I'm beginning a new PC music sever build project with the objective of no moving parts - none.  All SSD drives, fanless PS and fanless CPU/Motherboard.  Likely Windows 10 OS.
 
So far this is the basic configuration I have in mind:
 
- Windows 10 OS
- Intel Core M - Broadwell CPU
- Fanless motherboard
- Fanless high quality PS
- Fast 500 GB SSD for main drive
- 3 1TB SSD's for music files (yes I have that many!)
- Audio Server purpose only!  This will be a dedicated music sever
- Attention to power supply filtering and high quality USB performance.
- Cost under $2500
 
Here is what I have so far:
 
SSD Drives:
The prices of SSD drives are falling steadily - and I anticipate by the time W10 is released they will have dropped further.
Some interesting choices:
For music storage - 1TB SanDisk Ultra II SDSSDHII-960G-G25 2.5" 960GB SATA Revision 3.0 (6 Gb/s) Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $379
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820173013&leaderboard=1
 
Specs:
Performance Max Sequential Read

Up to 550MB/S

Max Sequential Write

Up to 500MB/S

4KB Random Read

Up to 99,000 IOPS

4KB Random Write

Up to 83,000 IOPS

MTBF

1,750,000 hours

Features

Features

- Up to 28 times better performance than a typical hard disk drive
- No-wait boot up and shut down
- Faster app load and response times
- Up to 15% longer battery life
- nCache 2.0 technology delivers enhanced speed and endurance
 





I am looking for a fast - preferably highest quality 500GB SSD for the main drive:
This is the drive I'm thinking about - $229:

Intel 530 Series SSDSC2BW480A4K5 2.5" 480GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820167189
 
CPU:
Broadwell Core M Fanless:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/computing-components/processors/intel-core-m-everything-you-need-to-know-1264342




 
 
Motherboard:
Not sure at this point - any suggestions would be helpful.  Must be fanless.
 
Power Supply:
This looks like a good - relatively low cost candidate: Seasonic SS-460FL2 Active PFC F3, 460W Fanless ATX12V Fanless 80Plus PLATINUM Certified, Modular Power Supply New 4th Gen CPU Certified Haswell Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151099
 
Other PS filtering:
ElFidelity filters and USB card:http://apexi.taobao.com
 
SOtM filters:  http://www.sotm.sonore.us/SOtM3.html
 
Any tips or suggestion are welcome.  This should be fun.  Once complete I will do a sound off against my 'old' W7 64bit music servers.

It looks like I'll have to wait for the Boardwell-H for a socketed desktop version that will be ATX motherboard compatible.
The top chip should have enough horsepower for music server purposes.
 
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-broadwell-core-m,27596.html
Quote:

And of course we can't forget Broadwell-H, the socketed desktop version of this CPU featuring improved Iris Pro graphics. We can expect that product to arrive in 2015.​

 

Click to expand...

Interesting:
Quote:

Intel's 14nm process node is not the least of them, and the redesigned PCH with improved audio DSP is another factor.​

 

Click to expand...

 
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/intel-14nm-broadwell-y-core-m,3904-2.html

 

In addition to power enhancements, the PCH has been improved with an Audio DSP upgrade that includes more SRAM and higher MIPS. Advanced post-processing is available, with new wake-on-voice functionality. There are also fresh management and security features. Note that the PCH is manufactured using the 22nm node, so it hasn't shrunk.​

Click to expand...

 
The 400W fanless PS looks like way overkill - 200W should more then enough - especially with an externally powered USB interface like the Gustard U12. 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip

Maybe you should try this for the OS?
 
http://www.ap-linux.com/
 
Also, here's a case and power supply for you.  Totally fanless design and linear power supply.  They look pretty nice too, for added benefit.  With a case like this - any other companies make them too, you can go fanless on your CPU while using a cpu that normally needs a fan.
 
http://www.hd-plex.com/

Just a bit more wait time for this launch.​

 

Intel Broadwell Production Plan Leaked – BDW-H Delayed To May 2015​

http://wccftech.com/intel-broadwell-enthusiasts-delayed-2015/#ixzz3RT1UAxZz​

 

Or wait for Skylake?​

 
http://wccftech.com/intel-launch-broadwellu-ces-2015-real-story-2015-skylake/

 If a CPU performance improvement isn’t what you’re looking for. But an updated feature and functionality set then you’re luck. Because Skylakes brings plenty of improvements to the feature set and functionality. You’ll have a number of attractive chipset choices for 2015 on the new LGA 1151 socket for Skylake.

Click to expand...

 

With the new range of 100 series Intel desktop chipsets which will support  Skylake but not Broadwell desktop processors. You’re looking at getting more than enough SATA 3 and USB3 to satisfy your storage and connectivity needs. The 9 series chipset for current Haswell offerings and Broadwell-K will remain relevant but if you want the latest it seems you’ll have to hop on to Skylake.​

 

Click to expand...

bwmarrin said:

  Maybe you should try this for the OS?
 
http://www.ap-linux.com/
 
Also, here's a case and power supply for you.  Totally fanless design and linear power supply.  They look pretty nice too, for added benefit.  With a case like this - any other companies make them too, you can go fanless on your CPU while using a cpu that normally needs a fan.
 
http://www.hd-plex.com/

Click to expand...

