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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
yyzsantabarbara
4,532 posts
 
Get a Sonore Rendu streamer and the cheapest retail SILENT computer that will run your music software. If you can make the streamer work on fibre optical network the better.

I have a cheap DELL my old company was about to throw out and lower end Rendu, the microrendu. I bet this system sounds the same as a optimized PC.

BTW- I know how to put together a PC from scratch but I do not bother because of the Rendu.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
SSD hard drives. 

I actually use a fanless video card.  The Palit Geforce GTX 10050Ti.  I wanted my PC as silent as possible as well.  The Palit video card works great for all 2D stuff (web browser, video, youtube, Word, Excel, etc., etc.).  It works well for mild 3D gaming also.  However, if you are running some of the more aggressive 3D games, you absolutely need a fan or multiple fans on the video card.  This card just gets too hot on aggressive 3D gaming.

Teradak used to sell computer linear power supplies in separate cases on ebay, but it looks like they have stopped.  You still want some sort of fan that will circulate air within the computer case itself.
gdnrbob
4,411 posts
 
I forgot Keetakawee (Fidelizer) also makes the Nmitra:
https://www.fidelizer-audio.com/nimitra-computer-audio-server/
for the money, it seems to be a nice deal.
Bob
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Depends on what other thing you are planning to do with the computer and what you want to spend. If you use USB to connect  to your dac consider something like a femto USB card they are expensive. For hard drives PCIe instead  of sata easier on the CPU. There are some fanless cases but if you use fans use large as you can get in the case. Get the best CPU with the most cores you can afford , most memory you can afford, won't tax the computer as much and will run cooler and quiter. 
azthu OP
23 posts
 
Many great insights-Thank You!
The most often mentioned point both in research and here absolutely agrees on the importance of  choice of hard drive and its SSD by a MILE.. Of which- My builder says an M.2 drive is the best route within this area. If anyone else has experience with M.2 and any potential implications on audio- please let me know. (OS on one smaller drive-everything else on a much larger 1TB plus second drive)
As much as a Teradak linear power supply would seem to really make sense coming from our "audio first" point of view -it seems pricey- if even available at this time- for the little ROI it might provide -especially if Cary DMS- 500 is doing most of heavy lifting from Roon's direction.
Either way -All great points!
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