Lifetime Roon is a go - alternative to Roon Nucleus

Go to Roons website and follow instructions.  I used an Intel i5 NUC and 256GB M.2 drive. It's pretty simple just need to make sure you get a NUC that will support ROCK.

https://kb.roonlabs.com/Roon_Optimized_Core_Kit

The Nucleus is built using an Intel NUC in a fanless case. It is not that difficult to put this together yourself if you are somewhat comfortable with computers. If you have ever built your own PC, it will be easy. 

https://kb.roonlabs.com/ROCK:_Getting_Started
https://kb.roonlabs.com/ROCK_Install_Guide

Do a google search for Roon Rock Install and you will find a number of videos to walk you through the process.

Building your own will cost you less than half the price of purchasing the Nucleus.

When you build your NUC, you'll have to select an M.2 drive to hold the OS and database, and RAM. Make sure you visit Intel's compatibility website to find M.2 drives and RAM that has been validated on the particular NUC you are using.

You can often find non-validated parts that will work, but based on the many posts on Roon's forum by folks that have tried to save a little money, you are asking for problems down the road. 

So I can buy a nucleus + ssd from Roon all put together for about 1800, vs 400 for nuc plus another 100 for both ssd and ram as prescribed by Roon.

that is a huge mark up , what am I missing.

That's what I wondered when I went this route. I spent a bit more getting a better CPU. If you're comfortable assembling, plugging in a M.2 drive and memory and installing the OS it's easy. 

You are missing a pretty and fanless case.  Some people are averse enough to DIY to pay the freight.  Others think they will get better sound.  Don't go overboard on the size of your M.2 drive thinking that you can store music there.  You cannot.

@emergingsoul

It is nice to see that you are starting to think for yourself...

Look at Intel, Asus and others for a basic NUC style box...  Most major computer manufactures make these NUC style PC system...  It is pretty easy to compare the features and price/performance...  CPU, Memory, Disk and/or SSD and I/O via Ethernet, USB, power supplies and fanless cases verses the Roon Nucleus...

missing a fan less case? What does this mean?

the nuc linked on amazon from roon is fanless? This nuc is noisefree?

i am 13 years old and pride myself on thinking for myself.  My parents spoil me by letting me buy overpriced audio products.  Streaming is a technical jungle filled with peril.  

My NUC doesn't have a fan. As I've mentioned if you want a Nucleus clone, one that runs ROCK you need to make sure it matches the list.

Core Server. The models we support are:

• NUC5i3xxx
• NUC5i5xxx
• NUC6i3SYx
• NUC6i5SYx
• NUC7i3BNx
• NUC7i5BNx
• NUC7i7BNx
• NUC7i3DNx
• NUC7i5DNx
• NUC7i7DNx
• NUC8i3BEx
• NUC8i5BEx
• NUC8i7BEx
• NUC10i3FNx
• NUC10i5FNx
• NUC10i7FNx

Why is a ROON Nucleus better than a generic ROON headless server? ROON themselves have stated that you do not need a perfect machine for the headless server.

In the last 3 weeks I installed the ROON server on a 24 Core + 96GB RAM server. Another server with 12 Cores + 24GB RAM. Plus another with 4 Cores and 16GB RAM. I used a Sonore microRendu as the convertor to the DAC. In all 3 cases the ROON server seemed to work with the same level of quality. I had the same excellent sound in all 3 cases.

The big server was in my garage and the bits had to travel on a Powerline copper network to my microRendu. Still sounded the same as the other 2 machines which were closer to the DAC.

so including the so including the roon core inside a streamer box, eg. innuos zenith is not a problem.  Value of a stand-alone headless roon core device Is not a concern.

i would like to avoid having a separate box like a roon nucleus, when it could be integrated inside a quality streamer device. A nuc looks kinda cheap vs a nucleus, but avoiding need for it is worth pursuing.

you can get a 2012 Mac Mini on eBay with a solid state drive for < $300 that will work just fine as a Roon server. Yes, it has a fan, but you will never hear it

Buy an Innous Zen mini. Storage, Roon core and DAC in one box.

Every NUC I have taken apart has a fan. Such as...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwqrfIdyvGwhttp://

http://https//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkimvAK1g0c