View Full Version : Gigabyte launch a range of 'audiophile' grade motherboards.
Bet the word 'audiophile' grabbed your attention! - well maybe the file based audio crew anyway ;)
http://www.gigabyte.com/fileupload/product/2/4819/9347_m.jpg
Gigabyte GA-H81N
This looks interesting and a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned . . . dedicated boards with audio in mind. During my years of testing I did discover that some motherboards can influence the quality of the end product believe it or not, especially the cheaper ASROCK and MSI ones. Anyway these new Intel H81 chipset boards have stripped back feature sets with audio rather than gaming in mind, one board allows you to change op-amps but the feature that has caught my attention is a gold plated, isolated USB port which claims to supply clean, stable power to the port, which is separate to other USB ports. Additionally, you can isolate the 5V power from this dedicated 'audio' USB port, by turning it off in the BIOS, so all you get is the data stream, no power. In theory then all you need is a simple power injector like the Item Audio (http://www.itemaudio.com/index.php/upgrades-tweaks/pc-components/detail/914-pc-components/flypage/993-microtik-5v-usb-injector.html?sef=hcfp) one, get yourself a small 5V linear PSU and voilą, a clean regulated and isolated 5V power line to your USB DAC and no need for an expensive iFi USB power brick or similar (in theory?). You could buy a motherboard, 1150 Haswell CPU, 5V linear PSU, RAM and power injector all for less than the price of the iFi-Audio iUSBPower :)
Going to buy myself this one (http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4819#ov), with one of the new 'T' rated low power i3 Intel Haswell CPU's and build another server, hopefully the last for awhile. I have found my 32bit Atom board (DM2800T) lacking on some fronts, so want a new build. It may well all be marketing BS, but we shall see? Certainly being able to isolate the 5V line on the board and having a dedicated audio USB port is going to be a good thing if you use a USB DAC, which I do.
This is the op-amp board;
GA-H81.Amp-UP (http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4485#ov)
And the full range of new H81 boards. (http://www.gigabyte.com/products/list.aspx?s=42&jid=0&p=346&v=8#1)
Bring it on ASUS, what are you going to do to match this?
realysm42
22-12-2013, 15:59
:popcorn:
Looks interesting Tim keep us updated
If I felt confident I give this a go myself
It's interesting how the all-in-one file based systems are diverging from the streamer solutions. I don't know enough about both to know which will yield ultimately better results, all I know is that my Logitech Touch has come a long way from when I first acquired it (with all the mods being with the Touch or its power supply), whereas I've done little to my file server except to run Fidelizer on it.
Keep us informed, Tim, audiophile motherboards are an interesting development.
Tim,
I guess we'd all like to know just how noiseless the gigabyte "Noise-less USB DAC-UP port" proves to be.
PS Same power injector for £1.80
http://linitx.com/product/5v-power-injector-for-usb-on-rb411uahr-and-rb493g/12849
I guess we'd all like to know just how noiseless the gigabyte "Noise-less USB DAC-UP port" proves to be.
Indeed, I like the idea but the proof will be in the pudding I guess? Not sure why they didn't just isolate the power and USB port, then put a dedicated 5V through an LM78xx series linear regulator with some smoothing caps directly on the board itself and be done with it . . . . or is that too simplistic? :scratch: I have an ADuM4160 USB isolator board at the mo, fed by its own 9V linear PSU, but its not very elegant - this would be a much better option.
Thanks for the link too ;)
Tim,
I guess we'd all like to know just how noiseless the gigabyte "Noise-less USB DAC-UP port" proves to be.
PS Same power injector for £1.80
http://linitx.com/product/5v-power-injector-for-usb-on-rb411uahr-and-rb493g/12849
If it does as it says on the tin then its a good step forward plus the ability to isolate the power via the BIOS has to be good.
If it does as it says on the tin then its a good step forward plus the ability to isolate the power via the BIOS has to be good.
I will report back when I have the board, not found one yet for sale over here, but have not looked that hard yet. It certainly should tick the box re power for USB if its turned off in the BIOS. I was reading a thread about their products on CA and they apparently confirm exactly what the iUSB Power does (iFi-Audio themselves), so this motherboard with power turned off, an injector cable and a linear PSU should give you the same result or possibly better, as I understand the iUSB Power only comes with an SMPS walwart? All steps in the right direction for file based audio. No doubt a lot of the manufacturers R&D departments are reading the forums ;)
Quote from iFi-Audio (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/ifi-ipurifier-what-it-how-use-it-do-i-want-it-18206/#post271271)
Thank you for your kind enquiry and thank you for purchasing the iUSB Power.
The iUSB Power does nothing to the audio. It stops the PC power and injects a new clean power supply.
The Gemini cable separates audio + power because one does not lay ICs and Power Cables together (obviously!) yet in the USB cable because of its original design, it does that.
The iPurifier is best placed just prior to the DAC. Ie: Computer > Usb cable > iUSB > USB cable > iPurifier > DAC.
The Purifier in a nutshell filters audio + power.
Any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
Website will be updated! Hold your horses!
Bit of show shopper if you can't buy a Gigabyte GA-H81N in the UK at the moment. It is shown on the Gigabyte's UK website, may be a call to them will clarify if any UK retail outlet will ever stock it.
That looks promising especially for people who have not already done a build. My is build with an intel board so will have to wait for the serial testers to give their verdict.
AudioPC with Linear power and batteries with windows 2012 on usb stick also running off anker battery pack sounds really good to me.
As per most hifi solutions the sky is the limit as you can indulge your funds on PPang USB cards and cables or Jplay's versions and lighten your wallet even further.
Not sure if it was on this forum but someone pointed out that the mobo manufacturers must be keeping a close eye on what people are talking about and doing on forums.
