anewmission Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Hey just wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of cheap mini PC's nuc, nettop, anything windows capable . 100$ or less. They will be used as room endpoints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugPowderDust Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 For $100 or less the best Roon endpoints you could run would be Rasberry Pi based with Ropieee, Volumio, Hifiberry OS, Moode or similar as the software stack. If you’re feeling adventurous you could also put a specialist DAC HAT (daughterboard on). these won’t need windows but will play nice on your network, offer you Roon capability as well as Spotify connect, Airplay and more (depending on your preferred software distribution). start your research here: https://darko.audio/2020/01/raspberry-pi-audio-streaming-101/ you could also hunt around for some ageing Intel NUCs or similar to run windows on them but you’re in for a lot more work for what will not be a better outcome. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Man Rubber Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 The Intel compute sticks are the cheapest way to run windows - note that for $100 you could probably buy the hardware but what you really need is the $$$spendy windows license. I use a couple of these for a different purpose than audio so I can't comment on what that will be like. I have found them very reliable although the 32gb of local storage is a little small if you are installing a lot of software. It's plenty for windows 10 though. https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/intel-compute-stick-with-windows-10-quad-core-atom-x5-and-32gb-ssd-boxstk1aw32sc-intel/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmfmABhCHARIsACwPRAD57he0rTxgOy-cT6WaCxRJVSb76Djt7lIeQk_jLB70slYvC2I1C5gaAuVSEALw_wcB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 (edited) 56 minutes ago, Old Man Rubber said: The Intel compute sticks are the cheapest way to run windows - note that for $100 you could probably buy the hardware but what you really need is the $$$spendy windows license. Is there a place to get bare bones Intel compute sticks, without Win? The ones I have seen come with Win, no option to remove. Edited February 6, 2021 by Snoopy8 Typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 56 minutes ago, Old Man Rubber said: I have found them very reliable although the 32gb of local storage is a little small if you are installing a lot of software. It's plenty for windows 10 though. There has been at least one Windows 10 update that refused to install on all the machines with only 32GB. There simply wasn't enough room to stage the update files. You had to go through a huge routine with external storage and downloading the entire update manually. Linux is best on such small devices. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Man Rubber Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 17 minutes ago, aussievintage said: There has been at least one Windows 10 update that refused to install on all the machines with only 32GB. There simply wasn't enough room to stage the update files. You had to go through a huge routine with external storage and downloading the entire update manually. Linux is best on such small devices. 100% agree but the original poster wanted Windows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Old Man Rubber Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 (edited) 29 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: Is there a place to get bare bones Intel compute sticks, without Win? The ones I have seen come with Win, no option to remove. There *kinda* is but you have to go dumpster diving on Alibaba and the results can be fairly...hit and miss. Anything without a known brand you will be subject to a variety of obfuscated specs, outright lies about storage size and processor speed etc. If you don't care about having an Intel compatible processor or running Windows, the ARM based devices are generally a safer bet (safest being the Raspberry Pi). You can usually buy a Pi and a case / accessories right off the shelf at your local Jaycar if you don't mind paying a bit of a premium. Edit: Alibaba sample at $59 - there are a pile of devices like this that are bare-bones (i.e. no operating system), honestly I would rather buy a Pi it's probably easier to learn how to install Raspbian than it is to source a windows license and install it on this: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Computer-Stick-For-Win10-Smart-Mini_1600141761962.html?s=p Edit 2: If you don't want to futz with installing software or becoming a fully qualified Linux system administrator, these are worth a look. Can install software from the Google play store so Roon etc. would work. https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/xiaomi-mi-tv-stick-with-google-assistant-xiaomi/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=product_listing_ads&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmfmABhCHARIsACwPRAC6S3k9pr32IMiTfmNWdNPXSrpBEEMNI06NtOqEUtfEFM8lbQbuDi0aAnzkEALw_wcB Edited February 6, 2021 by Old Man Rubber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 6 minutes ago, Old Man Rubber said: Edit: Alibaba sample at $59 - there are a pile of devices like this that are bare-bones (i.e. no operating system), honestly I would rather buy a Pi it's probably easier to learn how to install Raspbian than it is to source a windows license and install it on this: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Computer-Stick-For-Win10-Smart-Mini_1600141761962.html?s=p Going to the backwaters to source a compute stick without Win is not my cup of tea. Intel do have bare bones NUCs but no longer compute sticks. I agree that going Pi is the better way... --- Back to topic, @anewmission, why a cheap Roon point with WIN in particular? I assume this is for multi room playback where SQ is not a focus. Why not SnakeOil which you know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 I've moved to Chinese made AMD Ryzen R5 based equivalents to the Intel NUC. Mine are based around the 2500U. Really