That case/PS is very cool -thanks!  At 65W it would be plenty for the Broadwell-K, but may not be enough for 4 large SSD's and the higher drawing Broadwell-U or -H.  It looks like I would need at least 125-150W to have adequate headroom.
 
I'm such a Windows guy - Ugg!  I really just want Foobar and a Windows explore function.  And Gustard U12 compatibility.  It looks like the Gustard U12 drivers work with W10 -as per Chodi's post on the Gustard thread.  And the comments on the better SQ of W10 over W7 there as well has me kind sold on that route.  But for other's bolder and better tweeking software - I'm all ears on Linux.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip/570
 
PS They do have 90W - that might just make it- especially with the Broadwell-U  http://www.hd-plex.com/hdplex-h5-series/

rb2013 said:

  The 400W fanless PS looks like way overkill - 200W should more then enough - especially with an externally powered USB interface like the Gustard U12. 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip

Click to expand...

 
The power of the USB is the least of your worry anyhow. Overall you won't need much power though.
 
Your SSD's will most likely use less than 2 watts of power each.
 
Since you're going fanless, there's no fan's to consider.  a bluray drive if you opt for one, might draw 25-30 watts while BURNING or under heavy load, idle, a couple watts.
 
About 2-3 watts per DDR3 chip.
 
So really the big draw's will be the Motherboard and CPU.     The MB will probably be under 50 watt, and a CPU should be under 50 watt depending on what model you picked but this is at absolute max under full load end of things.  If you go with one of those Broadwell's it's 5 watts (max), if you end up with a Core i3 that around 50 watt (max).  i5/i7's would push you up into the higher watts but I don't think there's any need for them for your goal.
 
99% of the time, the whole computer will probably be under 25 watt with rare peak into the 50's
 
My work PC with fans, spinning hd's and a i5 cpu is only pulling 23-25 watt right now with about 10 programs open, playing music with foobar, and writing this post

rb2013 said:

  That case/PS is very cool -thanks!  At 65W it would be plenty for the Broadwell-K, but may not be enough for 4 large SSD's and the higher drawing Broadwell-U or -H.  It looks like I would need at least 125-150W to have adequate headroom.
 
I'm such a Windows guy - Ugg!  I really just want Foobar and a Windows explore function.  And Gustard U12 compatibility.  It looks like the Gustard U12 drivers work with W10 -as per Chodi's post on the Gustard thread.  And the comments on the better SQ of W10 over W7 there as well has me kind sold on that route.  But for other's bolder and better tweeking software - I'm all ears on Linux.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/736294/gustard-u12-usb-interface-8-core-xmos-chip/570
 
PS They do have 90W - that might just make it- especially with the Broadwell-U  http://www.hd-plex.com/hdplex-h5-series/

Click to expand...

 
The "new batch" of their Linear PS is 100W.  I can't argue about foobar, I like it too. 

bwmarrin said:

   
The power of the USB is the least of your worry anyhow. Overall you won't need much power though.
 
Your SSD's will most likely use less than 2 watts of power each.
 
Since you're going fanless, there's no fan's to consider.  a bluray drive if you opt for one, might draw 25-30 watts while BURNING or under heavy load, idle, a couple watts.
 
About 2-3 watts per DDR3 chip.
 
So really the big draw's will be the Motherboard and CPU.     The MB will probably be under 50 watt, and a CPU should be under 50 watt depending on what model you picked but this is at absolute max under full load end of things.  If you go with one of those Broadwell's it's 5 watts (max), if you end up with a Core i3 that around 50 watt (max).  i5/i7's would push you up into the higher watts but I don't think there's any need for them for your goal.
 
99% of the time, the whole computer will probably be under 25 watt with rare peak into the 50's
 
My work PC with fans, spinning hd's and a i5 cpu is only pulling 23-25 watt right now with about 10 programs open, playing music with foobar, and writing this post

Click to expand...

Good info - thanks!  I would use a spinner only for software loading - so not a problem there.  And the Gustard U12 has it's own power - so no big draw there.  I'll have to wait to see what the Broadwell-H will draw - probably much less then the Core i3.
 
Can you run a version of the Core i3 without a fan or exotic cooling?  The Haswell-Y Atom is off my list

bwmarrin said:

   
The "new batch" of their Linear PS is 100W.  I can't argue about foobar, I like it too. 

Click to expand...

I love linear PS's!  That looks like a winner - reasonable priced

Are you familiar with Computer Audiophile and the C.A.P.S.?  
 
