Roon Server Hardware Requirements
Roon runs on Windows 10 or later, macOS 12 or later, and Linux, and it also runs on supported NAS platforms. The Roon hardware recommendation is an Intel Core i3 (Ivy Bridge or newer), 4GB RAM, and an SSD boot drive. Roon Labs notes that performance depends on the size of the music library and the speed of the hardware. Roon Server can benefit from a faster CPU, and community reports show it regularly uses more than 4GB of RAM, so 8GB or 16GB is a practical choice for a larger library.
Choosing a Thinvent Mini PC for a Roon Server
A Roon Server needs a processor that meets the Core i3 baseline, enough RAM for a large library, and an SSD for the operating system and library data. Thinvent has several Intel Core systems that meet this baseline. The Thinvent Aero Mini PC with Intel Core i3-1215U has 6 cores, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 MB cache, 8GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB SSD. The Thinvent Aero Mini PC with Intel Core 5 120U has 10 cores, up to 5.0 GHz, 12 MB cache, 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD. The Thinvent Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U has 6 cores, up to 4.3 GHz, 16 MB cache, 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 512GB SSD.
Comparison of Thinvent Systems for Roon Server
| Model | Processor | Cores | Max Frequency | RAM | Storage | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core i3-1215U | 6 | 4.4 GHz | 8GB | 256GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro |
| Aero Mini PC | Intel Core 5 120U | 10 | 5.0 GHz | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro |
| Treo Mini PC | AMD Ryzen 5 7430U | 6 | 4.3 GHz | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro |
| Industrial PC IPC5 | Intel Core i7-1255U | 10 | 4.7 GHz | 16GB | 512GB SSD | Windows 11 Pro |
Thinvent Systems Built for a Roon Server
Thinvent's Aero Mini PC, Treo Mini PC and Industrial PC IPC5 series use the processors and memory listed above. The Aero Mini PC with Intel Core 5 120U and the Treo Mini PC with AMD Ryzen 5 7430U provide the most cores and the largest memory among the mini PCs on this page. The Industrial PC IPC5 with Intel Core i7-1255U and dual LAN suits a Roon Server that needs wired network ports. The Thinvent range does not include a fanless design or a dedicated audio board, so a quiet Roon build depends on the chosen model and its cooling.
