Quiet Mini PCs for a Roon Media Server
A Roon media server runs well on a quiet mini PC with an Intel Core i3 or better processor, at least 4GB of RAM, and an SSD boot drive. The Roon hardware guidance recommends an Intel Core i3 (Ivy Bridge or newer), 4GB RAM, an SSD boot drive and a 1440 x 900 display. Roon also requires OpenGL 3.0 support on Windows. Performance depends on the size of the music library, so larger collections benefit from more memory and faster storage.
Roon Server runs on Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, Linux, and supported NAS platforms. Roon Bridge adds network audio outputs and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Linux x86_64 builds support both Core and Output functions, while ARM builds support Output functions only. For a dedicated media server, a fanless or low-noise mini PC with an SSD is the common choice, because it keeps the room quiet and the storage responsive.
Thinvent's mini PCs use Intel Core processors from 11th to 14th generation, and an AMD Ryzen 5 model. The mini PCs suit a Roon Server because they include SSD storage, 8GB to 16GB of RAM, and Windows 11 Pro or Ubuntu Linux. The Thinvent range does not include an Intel Core i3-1215U model in a fanless chassis; the i3-1215U models listed here are the Aero Mini PC and IPC3 Industrial PC.
| Model | Processor | RAM | Storage | OS | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U (6 core) | 8GB | 256GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro | No |
| Treo Mini PC | Intel N5095A (4 core) | 4GB | 128GB SSD | Ubuntu Linux | No |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U (6 core) | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro | Dual Band |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core 5 120U (10 core) | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro | Dual Band |
Thinvent Products for Roon Media Servers
Thinvent has mini PCs that run Roon Server and Roon Bridge. The Treo Mini PC with Intel N5095A and Ubuntu Linux suits a basic Roon Server with a small library. The Aero Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U runs Windows 11 Pro and suits larger libraries. The Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and 16GB RAM has more headroom for larger libraries and Roon Server on Windows. The Micro 5R Thin Client, with an ARM Cortex A53 processor, can run Roon Bridge for audio output.