though they're more than you're looking to pay. As others have said, the Raspberry Pi is the best way to go at this price point. Capability changes depending on the case you select too. I sourced a case with decent cooling so it can be overclocked and SSD support recently. Got to get it going though. What I'm really waiting for is for someone to release a decent ARM processor and for a NUC to be based around it. Would be sweet to have low power use and grunt in a single unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kukynas Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 With preinstalled win 10 for around $120 delivered https://m.aliexpress.com/item/4001096018792.html?spm=a2g0n.productlist.0.0.46d415c1TuzLTi&browser_id=75cc6956ea9d4ef0920e4a6c2989bbdf&aff_trace_key=936fe81bb00d4b4da17dab1c7b707d85-1590360453144-09381-mr6wR6CC&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=17779dae824d7f605d0168b1b8f913e16de63241d2&gclid=&_imgsrc_=ae01.alicdn.com%2Fkf%2FH0268d7aa4ae94673b4d397287d8f0793i.jpg_640x640Q90.jpg I’ve been using beelink mini pc for over 2 years as a streamer without any issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keinesorge Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 If you factored in a decent linear power supply for the Pi it starts to get into cheap nuc territory. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anewmission Posted February 7, 2021 Author Share Posted February 7, 2021 I probably should be Abit mor specific. I just used room endpoints as an example. I am setting up workstations in each tuition ro at a music tuition store. The computers just need to be able to run youtube, spotify, tidal, amazon music kind of thing. And researching music. The only reason I was thinking windows is because it's easy to put child protection on windows. I guess the only real thing I need is 3.5mm input jacks for recording and playback. I know there is a version of windows for rpi? I haven't had any experiences with rpi's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy8 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 And a few of us thought you mispelt Roon as room ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugPowderDust Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Given the clarification, maybe this is a better place for this thread? https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/forum/27-computers-technology/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 45 minutes ago, keinesorge said: If you factored in a decent linear power supply for the Pi it starts to get into cheap nuc territory. Don't NUCs use a switching supply as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 54 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said: And a few of us thought you mispelt Roon as room ! Nah, just phone autocorrect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keinesorge Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 56 minutes ago, aussievintage said: Don't NUCs use a switching supply as well? Yup they do. That reply highlights the upgrade driven faulty thinking I sometimes entertain when it comes to hifi. Just think how good a NUC could be with it’s own linear supply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyW Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Seriously, all PC power supplies are switching types. Have been for a very long time now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 8 minutes ago, MattyW said: Seriously, all PC power supplies are switching types. Have been for a very long time now. Sure, my point was that it didn't make sense to add the cost of a LPS to the cost of a Pi then compare it to a NUC with a switching supply. In my experience the supplied supplies with either is perfectly adequate anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eLicky Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 Look up the Lenovo Tiny PC's, find them on eBay used with different specs. I use one at home, its been great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rand129678 Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 (edited) Error deleted Edited February 7, 2021 by rand129678 Error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussievintage Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 11 hours ago, eLicky said: Look up the Lenovo Tiny PC's, find them on eBay used with different specs. I use one at home, its been great. I do too, although I swapped Windows 10 for Linux. Often come with options for SSD. Mine has a 240GB SSD and 8GB RAM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eLicky Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 8 hours ago, aussievintage said: I do too, although I swapped Windows 10 for Linux. Often come with options for SSD. Mine has a 240GB SSD and 8GB RAM. Yes, mines an i5, 240 SSD and 8gm RAM too. Been an awesome little machine, picked it up for about $120 shipped but the seller was pretty desperate for a sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepthought Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 Worth a read: https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2016/11/06/inexpensive-roon-endpoints-a-neophytes-experience/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deepthought Posted February 8, 2021 Share Posted February 8, 2021 (edited) Personally, I'd also suggest looking at a small Intel based unit with Roon Rock on it and use it as an Endpoint rather than a Server. Roon Rock is a Linux based OS with a tiny footprint. Updates are easy. Since you're using the device as end point the requirements will be greatly reduced in comparison to using it as a Core. You could get a cheap used NUC to use it as an endpoint- https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/lyndoch/desktops/intel-nuc-with-8gb-ram-128gb-ssd-and-win10/1267642813 https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Intel-NUC-Desktop-PC-DN2820FYK-2-16-GHz-4GB-RAM-120GB-samsung-SSD-librelec-Kodi/193875687050?hash=item2d23e4368a:g:5d4AAOSw4gRfrZhs - just a thought Edited February 8, 2021 by deepthought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts