i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[CME]

Man I thought my 50GB dual layer bd burner was cool. 128GB??!?!? That's incredible.

[Shan]

Can't afford that. This is a bit of an emergency build!

How about an older 6-core system like TOM@METRO's? You just need the motherboard and CPU which you could probably get off the used market.

Shane

[albee1952]

I am thinking of pulling the trigger on a new system tomorrow. I have been out of the loop for a while so I am unsure of what I should be building. My old i7 920 is on it's last legs and the time has come to build again.

Any advice?
In a hurry is a BAD way to go here. What ails the old 920? You could maybe get a used 950(or higher) and up the RAM? Remember, the X58 motherboards are capable of triple-channel, so using 3(or 6) MATCHING sticks gives the best performance(and some motherboards will show a dramatic improvement with manual RAM timings over the "default" setting in BIOS. My 950 rig with 12GB of RAM handles sessions of 100 tracks(104 audio tracks being the largest I have done to date):D

[Shan]

In a hurry is a BAD way to go here...

Knowing Kris75, he probably had his new system going before you posted. :D :D

Shane

[Kris75]

Knowing Kris75, he probably had his new system going before you posted. :D :D

Shane


I did! And it's unbelievable!!!! Today I did a video render that took my laptop 9 hours to do in 15 minutes!!!!!!!

Pro Tools also runs like a champ. Ran a session for two days straight with a track count of about 105. No issues (other than video engine issues....) at all! Ran all day and the machine did not complain once! So awesome!

I am still shocked at how much more power the 4770 has over the 920.

[philip888]

Kris what is the build you went with.

[Shan]

I did! And it's unbelievable!!!! Today I did a video render that took my laptop 9 hours to do in 15 minutes!!!!!!!

Damn!! :eek: I'll have to pop on over again.

Shane

[WKG]

Kris what is the build you went with.

I am curious also.

:-)

[guitardom]

I did! And it's unbelievable!!!! Today I did a video render that took my laptop 9 hours to do in 15 minutes!!!!!!!

Pro Tools also runs like a champ. Ran a session for two days straight with a track count of about 105. No issues (other than video engine issues....) at all! Ran all day and the machine did not complain once! So awesome!

I am still shocked at how much more power the 4770 has over the 920.

Now imagine if you went w the 6 core I tried to talk you into!! ;-)

[guitardom]

Kris what is the build you went with.

One of haswell builds posted around here.

[Kris75]

Kris what is the build you went with.

Since I was in a rush, I used a lot of my old PC parts. I went with the intel i7 4770k cpu, Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H MB, ASUS 210 Video Card, as well as 16 gigs of 1600 Gskill RAM. I wanted Corsair, but there was none available, so I went with what was available. I also wanted the UD5H, but it was not available either, so I went with the 3H. I also went with a 600W corsair semi modular PSU.

I also went with the Fractal R4 case. It's pretty big, but also super quiet. After using this machine, I am going to update the RAM to 32 gigs, and put in a Quadro Video card as I am doing quite a bit of video work as well these days.

[Kris75]

Believe it or not, I still have not touched any BIOS settings other than the RAM timings, and for the first two days, I didn't optimize Windows either!!! This machine is a beast!

[mesaone]

Once you install that Quadro card, are you sure 600 W is enough to power everything under load?

[Kris75]

Once you install that Quadro card, are you sure 600 W is enough to power everything under load?

No, I don't, but I will pick up another PSU when the I get the quadro card. I will move up to 750W. Again, this was an emergency build, and I could not be happier with the results.

[pianosound]

How about this for a start? 'GIGABYTE GA-X79-UP4 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard'. My i7 has bit the dust! What are the thoughts of an lga 2011, as compared to the lga 1150?
Thanks,,,,, Mike

[guitardom]

How about this for a start? 'GIGABYTE GA-X79-UP4 LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard'. My i7 has bit the dust! What are the thoughts of an lga 2011, as compared to the lga 1150?
Thanks,,,,, Mike

4 should be fine.

2011 socket is quit a bit more powerful than the 1150. At least 30% or more. It's not going to have the newest technology on it though as it's a generation behind.

[pianosound]

4 should be fine.

2011 socket is quit a bit more powerful than the 1150. At least 30% or more. It's not going to have the newest technology on it though as it's a generation behind.

Thanks guitardom, like usual everything has changed quite a bit since last time I needed a PC?!! With most of the 1150's they have onboard video, and only 4 memory slots?? The 2011 I'm looking at has 8 mem slots, and possibly a processor with 6 core tech. although quite expensive. The 1150's are a lot cheaper. Also would like an SSD? ,,, So I've got a lot of research to do!

Thanks again! Mike

[albee1952]

Thanks guitardom, like usual everything has changed quite a bit since last time I needed a PC?!! With most of the 1150's they have onboard video, and only 4 memory slots?? The 2011 I'm looking at has 8 mem slots, and possibly a processor with 6 core tech. although quite expensive. The 1150's are a lot cheaper. Also would like an SSD? ,,, So I've got a lot of research to do!

Thanks again! Mike
Re. SSD, consider this; How much space do you need(can you afford) for that system drive(SSD is a lot of $$). Get the "right" SSD as the wrong will not give you the intended speed(learned the hard way:o). Samsung 840 PRO seems like a good one. X79/6 core socket 2011 is a great way to go. Remember that these mobo's are capable of quad-channel RAM, so you want 4(or 8) MATCHING sticks:D

[CME]

Also most socket 2011 boards also can run xeon E5-2600 processors. If you have the money those have up to 12-cores. Same procs they're using in the new Mac Pro I do believe. So yes socket 2011 for max potential power. But most any modern 1150 or 2011 based rig should be pretty impressive.

[pianosound]

Thanks guys, I had read somewhere about SSD's not always up to par, (for the price). Thanks albee1952, I'll check that Samsung out. In the few days of research, I have noticed the 6 core is priced a lot higher (percentage wise, for what you get), than the SSD's?! Does PT's utilize those 2 extra cores (6 core), enough to validate their cost, and with the same idea, does the SSD speed things up enough to justify their cost? As for the ram, the board I mentioned above, with 8 slots, will give me the opportunity to start with 4 x 4's for now, and then a little later, another set of 4. Although ram is still so cheap, depending on SSD and or 6 core choice, it might be best to go ahead with all 32 right off the get go?!
Thanks guys,, always great info, Mike

[pianosound]

CME,,, I've gotta check out that 12 core! But I can only guess that the cost might put me in the dog house. Hmmm,,, wonder how the acoustics are out there??

[pianosound]

So,, I saw this earlier, Crucial M550 CT512M550SSD1 2.5" 512GB SATA 6Gbps MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD). The Samsung #'s are similar, except for being SATA 3 Gbps. Is having a SATA 6 Gbps probably faster, or not so much? The price on each is also close.
Thanks,,, Mike

[CME]

I think you may be getting confused a little. I bet the Samsung SSD is also 6gbps. Which is sata 3. Someone really wasn't thinking when they named these things. Basically sata 1 is 1.5 gbps, sata 2 is 3 gbps, and sata 3 is 6 gbps. And IMO a SSD for a system drive is totally worth it. I bought my first several years ago and will now always have an SSD for the boot drive.

And yes pt will see all the cores. Even the virtual cores that most CPUs have these days. So that 12 core would show up as 24. And when I upgraded my Mac Pro from a 2.66 quad to 3.2 6-core I saw a big difference in performance. I could push the quad a bit. Not a whole lot bu could make it begin to sweat. The 6-core handled everything I threw at it with ease.

[pianosound]

Thanks CME, that's whole lot clearer, makes sense. Almost 'glad' that I fried my board.?!
Mike

[WKG]

Finally decided to update my system. Great thread here with a lot of info. This is a first time build for me and I'm looking forward to it. Goal is to build a robust system with headroom and a fairly good life span expectancy. Probably will move to Win 8.1 for OS.

