Quiet Mini PCs as a Roon Core
Roon runs on most recent PCs and Macs. The Roon Core is the server that holds the music library, and its hardware needs depend on library size, the number of simultaneous zones, and DSP use. Roon Labs lists a minimum of an Intel Core i3 (Ivy Bridge or newer), 4 GB RAM, and an SSD boot drive. A compact, fanless or low-noise machine with an SSD is a practical base for a quiet, always-on Roon server.
Processor and Memory Options
The Thinvent range covers several Intel and AMD processors for a Roon Core. The Intel Core i3-1215U (6 cores, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 MB cache) is in the Aero Mini PC and the IPC3 Industrial PC, each with 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 256 GB SSD. The Intel Core i5-1240P (12 cores, up to 4.4 GHz, 12 MB cache) is in the IPC5 Industrial PC with 16 GB or 32 GB DDR4 RAM. The Intel Core i7-1255U (10 cores, up to 4.7 GHz, 12 MB cache) is in the IPC5 Industrial PC with dual LAN. The AMD Ryzen 5 7430U (6 cores, up to 4.3 GHz, 16 MB cache) is in the Treo Mini PC with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD.
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max Frequency | Memory | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thinvent Treo Mini PC | Intel N5095A | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 GB | 128 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 8 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC3 | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 8 GB | 256 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16 GB | 512 GB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 | Intel Core i5-1240P | 12 | 4.4 GHz | 16 GB or 32 GB | 512 GB or 1 TB SSD |
| Thinvent Industrial PC IPC5 | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 16 GB or 32 GB | 512 GB or 1 TB SSD |
Operating Systems and Connectivity
Roon Server runs on Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, and Linux on Intel x86_64. The Thinvent range has Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT Value, and Ubuntu Linux. The Aero Mini PC, Treo Mini PC (Ryzen), and IPC5 (i7-1255U, Dual Band WiFi) models include Dual Band WiFi. The IPC5 with dual LAN is suited to a wired network connection.
Thinvent Mini PCs for a Roon Server
The Thinvent Aero Mini PC, Treo Mini PC and Industrial PC models above are options for a Roon Core. Choose a higher core count and more memory for large libraries or several simultaneous zones. Choose a fanless or lower-power model for a quiet, always-on media server.