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/section/c-p-s-489/
 
I did a spin off of it by using the following from  A-Tech Fabrication http://www.atechfabrication.com
 
HeatSync Mini-Client 2800HP Fanless PC = http://www.atechfabrication.com/HeatSync_2800HP_system_order_form.htm
 
For storage I use:
Mass Storage 2500 unit = http://www.atechfabrication.com/mass_storage_2500_order_form.htm
 
The SOtM USB card = http://sotm-audio.com/sotm/products/tX-USBexp.htm
 
All three are being powered by a Custom TeraDak linear PSU
 

 

 

 

Originally Posted by rb2013 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

...
 
PS They do have 90W - that might just make it- especially with the Broadwell-U  http://www.hd-plex.com/hdplex-h5-series/

Click to expand...

 
FYI, that number that you're referencing is how much CPU wattage the fanless cooling system can handle, not the total wattage of the whole system.  Memory, HD's, etc don't count into that.   

I came here to suggest that exact desktop power supply, looks like you've got things covered in terms of getting clean power (you went even farther than I would've). My only suggestion is to buy a cheap USB cable that has aluminum shielding around the conductors, and ferrite chokes on both ends. Good luck, seems like you've got this down to an art as it is .
 
Only thing I'm wondering is why wait for Broadwell? I haven't been keeping up on the Intel CPU news much, but estimates I've seen usually say very late 2015 or early-mid 2016 for 14 nm (since node size shrinks are becoming very difficult to implement). Maybe you'd be better off with Haswell? The power draw is already quite low with 22 nm, especially with all the power saving features enabled.
 
Edit: Also I'm not sure if Windows 10 will support USB Audio Class 2.0 (without drivers from the DAC/DAC chipset company), but if you switch the computer to Ubuntu your DAC should work and be able to use it. The player Deadbeef is practically the exact same as Foobar, the only thing you would have to learn is how to output to the ALSA driver for bit-perfect out. It's not really important and shouldn't affect sound quality in any way, but it would be nice to use if you can get comfortable with Ubuntu (also it's lighter on resources than Windows, especially RAM).

toddthemetalgod said:

  I came here to suggest that exact desktop power supply, looks like you've got things covered in terms of getting clean power (you went even farther than I would've). My only suggestion is to buy a cheap USB cable that has aluminum shielding around the conductors, and ferrite chokes on both ends. Good luck, seems like you've got this down to an art as it is

.
 
Only thing I'm wondering is why wait for Broadwell? I haven't been keeping up on the Intel CPU news much, but estimates I've seen usually say very late 2015 or early-mid 2016 for 14 nm (since node size shrinks are becoming very difficult to implement). Maybe you'd be better off with Haswell? The power draw is already quite low with 22 nm, especially with all the power saving features enabled.
 
Edit: Also I'm not sure if Windows 10 will support USB Audio Class 2.0 (without drivers from the DAC/DAC chipset company), but if you switch the computer to Ubuntu your DAC should work and be able to use it. The player Deadbeef is practically the exact same as Foobar, the only thing you would have to learn is how to output to the ALSA driver for bit-perfect out. It's not really important and shouldn't affect sound quality in any way, but it would be nice to use if you can get comfortable with Ubuntu (also it's lighter on resources than Windows, especially RAM).

Click to expand...

Which PS? The hd-plex or TeraDak?  Just curious which one you recommended.
 
I agree on CPU, there's plenty of good options today.
 
Thanks for mentioning Deadbeef, I'm going to check into that.  I am always in favour of Linux/BSD wherever it can be used effectively.

rb2013 said:

 
Good info - thanks!  I would use a spinner only for software loading - so not a problem there.  And the Gustard U12 has it's own power - so no big draw there.  I'll have to wait to see what the Broadwell-H will draw - probably much less then the Core i3.
 
Can you run a version of the Core i3 without a fan or exotic cooling?  The Haswell-Y Atom is off my list

Click to expand...

 
With the cases posted here - they are designed for normal CPUs.  They have a special "heatpipe" heatsink that mounts from the CPU to the chassis itself to provide cooling.  The one I posted had spec's cases that worked for up to 90w CPU's which covers almost anything these days.   A Core i3 would absolutely work.  These are not the only options either I think there's a handful of other companies that use a similar design to build a fanless system with modern desktop CPUs.
 
However, speaking of Atom, why is it off the list?  I've actually got a MiniITX Atom board.  I should try to put it together and try it out as a music box with Deadbeef.

bwmarrin said:

Which PS? The hd-plex or TeraDak?  Just curious which one you recommended.

I agree on CPU, there's plenty of good options today.

Thanks for mentioning Deadbeef, I'm going to check into that.  I am always in favour of Linux/BSD wherever it can be used effectively.

Click to expand...

I meant the Seasonic, not the USB supplies (when I said "desktop" I meant desktop computer ). Deadbeef worked perfectly with my Audioquest Dragonfly for a long time, it seems to be just as good as Foobar (maybe with the exception of plugins, but I didn't use any to find out).