Pretty close to pulling the trigger on following:

Intel Core i7-4930K http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116939 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116939)

ASUS X79 DELUXE http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132047 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132047)

SeaSonic SS-750KM3 – http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087)

Fractal Design Define R4 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352037 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352037)

Asus GT640-DCSL-2GD3 GeForce GT 640 Graphic Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121706 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121706)

Noctua NH-U12S http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608040 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608040)

SAMSUNG 840 Pro MZ-7PD256BW - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147193 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147193)

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL8Q-16GBZM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231539 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231539)

DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900)
Timing 8-9-9-24 Cas Latency 8
Voltage 1.5V

ASUS DVD Burner SATA Model DRW-24B3ST/BLK/G/AS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135240 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135240)

Total around $1,950 with Win 8.1 Pro 64.

I'll do some light overclocking but nothing to serious. Not sure if water cooling is really needed but a bit of overkill there won’t hurt, just don’t want to end up with too much noise. I’ll add an SSD for system drive and have several WD Black drives for audio, samples etc. Running an RME UFX via USB2. Sessions can get fairly large, up to 60+ tracks, plenty of plugins and fair VI usage.

I’ve been researching ASUS docs for the X79 Deluxe for compatible memory and was wondering if there is any way to easily narrow down for price/performance ratio.

Anybody used the i7-4930/X79 Deluxe combination successfully? Thoughts, cautions etc?

[WKG]

ASUS docs really don't make it easy to find compatible memory for the X79 Deluxe. Need to mind the budget and 16GB memory would probably meet my needs easily. Wanted to go for DDR3 2133 but I am thinking the difference in price/performance wouldn't justify the cost and there are a few other items I'd like to squeeze into the budget

A couple of options:

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL8Q-16GBZM $189.99

Cas Latency: 8
Voltage: 1.5V
Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit
Timing: 8-9-9-24

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 Desktop Memory Model CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9 $179.99

Cas Latency: 9
Voltage: 1.5V
Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit
Timing: 9-10-9-27

G.SKILL Ripjaws Z Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-14900CL9Q-16GBZL $154.99

Cas Latency: 9
Voltage: 1.5V
Multi-channel Kit: Quad Channel Kit
Timing: 9-10-9-28

[WKG]

Pretty much settled on the GSKILL 1866 with the lower latency.

If any of you guys with a bit more PT build experience than I could take a quick look at my revised build list two posts above I would appreciate it. I am pretty sure component wise but as I indicated it's a first build here.

:-)

[mesaone]

If any of you guys with a bit more PT build experience than I could take a quick look at my revised build list two posts above I would appreciate it.

Cooler looks decent, but try this one instead: Noctua NH-U9DXi4 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608042). Check to make sure bulky coolers like this can fit, since the RAM slots on that mobo are close to the CPU... Even though it is listed as having no spatial conflicts on the Noctua compatibility site (http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_gen&products_id=41&lng=en)

I don't personally have any experience with SeaSonic, so if I was shopping then I would go with a Corsair or CoolerMaster 750 W modular PSU.

Otherwise, Almost exactly the build I would do, if I could do one now. Excellent case, fast and reliable RAM, good SSD, RME interface, screaming 6-core CPU.

[WKG]

Cooler looks decent, but try this one instead: Noctua NH-U9DXi4 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608042). Check to make sure bulky coolers like this can fit, since the RAM slots on that mobo are close to the CPU... Even though it is listed as having no spacial conflicts on the Noctua compatibility site (http://www.noctua.at/main.php?show=compatibility_gen&products_id=41&lng=en)

I don't personally have any experience with SeaSonic, so if I was shopping then I would go with a Corsair or CoolerMaster 750 W modular PSU.

Otherwise, Almost exactly the build I would do, if I could do one now. Excellent case, fast and reliable RAM, good SSD, RME interface, screaming 6-core CPU.

Thanks for the response.

Next to RAM finding an effective cooler is a pain. I am trying to balance efficiency with noise level as the computer is in the same room I record in.

Hopefully the "screaming 6 core" won't bleed into the mics...:eek:

[mesaone]

Hopefully the "screaming 6 core" won't bleed into the mics...:eek:

That noctua cooler is probably the quietest on the market for the CFM. A mistake I made is going for liquid cooling. The problem with using radiators is that the fans are closer to the outside of the case, and end up being quite loud. A noctua cooler paired with that fractal case should keep your computer whisper-quiet, even with a 6-core.

[YYR123]

Also most socket 2011 boards also can run xeon E5-2600 processors. If you have the money those have up to 12-cores. Same procs they're using in the new Mac Pro I do believe. So yes socket 2011 for max potential power. But most any modern 1150 or 2011 based rig should be pretty impressive.


Yeah buddy

[YYR123]

Thanks for the response.

Next to RAM finding an effective cooler is a pain. I am trying to balance efficiency with noise level as the computer is in the same room I record in.

Hopefully the "screaming 6 core" won't bleed into the mics...:eek:


I need to find some quite case fans, I have a cheaper fractal case and those fans are really loud, yeah a condenser will pic it up!!!

[WKG]

I need to find some quite case fans, I have a cheaper fractal case and those fans are really loud, yeah a condenser will pic it up!!!


Which Fractal case do you have? The Design R4 comes with these and are rated at 66CFM and 18.5 db. I was going to add a few more as the case will handle up to 7.

Fractal Design Silent Series R2 FD-FAN-SSR2-140 140mm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835352007

[YYR123]

Yeah those look like mine I have 3 of them

Also the CPU cooler and the fan on the gpu

I chased it down to the case fans - I would like quiter ones but if it's a pain I will just have to build a ISO cab


Eventually after I get a room built, I won't have an issue aside from monitoring with a noisier floor


Yeah I need an ISO cab

[WKG]

An iso cab would be nice. Most of the reviews on the Fractal fans mention how quiet they are, seems like they should be OK.

[mesaone]

An iso cab would be nice. Most of the reviews on the Fractal fans mention how quiet they are, seems like they should be OK.

When I see isolation cabinets, the first thing that comes to my mind is a Crock Pot. Do any iso cabs actually keep the computer cool with little to no noise? From what I've seen, they are designed similarly to Fractal cases; thin intake ports with 120mm exhaust fans and a bit of dampening. To make use of this, you need a well-evacuated graphics card. I don't think passive cards could survive that without driver errors, and any PCIe cards you may have (Avid, UAD) would have to be very well-ventilated. I'm sure it's worth a shot, but it is not the final puzzle piece to a noise-free control room.

Regarding quiet case fans, this is the one: Noctua NF-S12A ULN. Quiet 120mm fan with a step-down adapter (so-called "ultra low-noise")

[Brandonx1]

When I see isolation cabinets, the first thing that comes to my mind is a Crock Pot. Do any iso cabs actually keep the computer cool with little to no noise? From what I've seen, they are designed similarly to Fractal cases; thin intake ports with 120mm exhaust fans and a bit of dampening. To make use of this, you need a well-evacuated graphics card. I don't think passive cards could survive that without driver errors, and any PCIe cards you may have (Avid, UAD) would have to be very well-ventilated. I'm sure it's worth a shot, but it is not the final puzzle piece to a noise-free control room.

Regarding quiet case fans, this is the one: Noctua NF-S12A ULN. Quiet 120mm fan with a step-down adapter (so-called "ultra low-noise")

Iso cabs just lower the noise floor of a control room, they don't eliminate it.

[WKG]

Build parts enroute... :D

i7-4930
Noctua NH-12S
ASUS X79 Deluxe
G-Skill Ripjaws Z 16GB DDR3-1866
Samsung 840 Pro Series 256 SSD
WD Black 2GB HD
ASUS GeForce GT 640 2GB Video Card
Fractal Design Define R4 Blackout
SeaSonic 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular
Asus DRW-24B3ST/BLK/G/AS DVD/CD
Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit

[tatothekid426]

This will be my first build in 5 years since the pc I built myself based on the old Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs thread. I’m still running Windows XP & Pro Tools 8. After all those years I decided the time has come to upgrade my system and to be honest I was a bit afraid that if I didn’t do it now I would never do it.

So, after doing a lot of research on this thread, reading countless reviews, etc, I took the first step and started buying the parts for my new pc. Things get a bit more complicated because I live in Brazil, so everything cost 2 or 3 times more, RMA is practically out of question and support near zero.

Here’s the components I already bought:

Antec P280 case
Asus Sabertooth X79 LGA 2011 motherboard
Zalman ZM750-XG power supply
Zalman CNPS9900 Max CPU cooler
DDR3 1.600MHz 16GB (4x 4GB) Corsair Vengeance - CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9
Intel Core i7-3820 (LGA2011 - 3,60GHz) - BX80619I73820SR0LD

I’ll be using my old Digi 003 as interface and I’m considering to use my 5 years old Firewire SIIG NN-440012-S8 card for firewire connection. According to the product page on siig website it’s still on sell so I think that will be fine.Any thoughts about it?

Also I have right now two options for graphic card:

Gigabyte Gt630 2gb Ddr3 128 Bits Pci E - Hdmi

Placa Video Gtx550 TI Gigabyte 1gb 192bit Gv-n550d5-1gi Ddr5

Price is not a huge issue, especially because the difference in price between both isn’t that big, but I'm really in doubt as to which to buy and I’d be very thankfull if someone could point me to the right direction.

Well, that’s it.

Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for my english.

[cruisemates]

Good luck on your build. If you get the right components it should go flawlessly, it is so easy to build a computer these as long as you have a decent Internet connection - all the hardware finds its own drivers.

I spec'd out a complete system on Egghead - and then saw someone selling almost the exact same computer on Ebay for 1/2 the price - already built. I would hope and think you can find parts cheaper than 200% in Brazil, this is a world-wide business now. My parts totaled about $1400, and I got the co mputer already built for %700, and it has been working flawlessly.

I am also using the Digi 003 (upgraded from an 002) - I love it, you know it is almost impossible to find a combination interface/control surface anymore. They have made them all separate.

Anyway - it is WORTH the upgrade. I had a Pentium II with 1 GB ram running PTLE 8.05 (built in 2003); I just upgraded to an i7, 32 GB, SSD, 2 SATAs, and Protools 10 and it sounds so much better I was blown away. It is worth the cost - and don't think it is going to be hard to build, it shouldn't be. If it is, just hire someone to do it.

[tatothekid426]

Hi, thanks for answering. One of the main reasons we have such high prices here are the import taxes: 40% plus 18% - this last 18% being calculated over the initial price of the product more the first 40%. Besides that there is the currency conversion - 1 dolar = 2.23 reais (brazillian money). And finally shipping costs. I’ve already bought products directly from USA vendors (and even from Germany) and that really makes them more affordable but the problem then is that you never know how long they will take to be liberated through customs... not rarely one or two months after they arrive and unless you hire a clearing agent to assist you you get no information about anything.

Please let me ask: are you using a dedicated firewire card to connect your Digi 003?

And I know that’s a tricky question but regarding the two graphic cards I mentioned which one could be considered something like my “best choice”? Or putting it another way: is there any reason why I should avoid buying any of them?

Thanks again.

[cruisemates]

I am using the onboard firewire port on the Asus motherboard and I it is compatible. As long as it is standard IEEE 1394 firewire it should work.

There is a list someplace of compatible graphics cards. If you google "protools compatible graphics cards" you will see it.

I believe you said you are going to 10: here is the list: http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en422351?popup=true

Supported Nvidia Graphics Cards

NVIDIA Quadro 4000 2GB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro 2000 1GB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro 600 1GB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4800 1.5GB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800 1.5GB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 768MB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro FX 580 512MB PCIe video board
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 256MB PCIe video board

Supported Nvidia Quadro Graphics Drivers

Quadro driver version 259.81 for Windows 7 64-bit (Windows Aero mode supported)
Quadro driver version 259.81 for Windows 7 32-bit (Windows Aero mode supported)

[cruisemates]

FYI: there are people far more knowledgeable than me who will soon pop in and give you more specific guidance.

[albee1952]

I am using the onboard firewire port on the Asus motherboard and I it is compatible. As long as it is standard IEEE 1394 firewire it should work.


Not actually accurate. TI chipsets are preferred for all audio use. In past years, VIA chipsets almost never worked. Now they seem to be a 50/50 shot:o

[tatothekid426]

Hi, that was great. Thanks a lot.

[epu]

I am ready to build a new system to support PT10 (which I have) and PT11 (which I intend to upgrade to soon). I'm not a new member here. I will list components. Please tell me what is overkill and where I can save. I must have SSDs and must use a Micro ATX board. I plan on doing a lot of work with VIs (Kontakt, Avid Instruments, etc). I also plan on doing a lot of Video Rendering with this System (Sony Vegas for Commercials and Video Testimonials).

Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Gene 2011 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131805&cm_re=asus_rampage_gene-_-13-131-805-_-Product) $279
RAM: G-SKILL 32GB KIT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231590&cm_re=g_skill_2400-_-20-231-590-_-Product) $359
Video Card: NVIDIA GT640 4GB (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-640-4GB-GDDR3-2DVI-Mini-HDMI-PCI-Express-Video-Card-/160956569329?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2579c256f1) $115
CPU: INTEL I7 3820 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115229) $309
SSD SYSTEM (256GB): Samsung 256GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2W00ZD1539&cm_re=samsung_256_ssd-_-20-147-193-_-Product) $200
SSD VIs/Audio (512GB): Samsung 512GB SSD (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Electronics-840-Pro-Series-2-5-Inch-512gb-SSD-Solid-State-Drive-/321417985522?pt=US_Solid_State_Drives&hash=item4ad6013df2) $370
PSU: Corsair RM850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139056&cm_re=CORSAIR_RM_Series_RM850-_-17-139-056-_-Product) $130
Case: Fractal Design Mini Black Silent Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011&cm_re=fractal_design_mini_black-_-11-352-011-_-Product) $99
OS: MS Windows 8 Pro OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416552&cm_re=windows_8-_-32-416-552-_-Product) - $139

I already have an LED Monitor 24", Mouse and Pro-Tools USB Keyboard.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Is 32GB Overkill?

On second thought, I could just go with a Mac Mini!

Thanks for any help in advance! :)

[mesaone]

Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Gene 2011 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131805&cm_re=asus_rampage_gene-_-13-131-805-_-Product) $279

Video Card: NVIDIA GT640 4GB (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-640-4GB-GDDR3-2DVI-Mini-HDMI-PCI-Express-Video-Card-/160956569329?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2579c256f1) $115

PSU: Corsair RM850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139056&cm_re=CORSAIR_RM_Series_RM850-_-17-139-056-_-Product) $130

Case: Fractal Design Mini Black Silent Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011&cm_re=fractal_design_mini_black-_-11-352-011-_-Product) $99



Check your clearances. Since you're going with a Micro ATX system, you can see how close to the PSU that bottom PCIe x16 slot is. It looks like the fan on that video card is a little larger than one-slot clearance, so I suspect you will either partially block whichever slot is below. Or, if you put the video card in the bottom slot (what I would normally do so as to not block another slot) it might conflict with the PSU fan (either for space or for efficient cooling).

I may be wrong about the size, and you can always just put the card in an upper slot, if you don't eventually need to populate all those PCIe slots.

Even though you say you must have SSDs, a good place to save a couple hundred bucks is to only get one SSD, and use a WD Black 1TB for your sessions and VI libraries. And it looks like the cost of RAM is high right now - if you want to save a bit then you can opt for 2x8GB sticks and then get the other two when the cost comes down a bit, probably later this year.

PSU is overkill by 100-200 watts. You can easily power that system with a 650 W, but I would recommend finding the "happy medium" at 750 W. You can save around $50 up front by going with a modular Rosewill 750 W with the same efficiency (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182264), not to mention the power savings over the life of the unit.

[epu]

Check your clearances. Since you're going with a Micro ATX system, you can see how close to the PSU that bottom PCIe x16 slot is. It looks like the fan on that video card is a little larger than one-slot clearance, so I suspect you will either partially block whichever slot is below. Or, if you put the video card in the bottom slot (what I would normally do so as to not block another slot) it might conflict with the PSU fan (either for space or for efficient cooling).

I may be wrong about the size, and you can always just put the card in an upper slot, if you don't eventually need to populate all those PCIe slots.

Even though you say you must have SSDs, a good place to save a couple hundred bucks is to only get one SSD, and use a WD Black 1TB for your sessions and VI libraries. And it looks like the cost of RAM is high right now - if you want to save a bit then you can opt for 2x8GB sticks and then get the other two when the cost comes down a bit, probably later this year.

PSU is overkill by 100-200 watts. You can easily power that system with a 650 W, but I would recommend finding the "happy medium" at 750 W. You can save around $50 up front by going with a modular Rosewill 750 W with the same efficiency (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182264), not to mention the power savings over the life of the unit.

Thanks for this long reply and insight! I am baffled that I spent less than half of the asking price above for 16GB of RAM for my Lenovo Laptop close to two years ago. I will look into the 750W PSU.

My Lenovo X220 has 2 SSDs. I have a 256GB Internal and a 256GB mSata SSD. I've been spoiled by the lightning fast performance. While I've recorded large sessions with VIs on my laptop, I am in need of more processing and graphic power, hence me opting to build a new PC.

I will report here in a week or two when I finish all of the purchases and build the PC. Worst case scenario, I might just do a 2 256GB Drives (System & Audio) and get a fast MYBOOK for External Storage via USB 3.0.

Would a Mac Mini with Win 8 installed be a better buy? I see the newer ones have Thunderbolt.

[albee1952]

I am ready to build a new system to support PT10 (which I have) and PT11 (which I intend to upgrade to soon). I'm not a new member here. I will list components. Please tell me what is overkill and where I can save. I must have SSDs and must use a Micro ATX board. I plan on doing a lot of work with VIs (Kontakt, Avid Instruments, etc). I also plan on doing a lot of Video Rendering with this System (Sony Vegas for Commercials and Video Testimonials).

Motherboard: Asus Rampage IV Gene 2011 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131805&cm_re=asus_rampage_gene-_-13-131-805-_-Product) $279
RAM: G-SKILL 32GB KIT (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231590&cm_re=g_skill_2400-_-20-231-590-_-Product) $359
Video Card: NVIDIA GT640 4GB (http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-EVGA-NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-640-4GB-GDDR3-2DVI-Mini-HDMI-PCI-Express-Video-Card-/160956569329?pt=PCC_Video_TV_Cards&hash=item2579c256f1) $115
CPU: INTEL I7 3820 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115229) $309
SSD SYSTEM (256GB): Samsung 256GB SSD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2W00ZD1539&cm_re=samsung_256_ssd-_-20-147-193-_-Product) $200
SSD VIs/Audio (512GB): Samsung 512GB SSD (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Electronics-840-Pro-Series-2-5-Inch-512gb-SSD-Solid-State-Drive-/321417985522?pt=US_Solid_State_Drives&hash=item4ad6013df2) $370
PSU: Corsair RM850 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139056&cm_re=CORSAIR_RM_Series_RM850-_-17-139-056-_-Product) $130
Case: Fractal Design Mini Black Silent Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811352011&cm_re=fractal_design_mini_black-_-11-352-011-_-Product) $99
OS: MS Windows 8 Pro OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832416552&cm_re=windows_8-_-32-416-552-_-Product) - $139

I already have an LED Monitor 24", Mouse and Pro-Tools USB Keyboard.

Any thoughts or recommendations? Is 32GB Overkill?

On second thought, I could just go with a Mac Mini!

Thanks for any help in advance! :)
Devil's advocate at work:D, You might consider skipping the SSD's because the money you saved would allow you to get the i7 6 core(use all WD Caviar BLACK hard drives). To my mind, 32GB of RAM is not too much:D

Using spinning drives would save you enough $ to get the i7 6 core, which could make a big difference in performance:o 32GB of RAM is a good amount to me:D. If you need physically small drives, there are some good 7200 rpm 2.5" drives, but I would be using a 1(or 2) TB WD Caviar BLACK(lots more capacity for way less money). If you MUST use SSD, I'm sure you have your reasons, but consider what 2 more cores might net you in performance(at least its a fair question that someone might be able to offer some "real world" experience to help you choose)

[epu]

Devil's advocate at work:D, You might consider skipping the SSD's because the money you saved would allow you to get the i7 6 core(use all WD Caviar BLACK hard drives). To my mind, 32GB of RAM is not too much:D

Albee, you're a goldmine! Believe it or not though, I'll never go back to non-SSD drive again. From my first experience with a little 16GB Express Card SSD 5 years ago, I knew that's where I wanted to be.

On my Lenovo laptop with an i5 and Samsung Sata III 256GB, PT and Sessions load in Milliseconds. The ones with lots of samples (i.e. Kontakt) in seconds. I could never go back to slower loading times for as long as I live lol. I can always upgrade to a faster processor later or just save up some more. The 6 core would definitely come in handy with Video Rendering so you're right there!

[Shan]

Devil's advocate at work:D, You might consider skipping the SSD's because the money you saved would allow you to get the i7 6 core(use all WD Caviar BLACK hard drives). To my mind, 32GB of RAM is not too much:D

+1. The 32G of RAM will also allow for some pretty powerful RAM Drive partitions that will put PT performance through the roof.

Shane

[8dB.co.uk]

A SSD and lots of RAM transform ProTools. With that you can have slower media drives, even a raid nas, as it still flies.

[pianosound]

I started reading about the z97 MB's, and have gotten excited about the m2 port! So I'm looking now at the '''ASUS Z97-PRO LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard'''. I wish they had more than 6 sata's, but will have to do?! Would I do better to have 16 GB of DDR3 2800, or to have 32 GB of 2133? (Price is close).

Thanks,,, Mike

[pianosound]

Actually looking at my question above, and a few previous threads, that the 32GB would probably be best. And maybe the 1st question should be,, are there any of you out there using one of the Z97 MB's yet? I would think that there shouldn't be any problem because from what I've read, there isn't that much difference between the Z87 and the Z97 boards(??)

Thanks ,, Mike

[WKG]

A SSD and lots of RAM transform ProTools. With that you can have slower media drives, even a raid nas, as it still flies.


Parts are in and I am just getting my new system put together, 4930k, X-79 Deluxe, Samsung SSD 256GB, 16GB RAM quad kit and a couple of WD Black 2 TB for audio, samples etc. Wondering if I should have bit the bullet and went for 32GB on the RAM...

[8dB.co.uk]

My system flies with that config, and my i7 is much older gen. Still scores 7.9 though.

[epu]

Do Socket 1150/1155s work with Pro-Tools? Anyone using an i5 processor for it?

[rossi68]

I am ready for my third build. First I buildt the core2quad, then i7 930. And now its time to move up. These two builds I felt was somehow easier, since this forum pointed out witch components you should try. Now there seems to be more choose from..... so, do these components look ok?

Intel Core i7-4790, 3.6Ghz, Quadcore, LGA1150
Crucial DDR3 BallistiX 1600Mhz 16GB KIT
ASUS Z97-AR, LGA1150, SLI/CFX, M.2

[pianosound]

Do Socket 1150/1155s work with Pro-Tools? Anyone using an i5 processor for it?

Kris75 just finished a 1150, (sounds like a screaming machine!). Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD3H, read about it more on page 577 of this thread, #5769. Kris75 talks about its speed above, (top of pg 577).
This is what got me looking at the Z87's then saw the latest greatest is now Z97 with a new M.2 port, up to 10 GB/sec. transfer speeds!!! (for SSD's?).I don't think theres an SSD made for it yet?, but hope soon! I don't know much about the i5, I'm sure you'll get more info from others.


Happy hunting:-),,, Mike

[WKG]

Got the machine put together this week and finally got OS, PT11.1.3, plug-ins etc installed. Had to do a bit of reconfiguration in my space also well as I moved to two 23" monitors. I have only done basic setup/tweaks so far.

This thing smokes and is super quiet. :D

[albee1952]

Do Socket 1150/1155s work with Pro-Tools? Anyone using an i5 processor for it?

Pretty sure that Pro-Tools-PC uses 1150 builds. I CANNOT recommend 1155 or i5 at all(my own build with i5 was a total bust for PT). Stick with what is known to work(that means i7). As for chipsets, don't risk unless you don't mind an expensive failure. Either go with the tried and proven, or match a known-working build(and I mean match cpu, mobo and RAM, and maybe even graphics card). Just my 2 cents:o:rolleyes:

[TOM@METRO]

Do Socket 1150/1155s work with Pro-Tools? Anyone using an i5 processor for it?
Gigabyte and Asus, socket 2011, are a pretty safe bet here. I would stick with these.

[harryk]

Gigabyte and Asus, socket 2011, are a pretty safe bet here. I would stick with these.

Tom, would you please go into more detail on your build?

thanks!

[Shan]

Tom, would you please go into more detail on your build?

thanks!

You can find the spec in his sig and for more detail, in his public profile. :-)

Shane

[rob wots]

Do Socket 1150/1155s work with Pro-Tools? Anyone using an i5 processor for it?hello :) yes, i'm using an i5 to record with PT11, i'm using an elven rack as my interface.
i have one intermittent glitch that i can sometimes hear audio in pro tools from the 11R before a track is even armed, but apart from that it's working great.

a real life eg would give you a better idea because my home recording ideas of great might be different. last night it was running 22 tracks of audio that i've already recorded and i was using around 18 plugin fx and it was still recording guitar tracks at 24/88.2 with no probs. on the meter the processor was around 10% overall and the memory at around 24%

[EmbraceRandom]

Hi all,

I'd like to build an i7 desktop to run PT10/11 (and future versions) as my bedroom studio's base system.
Ideally, it would be capable of running W7 and / or OSX.
My budget is £1000 ($1650).

Context:

I use Pro Tools in my bedroom to write alt pop / rock music, developing sessions from initial ideas with MIDI instruments to complete recorded productions.
I record and mix music for a handful of bands.
I record in multiple generally unorthodox locations.
I travel frequently, listening to music when I'd prefer to be writing!
Alongside this build, I intend to buy a sub-£400 ($650) Windows laptop running Pro Tools 10/11 for recording on-location, and for writing when travelling. The writing session files wouldn't be intensive. I would transfer the session files to my base system to fully produce.
Current system (full spec available if necessary):
- 2008 HP A6612UK (Vista) desktop PC + WD Blue 500GB internal audio drive
- Digidesign 003 Rack Factory FireWire (400 6-conductor) audio interface
- Pro Tools LE 8 & Music Production Toolkit 2
- AKG K701 & Sennheiser HD 25-C ii headphones
- Maxtor OneTouch 500GB external HDD
- Logitech wireless mouse & keyboard

I figured it'd be a good idea to cross-reference component compatability advice from these forums with the tonymacx86 forums, as to come up with a build spec that is fully PT and Hackintosh compatible.

-SPEC DRAFT 1-
Based on CustoMac mATX (June 2014) (http://www.tonymacx86.com/436-building-customac-buyer-s-guide-june-2014.html#budget)
MB: GA-Z87-HD3 (ATX)
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K
GFX: GeForce GT-640
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 16GB 1600Mhz DDR3 (8x2)
SSD: 1 x Samsung 840 EVO 120GB
HDD: 2 x WD Black 1TB, 1 x WD Blue 500GB
PSU: Corsair CS 550 Watt Modular
WiFi: TP-Link TL-WDN4800 WiFi Adapter
Case: Corsair Carbride 200r

Drive layout:

System & Apps Drive: Samsung 840 EVO 120GB SSD
Audio Drive: WD Black 1TB HDD
Sample Libraries Drive: WD Black 1TB HDD
Personal Drive: WD Blue 500GB HDD (for music library, documents etc. - already owned)


Can anyone foresee any problems with this spec?

Any advice is much appreciated,

Thanks,
ER.

[mesaone]

Any Tony Mac gold build should work with zero issues. That said, you might want to use a larger SSD and maybe step up to the Pro series instead of the Evo.

And since this is a fresh build, you may want to go with more RAM.

And I would go with a higher-wattage PSU. 650 would be fine, 750 even better.

Verify that the new motherboard has a TI firewire chip.

[EmbraceRandom]

Hey mesaone, thanks for the reply.

FYI, I'm aiming for the idealistic balance between future-proofing this computer as much as possible, without straying into overkill territory.

SSD:
I thought that 120GB might be pushing it a little...
I assume changing out a system drive at a later date is a complete and utter nightmare? I was going to "make do" with 120GB until SSDs drop in price, then potentially upgrade in a few years.
If changing out a system drive in the future is a big no-no then (in the interest of future-proofing) I could upgrade my spec to the EVO 250GB for +£40, or the PRO 250GB for +£125(!!!).

RAM:
I had figured 16GB RAM would suffice for now (in the interest of saving money on potential overkill) and that an upgrade to 32GB in a few years would be an easy task. Do you think I will potentially struggle with 16GB?

PSU:
I could upgrade the PSU to a Corsair RM650 for +£25, but how will I benefit from this? How do I work out the actual power requirements of my build? Perhaps 550w already offers a 100w / 200w margin on my requirements? Or does it definitely not?

FW:
Very good point about the FireWire, I had completely overlooked that.
The Z87-HD3 doesn't have a FW port so I'm assuming it doesn't have a TI FW chipset (I can't see one spec'd).
Would you recommend choosing a different motherboard, or simply finding a suitable TI FW PCIe card?


EDIT: Whilst on the topic of potentially changing MBs, I should point out the current PCI(e) requirements. As far as I can tell, this would all fit on the Z87-HD3:

I can't find what x# the GFX requires but I've read somewhere to always use PCIe x16. This GFX card takes up 2 PCI slots, so it would block the PCIe x1_1 slot
The WiFi adapter requires one PCIe x1, so would use the PCIe x1_2 slot.
The TI FW PCIe card requires one PCIe x1, but would use the PCIe x4 slot as the other PCIe x1 slot is obscured by the GFX.
Can you see there being any space issues?

Also, a relatively stupid question; what do you all do with the MB's onboard HDMI, VGA and DVI ports when you've got a dedicated GFX installed? Just ignore them?

Thanks,
ER.

[mesaone]

SSD: You can change out in the future, it won't be a problem as long as you do a bit of research into migrating your OS and all that. But the 256GB 840Evo is only $50 more than the 128GB.

RAM: 16GB will be fine, but going with 32 will be better for future-proofing. One thing about RAM is that it is always better to have matched modules (same brand, size, and timing) which can pose a problem when upgrading a few years down the line - it could be hard to find sticks that match what you bought before.

PSU: if there's anywhere you shouldn't skimp, it's here. Having decent overhead will allow your system to operate under load with no fear. £25 is not that much. You might get by just fine with 550W, though. I just think it's better to have that extra cushion.

FireWire: Go ahead and get a card. No need to change up your motherboard just for that. SIIG Model NN-E20012-S2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998059) is qualified by Avid (source (http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en352647))

PCIe: Your layout is good. I can't offer any info about Wifi cards and hackintosh (or Wifi and Pro Tools) so you may want to hash out whether there are any conflicts there.

GPU: I use the DVI and HDMI outputs on my graphics card (see sig) and I do not use the video ports on my mobo. For your GT640: there are many configurations of this card. Some might only support two monitors (in the case that it has a VGA and DVI port that share the same RAMDAC). If you plan to run 3 monitors, make sure it can be done with the model you choose.

Cooling: I'm not familiar with your case, so I have no thoughts on that. But you may wish to go with a third-party CPU cooler, as the stock intel ones are pretty loud.

[EmbraceRandom]

SSD:
I'll go for the 250GB 840 EVO. That should see me through a fair few years :-)

RAM:
Good point. However, I guess it'll be a few years before I get to the stage where I need / want 32GB, so I could just buy 4 sticks of 8GB when the time comes. That's obviously not the most cost-effective way to do it in the long-term, but it is in the short-term (cash flow!).

PSU:
Corsair RM 650 PSU it is! :-)

FW:
I'm going to have to weigh up which is more picky; Pro Tools or OS X (on a Hackintosh). From experience, I've never had any PT issues when using my current MB's FW port, or the FW PCI(e?) card I installed years ago. From what I've read, OS X can be really picky with FW cards...
There's a studio owner and Pro Tools user on the tonymacx86 forums called BoomR who has this Syba FW card (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Profile-PCI-Express-Chipset-Regular-SD-PEX30009/dp/B00E9674Y6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1402927559&sr=8-4&keywords=Syba+2B1A+Card+SD-PEX30009), so that's probably my best bet.

