Building an AUDIOPHILE friendly PC from scratch so what is a must to consider in 2020?


First thing-I realize there are computer audio web sites out there, but I would really like to know what the wise members of AGON have done or would do when looking at ensuring a QUIET PC can coexist when playing music in a mixed use office/listening room. Current Windows 7 desktop serves as my central ROON location. It directs audio sources( mostly streamed via TIDAL and RADIO PARADISE) to my system. I switch between an ALLO USbridge that runs USB to an MHDT Orchid DAC ("NOS tube days") or a CARY DMS-500 streamer/DAC ("DSD, Over-sample days"). Despite the problems it can add, I even on occasion use TIDAL's own PC based player. Regardless, the PC is always on doing something!
SO.... when seeking to maintain signal integrity AND limiting PC generated noise in my room ......are there some absolutes to consider when building from scratch? ( type of hard drive/SSD, power supply, pc case, cooling fan, network switch or specific style or brand to use of any?) KEEP IN MIND- I am not only looking to limit the corruption of any audio involving my PC but I also am really looking to LIMIT the NOISE the actual PC makes when I am trying to just listen to music while working !  Has anyone out there had any luck?
(***I realize Ipad, Iphone, can control everything via WiFi but my situation requires a desk top PC)  Thanks!
azthu

Showing 2 responses by erik_squires

Any new SSD will have plenty of speed to stream audio. M.2 is damn convenient, but don’t bother overspending. If this is dedicated for audio get the biggest, slowest M.2 drive you can. 😀. The top of the line Samsung Evo Pro will be severe overkill for speed.  Better to vet a larger past gen model for the same price.
I’m running roon with a PC in a closet, and streaming to a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 Gigs of RAM, and Ubuntu. ~ $150, fanless.

A little more if you add a linear power supply.

https://inatinear.blogspot.com/2019/12/mytek-dsd-and-ubuntu-on-pi-4.html

The shopping list and parts detail are here, though when I wrote it I didn’t know I was about to switch to Roon:

https://inatinear.blogspot.com/2019/12/ubuntu-and-logitech-media-server-on.html