison of the 3 dedicated music PCs I have here.

OK, I've done a fairly detailed comparison this morning between the i7 and the Atom.

Firstly, the Atom powered by a linear PS sounds very different to the i7 powered by a 'highend fanless' Seasonic SMPS. I wanted to eliminate the two different types of PS from the equation so that I could focus just on CPU power. So what I did was compare the Atom powered with a linear PS vs. the same Atom powered by a 'brick' SMPS. Hmmm... With the SMPS, the Atom sounded surprisingly similar to the i7 with its SMPS. Neither is obviously better than the other, and the best way I can think of to describe the difference is something like this: the linear PS is like taking a photo in natural light, the SMPS is like taking the same photo with artificial light. Now if used cleverly, artificial light can actually enhance a photo - make the colours more vibrant and make the scene look more 'alive'. But this artificial light will never be as easy on your eyes as natural light.

BUT what I found next really surprised me. I powered the Atom with the linear PS. I then booted up the i7 (sitting about 1m away) with its SMPS. With the i7 switched on (i.e. a SMPS switched on somwhere in the mains circuit), even when the i7 was connected to nothing else, the sound of the Atom changed! It sounded very similar to how it sounded powered by the brick SMPS!!!

It seems to me that having any SMPS on in my system changes the sound. I will do more testing but right now, I'm seriously inclined to eliminate absolutely all SMPSs from my system.

Mani.

[Flecko]

It seems to me that having any SMPS on in my system changes the sound. I will do more testing but right now, I'm seriously inclined to eliminate absolutely all SMPSs from my system.

Thank you for your review. I can remember a similar influence on the sound by two mobile charger I had plugged into the wall outlet near to my hifi system. It is good to know that an atom based playback system can sound as goog as an i7. What kind of linear power supply did you use? Do you have recomondations or a link to some good informations about that topic?
Greetings
Adrian