PCIe:
The WiFi card is recommended for OS X so that's fine, I'll just have to ensure it's PT compatible.

GPU:
It can run 2 monitors which is all I think I'll need. I've got by with 1 monitor for 6 years!

Cooling:
What are the general things to look for when buying a CPU cooler?
I would like to buy one of these coolers (http://www.tonymacx86.com/436-building-customac-buyer-s-guide-june-2014.html#coolers). The ARCTIC air coolers have epic heat sinks!

Thanks,
ER.

[mesaone]

FW:
That SYBA card has a Texas Instruments chip, just like the SIIG card. It should work perfectly.

Cooling:
The main concerns are clearance, noise and performance. Sometimes bulky coolers can block DIMM slots on some motherboards. All the ones on the list you linked (except the Thermaltake Frio) look quite compact. Mine is almost identical to the Corsair H60, and I really wish I had gone with something else (it's a bit noisy). I would urge you to spend the premium dollar here (~40£) and go with a Noctua air cooler like this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608041&ignorebbr=1). Again, check compatibility with your motherboard and case, because there can sometimes be a spatial conflict.

[WKG]

Couple of questions on RAM.

I manually set the timings and all fine there. Is there any need to manually set the secondary timings or is it OK to leave them on auto?

I used a 16 GB quad set on my recent 4930k, X79-Deluxe build. If I wanted to increase that to 32 GB would it be OK to add another 16 GB quad (8 slots, quad channel motherboard) or would it be better to use a quad 8 GB set?

[WKG]

Couple of questions on RAM.

I manually set the timings and all fine there. Is there any need to manually set the secondary timings or is it OK to leave them on auto?

I used a 16 GB quad set on my recent 4930k, X79-Deluxe build. If I wanted to increase that to 32 GB would it be OK to add another 16 GB quad (8 slots, quad channel motherboard) or would it be better to use a quad 8 GB set?


Safe to assume it doesn't matter?

[albee1952]

Safe to assume it doesn't matter?

as long as all 8 sticks are exactly the same, all will be fine(same brand AND model).

[WKG]

as long as all 8 sticks are exactly the same, all will be fine(same brand AND model).

Thanks for the reply.

I figured I could pick up another identical 16GB quad set but I've seen 8 module quad channel sets and wasn't sure how sensitive these MOBO's are. Don't want to end up doing anything to muck up the works...:-)

[mesaone]

Pay attention not only to the brand model, but also the model number.

For example, G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM will have different timings than G.SKILL Ripjaws X F3-1600C9D-8GXM.

[tatothekid426]

There are six SATA 6GB/s on the Asus Sabertooth X79 - two provided by the Intel X79 chipset and four by the Marvell 9128 SATA Controller. I just bought a Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB for OS, Pro Tools, etc but I’m not sure which of the ports above would be the best option for connecting it. Can someone point me to the right direction on this subject?

[mesaone]

I would use the intel, it seems to be more reliable (if internet chatter is to be believed) and does show significantly better performance than the Marvell controller, especially write speeds. I would use the intel SATA3 port for not only the boot drive but also my Session HDD, as well. Check the WD1003FZEX model.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/motherboards/2011/11/30/asus-sabertooth-x79-review/5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236625

In either case, update your drivers.

[tatothekid426]

Hi, Thanks for the info & links. That HDD seems to be a good choice.

[Mark Madness]

Hello... I was reading pages and pages for hours last night... trying to learn as much before I ask a dumb question I could have learned myself by reading... but to be honest Im just lost still...

I was going to buy this iMac

27-inch: 3.4GHz
Specifications

3.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
Turbo Boost up to 3.8GHz
8GB (two 4GB) memory
1TB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M with 2GB video memory


but now I have been reading a lot and leaning towards a PC... I havent had a pro tools setup or computer in years... and my last one was an iMac like 2007 model. I think it was only like 2.4GHz intel dual core.

I remember being too scared to go with PC then because I heard of all the problems... but now all I read is theres not really any problems going with PC for pro tools so I would rather save some money and learn the workflow on windows.

I would always have problems with it running out of power in the middle of playback or recording... so I want to make sure I have enough power... even overkill just to be safe... it was really killing my music vibe when it kept stopping right as I go to play guitar.

I am not doing a HD system... I was reading a ton of posts on this thread seeing everyones build but they were all running pro tools HD from the ones I saw... Ive been out of the game a while now... since I had pro tools 7 LE... and now it doesnt seem like they are calling pro tools 11 LE... not sure.

So yeah if anyone could give me any direction of what kind of specs I should aim for to have a powerful enough PC... or if theres a link to PC builds not for super professional HD systems if you could show me the link that would be awesome.

My budget is 2,000 if anyone has a good PC in mind please let me know, thanks. Sorry I know I sound dumb lol been reading all these posts and I feel so obsolete but I really did try to research myself I promise haha.

[Shan]

So yeah if anyone could give me any direction of what kind of specs I should aim for to have a powerful enough PC.

The first two posts of this thread have all the info.

Shane

[The Weed]

Or get in touch with guitardom for a custom build.

Cheers,

[WKG]

Anybody bothering to run the Dverb2 test anymore? Just curious if it's still a relevant benchmarking tool with PT11 etc.

[Shan]

Anybody bothering to run the Dverb2 test anymore? Just curious if it's still a relevant benchmarking tool with PT11 etc.

It's more relevant than ever (http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=2170085&postcount=7) for finding issues. And the results (http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=2170236&postcount=9) with a bit of history (http://duc.avid.com/showpost.php?p=2170452&postcount=12). PT 11 needs to run the Dverb 3 test, which adds disabling Dynamic Plug-in Processing during the test...or maybe that should be called the Dverb 2.5 test. :D

Shane

[zedhed]

There are six SATA 6GB/s on the Asus Sabertooth X79 - two provided by the Intel X79 chipset and four by the Marvell 9128 SATA Controller. I just bought a Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB for OS, Pro Tools, etc but I’m not sure which of the ports above would be the best option for connecting it. Can someone point me to the right direction on this subject?

If haven't done so already, make sure you download and install the 'Samsung Magician' software to tune the SSD/OS to get best performance.

[spenner]

Hi everyone,

My i7-930 finally kicked the bucket after several years of great use. Here are the new build and Dverb test results:

i7-4790K LGA 1150 w/stock cooler, ASRock Z97 Extreme, 8 GB Corsair XMS 3 CMX6GX3M3C1600C7, onboard graphics via DVI, C: and Audio drives - WD RE4 WD5003ABYX 500GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s, Cool Master HAF full tower - all case fans running (4 total), Win 7 64 bit SP1, Pro Tools 9.0, Dverb score - 24/48 session, playback engine 1024 buffer 8 processors, 83 tracks, 414 Dverbs.

Note: I performed the standard Avid optimizations and have not changed anything in the BIOS yet. The RAM is set to auto and running at 1333.

I am very please with how solid this setup is with PT, particularly using the onboard graphics. Not one glitch so far. The RAM and hard drives are old and from the previous build; will upgrade to SSD drives soon.

__________________________________________________ ________

Testing the new build with a mix done on the i7-930 - other than the new motherboard and processor, same components and Profire 2626 interface connected via a Texas Instruments Firewire PCIe card.

Just for the hek of it, on plugin inserts F-J, I added Waves SSL E Channel, Ozone 4 and Native Instrument's VC 2A on all audio tracks. Also, I placed 5 instantiations of both Guitar Rig 5 and Eleven LE on 5 inserts (and loaded random presets).

128 Buffer, 7 processors. Playback has been running for 20 minutes without a glitch. With session running, I have inserted plugins, tweaked parameters, etc. No glitches so far.

http://ultramediaproductions.com/photos/pic1.png

[Escape]

Spenner thank you so much for posting this.I will go the 1150 z97 route at the next 1-2 months.One question though can you tell me your cpu temps running the dverb test after 20 minutes,also did you max out the cpu when doing the test?Thank you:-)

[spenner]

Spenner thank you so much for posting this.I will go the 1150 z97 route at the next 1-2 months.

