77 replies to this topic

[ts8]

 

Best Ever Windows Version for Audiophile??? (With limitation, might not work on latest CPU/RAM, especially those with built-in Intel network adapter)

 

Well, a member said this is the "Best Ever" version, the DE (EN wouldn't make the cut) Windows Server 2012 R2, no need optimism; no need MC/LE/ES no need AO, F???? . Just install the OS and playback media, and play:
 
http://jplay.eu/foru...-210#entry62488
 
Therefore I downloaded it from :
 
https://www.microsof...-server-2012-R2
 
Look at the task manager, only 30 processes; 347 threads; handles 8858, indeed. I don't are this the same as other EN/ES...2012 R2 versions?

 

How does it sound? Sorry, as I'm sharing the living room with my family members, I can only listen to it when they aren't home.

 

As the total size of the OS is ~13GB, I'll create Control/Audio RAMDisks, to compare my existing W10 RAMDisk, as well!

 

For my own record: https://www.informat...ow-to-renew-it/

Attached Files

•  _IMG_20230114_105933.jpg   1.05MB   7 downloads

[maxst67]

I'm using W 10 ltsb 1607 , this also has very few active processes compared to the "classic" W10 but obviously not as few as Server 2012 DE. Fantastic!

I wanted to ask:

 

Isn't it really possible to change the language from the settings?

 

When you entered the OS, were the drivers for the internet connection already present or did you have to download them later?

 

Thank you

[ts8]

 __IMG_20230114_164140.jpg   1.3MB   2 downloads  __IMG_20230114_164315.jpg   1.77MB   2 downloadsunfortunately and unfortunately!  

 

1. No way that one can change the DE to EN.

 

However, can change the keyboard type to US for GUI setup. Here said maybe can change the language but I don't know how: http://jplay.eu/foru...-211#entry62517

 

Anyway, as long as I'm able to render the 10s to the Dac, I'd not mind it whether DE or EN

 

2. Maybe can't install the network driver. This is because the OS can't detect my Intel downloaded driver. Maybe my BIOS is to new to the OS. Maybe this is the reason why the DE sound good? (Have to ask ours German friends)

 

In short, good for JPlay single. I was able to install JPlay and it detected the Dac.

 

Another good thing is you can bring down the processes to 21 and beyond.

 

P/S: I've yet to test the sound

[Iain]

Thanks for taking this on. Very interested in seeing how you get on and hearing the views of others already using or experimenting

[seeteeyou]

Pretty easy to grab a copy of English language pack for 2012 R2, either one should work

 

https://sharetext.me/9mvlutrq9n

 

And then simply follow the instructions from Microsoft

 

https://learn.micros...cks-to-an-image

https://github.com/m...cks-to-an-image

[maxst67]

2. Maybe can't install the network driver. This is because the OS can't detect my Intel downloaded driver. Maybe my BIOS is to new to the OS. Maybe this is the reason why the DE sound good? (Have to ask ours German friends)

 

 

Forgive my ignorance but without network driver it is then possible to connect jplay femto with bubble upnp and listen from qobuz

[seeteeyou]

Usually we could get a network driver to be installed successfully if that were done manually as follows

 

https://gist.github....ef9f46c0b18ca05

https://techwithjasm...adapter-driver/

https://www.foxdeplo...er-2012-r2.html

https://samjohnston....-lab-computers/

https://www.thomasma...adapter-driver/

https://jayrbarrios....server-2012-r2/

https://community.sp...ows-server-2016

https://blog.working...2016-eufi-boot/

 

 

 

There's this complete driver pack from Intel

 

https://www.intel.co...river-pack.html

 

Realtek

 

https://www.deskmodd...1-10-8-1-und-7/

[ts8]

Forgive my ignorance but without network driver it is then possible to connect jplay femto with bubble upnp and listen from qobuz

 

Too bad, different applications. I read music files from a USB drive.

 

If I'm unable to install the network driver onto the DE, I'll test single JPlay configuration first.

 

You may give it a try if you are having an old PC/notebook because the OS may detect the network adapter easily. 

[ts8]

Usually we could get a network driver to be installed successfully if that were done manually as follows

 

https://gist.github....ef9f46c0b18ca05

https://techwithjasm...adapter-driver/

https://www.foxdeplo...er-2012-r2.html

https://samjohnston....-lab-computers/

https://www.thomasma...adapter-driver/

https://jayrbarrios....server-2012-r2/

https://community.sp...ows-server-2016

https://blog.working...2016-eufi-boot/

 

 

 

There's this complete driver pack from Intel

 

https://www.intel.co...river-pack.html

 

Realtek

 

https://www.deskmodd...1-10-8-1-und-7/

 

Thanks for the info!

 

I've downloaded the Intel package before for Intel NUC i5 Gen 11th. Similar problem as the i7 Gen 11th, but AMI BIOS, now.

