Is there anything to help using a computer from digital noise not that expensive

The biggest issues I’ve found with PC’s are two fold:

1 - Galvanic isolation of USB. Some DAC’s have it built in, some do not. If you can’t solve this, go optical. This causes excess jitter and/or audible humm.  In other words, a ground loop can show up digitally or in the analog stage with different symptoms.

2 - PC power supplies are terribly noisy.

A cheap, hospital grade USB isolator ($30) will fix 1, but with some DACs won’t work. I haven’t tried the iFi isolator with a power supply.

Keeping your PC, especially laptops, power supply out of your audio power supply chain is important. Don’t put it on the clean side of a power conditioner.

Ethernet however is inherently galvanically isolated. Again, if you are concerned, consider a hospital grade 4kV Ethernet isolator. Also useful for surge protection with long runs.

Interestingly, trying to keep your PC power supply isolated from your audio gear may in fact cause ground loops, since you want to plug the PC and audio gear into different branch circuits.  This is why a good conditioner like Furman with LiFT/SMP can help.

There is a great debate on whether digital is just digital (1's and 0's) or if a streamer makes computers look like beat up cars that should be in the junk yard. 

the thruth is in the middle.  It is a debate because there ISN"T THAT MUCH DiFFERENCE.  I've listened to several absolutely fantastic systesm in the past year streaming through a dedicated computer.  Many use a Raspberry pi.  

Sure maybe a streamer is a way to get another 1/10 of a percent after you have the other problems solved.  But if you can't afford a streamer right now, don't sweat it.  I know there are emotional rants all over the internet designed to make you feel like a second class citizen streaming through a computer, but you aren't.  

Relax and enjoy your system.  Someday you'll add a streamer, and maybe you'll be able to tell the difference. 

Jerry

Saran at 6moons put out this very positive review of the iFi iPurifier 3.