You're welcome. :-) The combo is definitely working for me.

One question though can you tell me your cpu temps running the dverb test

1) The photo posted above (with a ton of plugins added to a normal session for testing purposes only), and 2) the Dverb score posted above... Core Temp gave max readings of 76°C and 84°C respectively. I absolutely do not run anything (real world) close to those sessions! Still, I will add a 3rd party cooler to keep temps as low as possible.

FWIW, my room temperature is 77°F. Today I mixed a 64 track session with automation and 50+ plugins - 128 buffer, 7 processors. Core Temp readings did not go over 55°C. Again, stock CPU cooler.

also did you max out the cpu when doing the test?

Playback, for the 5 minute Dverb 2.0 test, was interrupted for the first time after I reached 415 Dverbs; yes, CPU maxed out. Perhaps BIOS tweaks would have yielded a higher score. However, I wanted to test out of box with no BIOS tweaks to see how it would perform. I'm fine with 414 Dverbs!

The mix session (on the photo posted above) ran for 60 minutes non-stop on 128 buffer, 7 processors (I was only 20 minutes in when I posted yesterday). Several times in that time period, with session running, I removed and inserted plugins. Pro Tools 9.0 did not flinch.

Z97 mobo, no BIOS tweaks, onboard graphics, mixing on 128 buffer... I am waiting for PT to make a fuss, but it has not so far.

[Escape]

Thank you so much.I will add a noctua cooler probably.

[pianosound]

I've done something similar to spenner, check out my sig. I decided not to use the stock cooler, and chose the Enermax ETS-T40-TB CPU cooler, 35.00 at Newegg, (using a fanless GPU that runs 4 monitors, it really helps. Extremely quite and very cold! As for testing to this point, nothing huge but everything fast and responsive!! Love the new Haswell 4790K CPU (LGA 1150, 4.0). With the Samsung SSD its crazy fast!

Mike

[Escape]

Thanks Pianosound, i'm in the process gathering info about the 1150 socket and z97 chipset. I was going to get the same motherboard like yours but it seems even with a cheaper asrock mobo i can get the job done, but i have like a 1-2 months to decide.I was looking at the ASUS Z97-A also which is closer to the asrock price.It looks very similar to your mobo.My main concern is everything to run stable,cool and quiet, no overclocking here hehe.

[CME]

If you're in no rush, the new socket 2011-v3 x99 systems are supposed to be released tomorrow. The base is a 6-core proc for about $350 estimated.

[JCBigler]

No one building dual proc systems anymore? A single CPU with six cores is plenty of horse power for ProTools these days?

[CME]

No one building dual proc systems anymore? A single CPU with six cores is plenty of horse power for ProTools these days?


I would think so for most people. I had a 6-core nehalem Mac Pro that was more than I needed. So I got a 2011 MacBook Pro and it has no problems for what I do. These newer procs are even more powerful than what was available just a couple if generations ago.

But if you want there are mobo's for dual Xeons. I believe they have 12-core e5's. If you can afford it, that would be 24-cores and 48 virtual. Should be able to real time bounce 4 hours of 240 tracks covered with 1000 plugs in 10 seconds. (That's just a gross over estimation, but maybe not too far off lol).

And I accidentally hit send before I finished my previous post. The new x99 rigs also use ddr4 and have up to 40 lanes of PCIe 3.0. I'm seriously considering putting a rig together based on those components. Would probably last me 10-15 years or more easy. Anyways. Food for thought. If someone decides to buy one be sure and let us know. ;)

[gtrm8kr]

Apologies for asking something that I'm sure has already been covered, but the searches on DUC aren't turning up any results for SSD at the moment (weird).

For a system drive, is there a "best type" as between TLC and MLC? And what's this "3-D vertical" variant about?

Thanks.

UPDATE: I did some more research, and this is what I found. MLC stores 2 bits per cell, and TLC stores 3 bits per cell. More bits = lower cost to manufacture, but also a shorter life span. Granted I saw a test on Anandtech that put the 128 GB TLC life span at 11 years, so that's not exactly a brief moment in time... 3D Vertical NAND is the newest technology and apparently quite a milestone, with Samsung claiming greater speed, endurance and lower power usage. Samsung backs up the endurance claim with a 10 year warranty. It's slightly more expensive than MLC, and is bleeding edge if that's your thing. For me, I think I'll stick with MLC for the time being. Hope that helps (and please jump in if I got anything wrong).

[Shan]

Intel Core i7-5960X 8-core:

http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Processors/Haswell-E-Intel-Core-i7-5960X-8-core-Processor-Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zyLGfk6R14

Looking forward to seeing these bad boys in PT rigs. :D

Shane

[ValkRider]

Are these new chips going to be mandatory liquid cooled , can you use air at all? Seems if you want to O.C. it will most likely require liquid cooling

I saw that a Gigabyte mother board review showed Thunder Bolt connectors being supplied.
What about the new? higher speed Sata Express connections will those require new SS drives to take advantage?

What about the M.2 slots, any input on that technology?

Here is a link I found while trying to learn about M.w
http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/understanding-m-2-ngff-ssd-standardization/ Link from 2013 so is dated info. (I'm learning :-)

For a dedicated DAW what do you really want on a XP99 based Mother board?

Cool stuff but for the 8 core you need the $1k Processor.

Not sure which way to go, probably X99, usually I would anty up the extra $ if doing a total multi generational upgrade build which I will have to do. I'm 3 generations or more behind at this point.

Would like to hear what the more experienced are thinking on this.
Is Thunder Bolt a big deal or not?

Cool stuff.

[guitardom]

Are these new chips going to be mandatory liquid cooled , can you use air at all? Seems if you want to O.C. it will most likely require liquid cooling

I saw that a Gigabyte mother board review showed Thunder Bolt connectors being supplied.
What about the new? higher speed Sata Express connections will those require new SS drives to take advantage?

What about the M.2 slots, any input on that technology?

Here is a link I found while trying to learn about M.w
http://www.thessdreview.com/daily-news/latest-buzz/understanding-m-2-ngff-ssd-standardization/ Link from 2013 so is dated info. (I'm learning :-)

For a dedicated DAW what do you really want on a XP99 based Mother board?

Cool stuff but for the 8 core you need the $1k Processor.

Not sure which way to go, probably X99, usually I would anty up the extra $ if doing a total multi generational upgrade build which I will have to do. I'm 3 generations or more behind at this point.

Would like to hear what the more experienced are thinking on this.
Is Thunder Bolt a big deal or not?

Cool stuff.

The new Haswell E line does not come with a cpu cooler. It is intels nice way of saying, "buy a NICE cooler" and if you plan on oc'ing, you better go with liquid. Also it uses a new 288 pin ddr4 ram that is quite expensive at the moment.

For Thunderbolt, the motherboards that have a spot for a "add in card" does not come with the card. As of now, the cards are not available for purchase. The actual TB models have it built into the motherboard.

Caution with the sata express ports when drives start supporting it. In many cases it will render 2 Sata ports unusable as it uses the onboard Sata bandwidths. But in any case, your drives has to support it.

If your using the new CPU's that can support the x99 chipset, it is best to do it if you plan on attempting to overclock. If not, I wouldnt worry about it as much. Also the x99 boards are supposed to support the CPU gen codenamed "broadwell" atm. Also watch as things like Firewire are disappearing from newer boards.

[CME]

Honestly I'm keeping up with these x99 systems. They're basically overclockable Xeons. No integrated graphics and the base is a $350 6-core. The top of the line i7 desktop CPU can be a beast in single threaded apps due to the higher base clock speed. But these (seem to be) OC capable to similar speeds. And you have 2 extra cores. No gpu to add heat to the chip. DDR4 ram, and lots of PCI 3 lanes natively. If you need a new system now they seem to be a nice choice. And intel will release Xeons based on the same socket in the future that will have up to (I think I read) 18 cores. So they should last a pretty good while. Has me intrigued anyways.

