Iving
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2015
- Posts
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Just a few notes on Optane/PCIe then - please see recent posts inc. Z270-WS block diagram:
- This is an A/B with a confound.
- All PC components (24-pin, 12V CPU, 6-pin PCIe and SATA 5V) powered independently from Larry's new 400W HDPLEX.
- A is o/s W10 Pro on M.2_1 (PCIe NVME) / flac on a SATA SSD.
- B is o/s and flac both on a single Optane AIC in PCIE_1 (no switch/CPU-direct) ...
- In both A and B Intel X540-T2 is also in a no-switch (CPU-direct) PCIE slot.
- The essential difference is Optane vs. Allcomers (M.2/SSD).
- NB: Both M.2 and SATA go thru the chipset. This is the confound - B involves no traffic thru chipset (PCH-H) - it's ostensibly all PCIE/CPU.
- Therefore any difference could be attributable to Optane per se or to an ultra-simple mobo configuration - or both.
- My system is cold and I only had an hour at things after set up.
- There is an unmistakeable elevation of SQ:
- the music breathes
- it is cleaner
- it flows
- it is enjoyable
- voices (Sandy Denny!) have extra layers
- the delivery is relaxed
- the delivery is deliberate
- micro-instances of music that are exquisite tell me that they are so
- even on something like Byrds 'Nashville West'.
- As the system warmed up a bit there is more detail, openness and thud.
- The music is fluid. Johhny Burnette's 'Lonesome Train' is not so much more Lonesome as more - well - Train.
- My "go to" track for digititis evaluation is Emmylou 'Boulder to Birmingham' - her voice sounds more the beautiful voice that it is than an edgey annoyance.
So - I recommend Optane. If you get tempted make sure of PCIe AIC (although you could visit Larry aka lmitche on CA for alternatives). In parallel fashion I recommend avoidance of the chipset and other switches. I can't say which of the two recommendations is sweeter.
Talking of partnerships - me and the RedNet Card didn't work out this time around. Perhaps she'll wait for me. I'm a happy bunny anyway.
- This is an A/B with a confound.
- All PC components (24-pin, 12V CPU, 6-pin PCIe and SATA 5V) powered independently from Larry's new 400W HDPLEX.
- A is o/s W10 Pro on M.2_1 (PCIe NVME) / flac on a SATA SSD.
- B is o/s and flac both on a single Optane AIC in PCIE_1 (no switch/CPU-direct) ...
- In both A and B Intel X540-T2 is also in a no-switch (CPU-direct) PCIE slot.
- The essential difference is Optane vs. Allcomers (M.2/SSD).
- NB: Both M.2 and SATA go thru the chipset. This is the confound - B involves no traffic thru chipset (PCH-H) - it's ostensibly all PCIE/CPU.
- Therefore any difference could be attributable to Optane per se or to an ultra-simple mobo configuration - or both.
- My system is cold and I only had an hour at things after set up.
- There is an unmistakeable elevation of SQ:
- the music breathes
- it is cleaner
- it flows
- it is enjoyable
- voices (Sandy Denny!) have extra layers
- the delivery is relaxed
- the delivery is deliberate
- micro-instances of music that are exquisite tell me that they are so
- even on something like Byrds 'Nashville West'.
- As the system warmed up a bit there is more detail, openness and thud.
- The music is fluid. Johhny Burnette's 'Lonesome Train' is not so much more Lonesome as more - well - Train.
- My "go to" track for digititis evaluation is Emmylou 'Boulder to Birmingham' - her voice sounds more the beautiful voice that it is than an edgey annoyance.
So - I recommend Optane. If you get tempted make sure of PCIe AIC (although you could visit Larry aka lmitche on CA for alternatives). In parallel fashion I recommend avoidance of the chipset and other switches. I can't say which of the two recommendations is sweeter.
Talking of partnerships - me and the RedNet Card didn't work out this time around. Perhaps she'll wait for me. I'm a happy bunny anyway.
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