I run a special distro of Windows 11 made in NTLITE. I am surprised I have never had issues so far. ....
On to the server. YES!...YES! it can compete with a mac mini teradak and more expensive streamers! - Saying this with a RTX4070!
Here is a list I think you should have in check.
1. PSU: Corsair AX1600i. This one changed my streamer to a totalt different beast(from RM750). It wins all measurement just google it. It is the Ripple/Transient King!
Talking about TRANSient. It is the only one with GaN transistors. It is soo good I sold my LPSU and using custom molex - DC cables from it...call me crazy yes
2. You won´t eliminate the DI24 or DI20. I even know this from a fully custom server that cost 6 times more than mine. The DI20HE just does something to the music nothing else can make. I know a lot of people say they can eliminate a DDC. The DI20HE is not a DDC, it is a maschine!
3. If you are a streamer. Get the Afterdark X1 PCIe ethernet adapter. I have been using this for a long time with OCK2 and Alibaba clock. It beats and mobs the floor with the onboard i225 Intel, which is officially crap anyway though.
Buy a decent motherboard you don´t need the most expensive one. The Pink Fuan UItra has a MSI Tomahawk B550. All the secrets of the sound is elsewhere OS and PSU etc.
I thought power conditioning was everything like 100% but network man! just do it!_----
4. On the part which is last for a reason. Get the network together. I am still in shock why I did not do this before. Check my signature...I am adding 1 more CBS220. Such a sweet dark and ripe sound! - it made the R-1 NOS turn into a much more authority sounding and even more sweet top bass notes, that pops out of the stereo image.
5. Put the computer on only DC filtering. don´t go over board with power conditioning. I even tried a Torus Power and it made it worse. DC filtering was the best.....maybe a ONfilter as you already know them?
Just PM me for question I do also have: JCAT USB XE, Pink Fuan USB Bridge V2, Pink Fuan I2S Bridge V2, Pink Faun SPDIF Bridge V1
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Corsair AX1600i is KING! and the Afterdark X1 brings the blackes background. two of the most important part to get the streamer going!
*All my network is powered by Corsair AX1600i. Master clock will also be added.
*If I were to upgrade I would go for Farad ATX or maybe the JCAT ATX because it has the PCI express output for gaming, for an efficient gpu.