Choosing a Mini PC for a Roon Server
A Roon Server runs on a Windows, macOS, or Linux PC. Roon's published recommendation is an Intel Core i3 (Ivy Bridge or later), 4 GB of RAM, and an SSD boot drive. Roon's community also reports that Roon Server benefits from a faster CPU, but does not gain much from more than 8 GB of RAM or more than 128 GB of internal OS storage. Library size matters for storage: Roon's community guidance is about 2 GB of storage per 1,000 albums.
For a quiet build, a fanless or low-noise mini PC with an SSD is the usual choice. The Thinvent range includes several mini PCs and industrial PCs that fit this profile, with 8 GB to 32 GB of DDR4 RAM and 256 GB to 1 TB SSD storage.
Key Specifications for a Roon Server
| Requirement | Roon recommendation | Thinvent options on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i3, Ivy Bridge or later | Intel Core i3-1215U (6 core, 4.4 GHz), Intel Core i5-1240P, Intel Core i7-1255U |
| RAM | 4 GB minimum | 4 GB to 32 GB DDR4 |
| Boot drive | SSD | 128 GB to 1 TB SSD |
| Operating system | Windows 10+, macOS 12+, Linux | Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT Value, Ubuntu Linux |
Roon also states that OpenGL 3.0 support is required on Windows. Roon Server on Linux runs on Intel x86_64 builds for Core and Output functions. ARM builds support Output functions only. The Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client uses an ARM Cortex A53 processor, so it fits Roon's Output role rather than a full server build.
Use Cases
A Roon Server for a home music library works well on a mini PC with an Intel Core i3-1215U and 8 GB of RAM, using a 256 GB SSD for the OS and Roon database. For larger libraries, or for users who also run other services, a configuration with 16 GB or 32 GB of RAM and a 512 GB or 1 TB SSD gives more room. Dual LAN models suit a network-attached setup, and models with dual band WiFi suit placement away from an Ethernet cable.
The Thinvent range does not include a model with Roon-specific software. Thinvent products run standard Windows or Linux, so Roon Server installs on them as on any other PC that meets Roon's requirements.
Thinvent Products for a Roon Server
The Thinvent® Aero Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U, 8 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD suits a compact Roon Server build. The Thinvent® Industrial PC IPC3 with the same processor and memory runs Ubuntu Linux. The Thinvent® Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U and 16 GB RAM is another option for a Roon Server on Windows 11 Pro.
