Build a dedicated Audio PC

[jkeny]

Pearse, sorry if you covered this before but why do you have two 12V supplies - one linear, one SMPS?

[Sligolad]

Hi John, the SMPS I leave in just to fire the Relays, those coils need a little power and no point wasting good linear 12v on them.
The DC to DC convertor is only there now to act as a trigger to sense the Mobo is OK and then allows the 12v from the SMPS to fire the relays.
Cheers, Pearse.

[jkeny]

Ah, right. So that ground from the SMPS/DC-DC converter NOT connect to the main ground & pollute it?

[nige2000]

On the mobos i tested all the 5v, 3.3v pins with continuity they were all connected together, i had assumed all the extra pins were to prevent a voltage droop
maybe the intel is different

Any sq benefit could be down to using lower voltage, which is something i have not tried nor tested yet

for some unknown reason i have a hunch that the intel board will boot with the dc converter by pass thingy
all that will be different is to remove relays wire direct and disconnect from dc converter and put 5v into the +5v standby pin (purple)

a little noise will becoming from the dc converter from the standby pin and the ground

is difficult to test each rail seperate its not a massive change
i had my testing on a switch which enabled me to a-b it with a fast turn around

[Sligolad]

Yea Purple and ground from Dc to DC convertor are still there as well as the green, been trying to find a solution to get awy from them completely but not there yet.
It all gets vey complex for my little head when trying to keep a simple push on and push off from the front panel but I will keep trying.
Might end up leaving the DC to DC convertor behind altogether at some point and add a switch for the Linears so flick switch and push button and vica versa!!!
Maybe over the Xmas there will be a quiet day to spend trying to come up with a good solution.

Cheers, Pearse.

[Sligolad]

OK no ground from Dc to Dc convertor going to the board now just purple and green to the 20 pin atx plug.
So the atx plug on the board just has purple and green from the DC to DC convertor and from Linear supplies 3.3v single line, 5v single line & 12 v single line with grounds from the linear supplies.
I can not hear any real improvement so just moved on to testing of JPlay 5.2 versions, some differences there which are easy to hear.
Will reserve judgement until I get more time with them but the Alt version is very detailed....maybe a little too much, back to standard tomorrow!
Finished all my work on the power side for now, will post a final diagram soon.
Cheers, Pearse.

[jkeny]

Has this LGA1150 mobo been mentioned before http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-OP-AMP-D ... B00F8AFO6W
It's an "audiophile" mobo :) but not expensive $80
But the interesting bits are:
- an interesting Voltage regulator module (VRM) to provide clean power with good quality solid capacitors
- clean USB power called USB DAC-UP
- audio op-amp - not interested in this part but it shows that clean power is considered

[nige2000]

Has this LGA1150 mobo been mentioned before http://www.amazon.com/Gigabyte-OP-AMP-D ... B00F8AFO6W
It's an "audiophile" mobo :) but not expensive $80
But the interesting bits are:
- an interesting Voltage regulator module (VRM) to provide clean power with good quality solid capacitors
- clean USB power called USB DAC-UP
- audio op-amp - not interested in this part but it shows that clean power is considered

gigabyte must be reading this thread

Featuring a gold plated USB 2.0 port, GIGABYTE USB DAC-Up provides clean, noise-free power delivery to your Digital-to-Analog Converter. DACs can be sensitive to fluctuations in power from the other USB ports, which is why GIGABYTE USB DAC-Up takes advantage of an isolated power source that minimizes potential fluctuations and ensures the best audio experience possible.

See here i wonder if they isolate the ground as well just leaving the signal wires (could be of benefit to the os)

GIGABYTE USB DAC-Up also allows the port to be configured in BIOS for enthusiast system configurations which do not require USB power to the DAC. This makes it suitable for high-end audio enthusiasts building extreme fidelity audio systems

Always wonder whats the deal with gold plated usb ports
as i would have thought it was the pins that would have mattered.

[jkeny]

Nige, I thought that mobo might be of interest to you - it does seem to tick some boxes
The gold plated stuff I always put in the "audiophile" category but who knows, there may be something to it?
Anyway, I might go this route once I find which of the 10 different versions of this mobo is most suitable (I don't need or want the opamp audio, for instance)

[nige2000]

Nige, I thought that mobo might be of interest to you - it does seem to tick some boxes
The gold plated stuff I always put in the "audiophile" category but who knows, there may be something to it?
Anyway, I might go this route once I find which of the 10 different versions of this mobo is most suitable (I don't need or want the opamp audio, for instance)

there will be no benefit until theres linear regs on it, everything still need to be bypassed and isolated