Bit of show shopper if you can't buy a Gigabyte GA-H81N in the UK at the moment. It is shown on the Gigabyte's UK website, may be a call to them will clarify if any UK retail outlet will ever stock it.
Indeed, I still cannot find one but they are not that readily available in the US yet - you can get them via eBay shipping in from the US, but I'll wait until they are stocked over here. Shouldn't be too long, we always lag behind new mobo releases in the UK, I have found this to be quite common as I follow the new release market often and have had to wait for stuff like mobo's and graphics cards before.
Indeed, I still cannot find one but they are not that readily available in the US yet - you can get them via eBay shipping in from the US, but I'll wait until they are stocked over here. Shouldn't be too long, we always lag behind new mobo releases in the UK, I have found this to be quite common as I follow the new release market often and have had to wait for stuff like mobo's and graphics cards before.
All very true, but just a bit concerned that UK sellers will restrict themselves to stocking the gigabyte sniper range of m/boards which have the "usb-dac" port and other audio features which they will view as attractive to would-be gamers (http://uk.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/335/images/audio.html) . These have been available for a while.
You might be right Chris and if it comes to it I'll source one from the US if I have too, but I'm happy to wait awhile yet. Or I could just take a soldering iron to a board and physically remove the 5V USB power connections, which actually might not be a bad idea :hmm:
That shouldn't be too difficult to do, Tim. Just watch that you have enough heat to get through the multiple layers and use a solder sucker, not that dreadful braid stuff.
Dabbled a bit with this...
I found the only motherboard mods that made a (slightly) audible difference was swapping out the voltage regulators, if you can power your usb socket externally (especially linear) then onboard mods to usb power don't do much.
Not worth it in my experience.
Go for a board with at least 8+2 power phase design and you'll be sorted.
You can swap caps out for better which MAY increase the life of the board, but not so much about subjective sound quality.
In terms of improving sound quality, imo the best thing you can do motherboard wise is independent 12V linear power rails to CPU and 12V ATX.
Audiophile motherboards...naa, not convinced.
Marketing more than anything imo.
Good link here
http://www.overclock.net/t/891696/a-short-power-phase-design-explanation
and another
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-The-Motherboard-Voltage-Regulator-Circuit/616/1
Would concur there. I have 2 maplin linear supplies\batteries for the processor and mobo.The operating system runs on a usb supplied by anker battery pack.
Also can run the ssd(small one) with an independent wallwart linear supply. Some lads I know have even got rid of the pico.
Linear and battery really made a big difference.
gone that way myself Tony, 5 linear psu's in my server setup.
You guys over in Tir Na hifi know your onions!
Haven't tried the OS on a stick yet, will have a go soon.
Had a look through the big thread and couldn't find specific info on it?
Any links or info Tony?
thanks
Gaz.
[QUOTE=Gazjam;513839]gone that way myself Tony, 5 linear psu's in my setup.
You guys over in Tir Na hifi know your onions!
Haven't tried the OS on a stick yet, will have a go soon.
Had a look through the big thread and couldn't find specific info on it?
Any links or info Tony?
Re onions I know a cattle farmer who wouldn't be happy with that!
Cut and paste from tirnahifi. Pm you email address and I will send on some info and instructions I have cobbled together.
Basically either get a kingston WTG stick or else a sandisk extreme 3.0 off ebay etc 16gb will be fine. Kingston is windows certified so works slightly easier. The sandisk requires a virtual drive to be created but it is much cheaper to buy than the datatraveller. I use 2012 R2 with Audiophil's core optimiser on mine.
A good link with info
http://agnipulse.com/2012/11/windows-to-go-all-versions-windows-7-8/
"We've been talking off-line anyway, but here it is if anyone wants to try it.
Download:
W8 audiophile ISO. Shoot me a pm if you want the link, or register up at computeraudiophile and ask for it on the thread over there.
You'll need a 32gB usb key - PC world has them at €25 or so. USB3 key is €45 in PC world. Probably cheaper stuff online.
There's a few ISO images to burn so you need a few blank DVDs
1. Follow instructions at http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/53 ... -disk.html. It took 2 hours for mine to do the imagex command.
2. At the end of that process you should have a key that will boot into W8. Remember you may need to change your bios settings to change the boot order so it will boot from the usb key
3. If you have the "other user" issue follow instructions here: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-s ... post204109
4. If you have administrator problems (constant UAC warnings popping up) then do this: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f11-s ... post207549
5. Install your hiface drivers, or whatever drivers you may need for your equipment, and jplay if thats what you use.
6. Add music and play!
Notes:
You need patience. No patience then don't go there.
USB3 key might be quicker than USB2 but don't know.
This audiophile install doesn't have wifi enabled and I haven;t figured out how to turn it on yet, so you may need ethernet to access network/internet etc.
All works though, and it went in and out of hibernate etc for me."
Will try and dig up some later links and instructions and post when I find them.
Tony,
thanks.
Does runing the OS from a usb stick have any performance hits?
I run 1080p movies from Jriver and wonder if this could be impacted?
Also the servers not just a barebones music player, need network access etc.
Cheers mate, much obliged.
Gary
I use the audiopc in standalone mode only for audio. I currently have an external hard drive with the music on it and sometimes I have a delay when selecting more tracks after playing music. An onboard drive would sort that. I can't answer your question my guess would be no but this isn't a do or die you can buy a sandisk extreme pro usb key for circa £20. Just make it a bootable drive with 2012r2 on it and try it. If the experiment fails One can never have enough usb sticks!
For a new build it is certainly worth trying as an SSD is expensive if you already have an internal HDD.
The fiddly bit is if you decide to power it from a battery supply.That requires either buying a cable with the power pins split out or cobbling one together yourself with a usb double header.
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