[lope]

Hi all,

I intend to build my first music server. Other then excellent audio i also want to use the pc as my XMBC player to feed my TV with movies.

Components
Streacom FC5 WS EVO
Intel Core i5 4570T
Intel DH87RL
Crucial 8GB DDR3 1600
PicoPSU-150XT + 102W Adapter
Intel mSATA 525 120GB
PPA USB Card
PPA USB Cable -> Wadia 121
OS: Win 8 64 bit / JRiver / XMBC

I lean towards a 4th gen processor. My main concern is the motherboard. Is this an, audiophile, motherboard and will it fit? Do you have any (other) thoughts about this set-up?

[InfernoSTi]

Hi, and welcome to AC!

I'm a newbie at computer servers, too, so I'm no use on the motherboard/chip question. Sorry...

Your server case is beautiful.  Great choice! 

The PPA USB card is worth the effort.  Kai-Yu (Paul) Pang is great to work with and his card is worth the very low price.  Get a nice linear power supply (5v/2amp min) with a 4-pin molex connector for the best sound results if you can.  Same thing for the motherboard (linear power supply, voltage/amps depending on final selection). I'm not sure how that works with a Pico DC-DC input.

Also, give the PPA 200+ hours for best sound.  It will vary like a capacitor burning in between startup and 200 hours.  I set my computer on "all songs" when I would go to work to get an extra 10+ hours a day on it (amp off). 

Please consider adding Fidelizer 3.0 to your software setup.  I found it makes a huge difference with two channel (not tried with HT).  Give it a try...it is free and non-permanent (need to run after each reboot).

Enjoy...

Best,
John

[Hipper]

I bought something similar ready made.

You might consider the SOtM Audio tX-USBexp Audiophile-quality PCI Express USB Card and SOtM In-Line SATA Power Noise Filter.

I have these in my system but I can't comment on the pros and cons.

As well as a solid state drive for the operating system and programmes I have a disc hard drive for music storage. I've found no problems with this arrangement.

[BPT]

For an i5 I recommend a stiffer power supply better able to handle short term higher current demands like the M4-ATX.
Chris H.

[ted_b]

I have used both the Paul Pang USB card (v1) and SOtM PCIe card in my Asus-based Zuma.  They are both great cards, but Paul's is only $160 and to my ears slightly more smooth and analog sounding (after like 100+ hours).  In fact his newer V2 card is what he calls 95% of the sq for $129.  In either case, his cards need a good external linear 5V to power them.  My SOtM card is externally powered by their SOtM dual battery.