 

Some Windows versions, usually the latest build, were able to detect the network adapter without any issue but older versions always gave problems.

 

I can't even install the 2012 R2 DE onto the Intel NUC i5 Gen 11th.

[maxst67]

I installed win server 2012 but in the end it asks me for the administrator password, what should I enter, thanks

 

 

Solved sorry, thanks

[sammy]

Hi, I took my first name.

Edit. I don't need to install any network drivers. You cannot operate femto remotely without a network. Maybe you don't have the right version. I can ask mkmind if it's still on the server. or maybe your pc is too new, no idea.

[HungryBear]

There is a possibility the extra features of modern CPUs and DDR4 memory might outweight the benefits of non-bloated OS.

 

The test should be done like that:

 

Windows Server 2012 R2 running on old CPU

vs

Modern OS running on modern CPU of equal performance

 

Everything else being as close to equal as possible. Both computers should be in the same class.

 

I don't like the new, bloated, spyware laden OSes at all. But I'm affraid the good old ones might not be the best choice for sound quality, given the fact they don't run on modern CPUs.

[sammy]

Let's see what ts8 says when it gets up and running. Sounds kind of illogical, it doesn't sound like pc anymore.

[samotc]

 

Well, a member said this is the "Best Ever" version, the DE (EN wouldn't make the cut) Windows Server 2012 R2, no need optimism; no need MC/LE/ES no need AO, F???? . Just install the OS and playback media, and play:
 
http://jplay.eu/foru...-210#entry62488
 
Therefore I downloaded it from :
 
https://www.microsof...-server-2012-R2
 
Look at the task manager, only 30 processes; 347 threads; handles 8858, indeed. I don't are this the same as other EN/ES...2012 R2 versions?

 

How does it sound? Sorry, as I'm sharing the living room with my family members, I can only listen to it when they aren't home.

 

As the total size of the OS is ~13GB, I'll create Control/Audio RAMDisks, to compare my existing W10 RAMDisk, as well!

 

 

Win11 PE audiophile: 18 processes; 145 threads; 4133 handles. Total size 263 MB (GUI) 258 MB (without GUI)

It can be left in 12 processes (11 without network or windows audio)

 

 win11pe_audiophile.jpg   104.21KB   17 downloads

[ts8]

Very good news!

 

I installed the DE on a seven years old notebook (actually it's my Jplay control w/o internal hardisk) i5-5200U 8GB DDR3 RAM. The BIOS was very primitive, and didn't even have the SATA option to disable.

 

The OS was able to detect the Realtek network adapter automatically.

 

I suspect it was the Intel BIOS/CPU causing the problem.

 

Hopefully I'm able to find a small window today to listen to the DE. Till now, I've yet to listen to ES49 on the Jplay Control/Audio set up.

[ts8]

Hi, I took my first name.

Edit. I don't need to install any network drivers. You cannot operate femto remotely without a network. Maybe you don't have the right version. I can ask mkmind if it's still on the server. or maybe your pc is too new, no idea.

 

I'm still using JPlay 6.0

[ts8]

There is a possibility the extra features of modern CPUs and DDR4 memory might outweight the benefits of non-bloated OS.

Probably that's the reason
 

I don't like the new, bloated, spyware laden OSes at all. But I'm affraid the good old ones might not be the best choice for sound quality, given the fact they don't run on modern CPUs.

 

Very true

[ts8]

Win11 PE audiophile: 18 processes; 145 threads; 4133 handles. Total size 263 MB (GUI) 258 MB (without GUI)

It can be left in 12 processes (11 without network or windows audio)

 

win11pe_audiophile.jpg

 

I've done a basic setup of the Win PE after I've successfully created the RAMDisk.

 

However, I got stuck at some point. I didn't have a good command of English. Going through the 30 pages of info and digesting them was really stressful.

 

Moreover, It only took less than ten minutes to install the DE, maybe a couple of minutes to disable some processes and install the playback media, and here we go!

[ts8]

Let's see what ts8 says when it gets up and running. Sounds kind of illogical, it doesn't sound like pc anymore.

 

Really looking forward to experiencing the "extraordinary -  it doesn't sound like pc anymore!"

 

Btw, have you compared it with the JPlay IOS version, or your friend did?

[ts8]

Well, I've just spent two hours on the DE! Comparing it with

 

i7 headless USB RAMDisk (audio) ES42 TC2.0 and i5 USB RAMDisk (control) ES46 TC 2.0.

 

The hardware of the DE was the same as the audio but with internal HD and w/o network driver.

 

Long story short, if I don't have the two RAMDisks, I can live with the DE because it's easy to set up. But ES46/ES42 were more exciting if the correct CPU priority was used.

 

Moreover, I only tested it with JPlay 6.0, probably it'll benefit from the ESXX/TCXX.

 

I don't know much differences between the JPlay 6.0 and JPlay Femto. Will download the trial version when I get more time.