Computer suggestions please

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Wardsweb
Wardsweb Posts: 903
in Going Digital
Looking for a new computer to check email, surf the web and stream USB 3.0 digital data to my DAC. Any suggestions?
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
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    The USB 3.0 will be the only real thing to double check. Otherwise it just depends on your budget and needs.

    Do you want a touchscreen, how big of a screen do you want, backlit keyboard (I'd suggest one they are nice in low light scenarios), etc....
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
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    Such an open question, you can choose from so many things! I currently use my desktop I built, but my Surface Pro3 works pretty well too
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 903
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    EndersShadow wrote: »
    The USB 3.0 will be the only real thing to double check. Otherwise it just depends on your budget and needs.

    Do you want a touchscreen, how big of a screen do you want, backlit keyboard (I'd suggest one they are nice in low light scenarios), etc....

    I was thinking something small form factor. I already have a 28" monitor.

    HP makes a little round "puck" that reminds me of a MAC mini and they are cheap.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,528
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    Wardsweb wrote: »
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    The USB 3.0 will be the only real thing to double check. Otherwise it just depends on your budget and needs.

    Do you want a touchscreen, how big of a screen do you want, backlit keyboard (I'd suggest one they are nice in low light scenarios), etc....

    I was thinking something small form factor. I already have a 28" monitor.

    HP makes a little round "puck" that reminds me of a MAC mini and they are cheap.

    Gotcha, I thought you were talking laptop. If you want something that sized check out Intel NUC units (link)

    Otherwise if your handy like I think you are, you could build a small MiniITX DIY computer for probably around 3-400 hundred that used a integrated graphics card, a solid state drive for the operating system and all the other bells and whistles you'd need.

    But not sure if your wanting DIY or not.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,132
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    I use a Intel NUC for my music server with external WD USB 3.0 hard drives. I can pack it up in a small box and take it any where. It's what I used at LSAF this year.
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • dhart86
    dhart86 Posts: 1,594
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    I bought on of these....... web surfing and audio via jriver. I works very well
    cost me 190

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KU54KPQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s01
    Main Rig:
    Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3


    Second Rig:
    Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded)


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  • shadowlight
    shadowlight Posts: 327
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    HP, Asus, Dell all have similar system either running Celeron J1800 (lower power use) or you could be on look out for Lenovo M tiny series on fleabay. I have a M73 tiny which is dead quiet in my music room.
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  • Polkitup2
    Polkitup2 Posts: 1,619
    edited August 2015
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    I have used both a Dell Inspirion laptop and a Mac Mini each with I5 CPUs and 8 GBs memory. I used JRiver for playback on both. They both got the job done and were not impacted by web browsing while listening. Overall, I prefer the MAC because of its small size.
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
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    Dell has factory refurbish PC's that I'd recommend if going that way.

    I have bought many in the past for my brother and for a simple 2nd PC to have on hand.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • machone
    machone Posts: 1,474
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    txcoastal1
    How quiet is the NUC? I have been looking at one.
    My biggest complaint with my Dell laptop is fan noise. I am using Korg Audiogate3 upconverting 44.1Khz files to DSD 5.6Mhz on the fly so I need decent computing power with no fan noise. Also I would want to power it an electrically quiet power supply.
    Mojo Audio Illuminati v3>>Quantum Byte w/LMS>>Rpi/PiCoreplayer>> Starlight 7 USB >> Mojo Audio Mystique v2 SE>>ModWright SWL 9.0 SE Signature>>Hafler DH-500 Amp+ (Musical Concepts Fully Modded)>>
    SRS 2.3TL (Fully Modded)...Velodyne Optimum 8 subwoofer
    1KVA Dreadnought

    Marantz SA 8005
    Pioneer PLX-1000 Turntable - Shure SC35C/N35X - V15III/VN35HE
    Yamaha TX-540 Tuner...Sony BDP-S570
    Sony PS4

    Separate subpanel with four dedicated 20 amp circuits.
    1. Amplification 2. Analog 3. Digital 4. Video

    "All THAT IS LOST FROM THE SOURCE IS LOST FOREVER"
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  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,132
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    machone wrote: »
    txcoastal1
    How quiet is the NUC? I have been looking at one.
    My biggest complaint with my Dell laptop is fan noise. I am using Korg Audiogate3 upconverting 44.1Khz files to DSD 5.6Mhz on the fly so I need decent computing power with no fan noise. Also I would want to power it an electrically quiet power supply.

    Dead quiet, no fans, use WD USB 3.0 hard drives for music storage.

    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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