[guitardom]

Honestly I'm keeping up with these x99 systems. They're basically overclockable Xeons. No integrated graphics and the base is a $350 6-core. The top of the line i7 desktop CPU can be a beast in single threaded apps due to the higher base clock speed. But these (seem to be) OC capable to similar speeds. And you have 2 extra cores. No gpu to add heat to the chip. DDR4 ram, and lots of PCI 3 lanes natively. If you need a new system now they seem to be a nice choice. And intel will release Xeons based on the same socket in the future that will have up to (I think I read) 18 cores. So they should last a pretty good while. Has me intrigued anyways.

It is more of the standard "tick" and "tock" upgrades on the CPU's more than it has anything to do with the Xeon line. As is the norm, a socket type supports the released CPU line and 1 upgrade, Sandy Bridge E and Ivy bridge E in the case of the 2011 socket. Now this socket will support Haswell E and what will probably be Broadwell E in a couple years. The "E" and "X" line of processors has never contained the on board graphics of its regular processor counterpart.

Just also to note, the 5820 has a far lower amount of PCI lanes. This could be irrelevant for most users, though someone using a couple graphics cards and then needing Thunderbolt or PCI audio interfaces could have some issues and would make the 5930 or 5960x more attractive.

I still RARELY have ever maxed out my 3930k system. The comparable 5930k is supposed to be about 30% more power and much better at oc'ing as the 3930k was not very good though capable for a small boost.

[CME]

Yes and socket 2011-3 supports the haswell-e i7's and haswell-ep e5 Xeons. Not the regular haswell i7's. Most x99 based mother boards can support either series of CPU. Albeit you might need ecc ram with the xeon chips. My point is you could build a rig with the $350 haswell-e i7. Have 6-cores and a solid base rig. Then as prices come down upgrade to an 18 core (or less) haswell-ep xeon in the future. And the board should also be compatible with the next generation of "e" series procs after that also.

And for my uses 28 lanes of PCIe 3 is plenty. I do think intel finally made the middle processor a serious choice though by dropping the extra lanes in the base processor. I could see where people could use the extra 12 lanes the upper two procs have.

[guitardom]

Yes and socket 2011-3 supports the haswell-e i7's and haswell-ep e5 Xeons. Not the regular haswell i7's. Most x99 based mother boards can support either series of CPU. Albeit you might need ecc ram with the xeon chips. My point is you could build a rig with the $350 haswell-e i7. Have 6-cores and a solid base rig. Then as prices come down upgrade to an 18 core (or less) haswell-ep xeon in the future. And the board should also be compatible with the next generation of "e" series procs after that also.

And for my uses 28 lanes of PCIe 3 is plenty. I do think intel finally made the middle processor a serious choice though by dropping the extra lanes in the base processor. I could see where people could use the extra 12 lanes the upper two procs have.

If you can find it for 350$ let me know!! I have been on it since release day and it is 390$ everywhere I have been watching!! But ram is around 100$ per 4gb (more for great ram), so its going to be a bit pricey for awhile. Plus there are no 16gb sticks so a bit limited on how much can be installed. I complain about that when almost 10 years back Shan and I (among others) were spending 100$ per gb stick for ram with our Opteron builds!!

Correct on the sockets and processor support. But it follows all the same rules as the Sandybridge E's and Ivybridge E's. There is and continues to be about a 15% performance gain with each comparable E series release as well. A lot of us are running the Sandy's and the upgrade to Ivy was not worth it. It is looking a bit tempting though now though!!

[ValkRider]

The two most immediate things that would affect my making the plunge right away are the memory pricing/limitations of DDR4 at the moment.
Second is the fact that my computer case has no front panel USB 3 ports on it.
I would prefer to have a more modern case that has them right up front.
I have one of the very large earlier Cosmos cases that is very roomy and easy to build with and it is a shame it has no method for me to change the front panel usb ports to usb3 ( I have looked and contacted the company).

I always preferred a full tower so that I have plenty of room for drives and flexibility, my Cosmos has all that and I don't know what the heck I would do with it. Do I have any USB 3 devices currently? the answer is no but when purchasing a new Motherboard with a majority of USB3 connectors, well you kind of want a case that will take advantage of them.

I think I'll need to be a bit patient and wait for the memory market to adjust. I don't think a lot of people with reasonably new builds are going to make the jump to X99 as it is a big investment (currently).
The potential for a new system though is really huge when doing a 4 generation upgrade.

Just my thoughts anyway. I'll be following this closely though.

[guitardom]

The two most immediate things that would affect my making the plunge right away are the memory pricing/limitations of DDR4 at the moment.
Second is the fact that my computer case has no front panel USB 3 ports on it.
I would prefer to have a more modern case that has them right up front.
I have one of the very large earlier Cosmos cases that is very roomy and easy to build with and it is a shame it has no method for me to change the front panel usb ports to usb3 ( I have looked and contacted the company).

I always preferred a full tower so that I have plenty of room for drives and flexibility, my Cosmos has all that and I don't know what the heck I would do with it. Do I have any USB 3 devices currently? the answer is no but when purchasing a new Motherboard with a majority of USB3 connectors, well you kind of want a case that will take advantage of them.

I think I'll need to be a bit patient and wait for the memory market to adjust. I don't think a lot of people with reasonably new builds are going to make the jump to X99 as it is a big investment (currently).
The potential for a new system though is really huge when doing a 4 generation upgrade.

Just my thoughts anyway. I'll be following this closely though.

I have some usb3 panels that go in an 5.25" optical drive space on your case then plug into the usb3 jacks on your motherboard. Let me know if you want 1.

[CME]

If you can find it for 350$ let me know!! (Snip)


I've seen a few on eBay for about that. And if you have a microcenter nearby, they have them in store for $300. At least according to pcpartpicker.com.

[chrisdee]

Anybody bought the new 5960x (Haswell-E) cpu and tried it with PT11 yet ?

If yes what motherboard, memory, graphics card and psu did you get?

[guitardom]

I've seen a few on eBay for about that. And if you have a microcenter nearby, they have them in store for $300. At least according to pcpartpicker.com.

I checked eBay though I probably wouldn't buy one from there and nothing under 380$ now and pcpartspicker has nothing under 380$ besides the micro center in store offer, and that dont do me any good!! Price may be stabilizing all around for awhile.

[guitardom]

Anybody bought the new 5960x (Haswell-E) cpu and tried it with PT11 yet ?

If yes what motherboard, memory, graphics card and psu did you get?

It was just released a few days ago, I doubt anyone has jumped that quick. We didn't have any of the x series processor builds the last couple go arounds here either so not sure if many are willing to take that 1000$ CPU plunge!! Plus 32gb is the most ram you can put in one until 16gb sticks are released and those will be PRICEY, so it might be a bit.

[CME]

I figure we'll see some sales here and there and it will drop in price some. If there was a microcenter near me I may have already built a rig lol.

[guitardom]

I figure we'll see some sales here and there and it will drop in price some. If there was a microcenter near me I may have already built a rig lol.

The 4790k is "on sale" everywhere for around 300-310$ from the 340$ it was up till the 5 series release. So 300-350$ for the 5820k is a killer price for 2 more cores.

[ericwegener]

Hey guys,

On the subject of i7 4790k Protools rigs, I'm in the middle of building an HDX 2 rig and was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on a deal-breaking issue I've been having. Specs are below.

Initial install was OSX 10.8.5, and everything ran without issue. Upgraded to 10.9.4 through the Unibeast method and the HDX cards are no longer recognized properly by Protools. I run into "AAE error -1092" during the Initializing Hardware phase of launching protools 11, and I can't find any information regarding that particular error. PT10, Coreaudio Manager and Digitest all crash on launch, giving the same -1092 error. Audio Midi setup sees the cards, as does System Preferences. Obviously a major issue since Protools is basically the only thing this machine will be doing. Anyone know some troubleshooting I might be able to try? Bios settings, firmware upgrades (not sure how to do on HDX cards), etc?

Thanks guys!

GA-Z87X-OC FORCE, i7 4790k 4GHz, 2x HDX cards, Nvidia GTX 760, Corsair RM750 PSU, 32GB Ballistix Tactical 1600MHz, OSX 10.9.4, PT 11.2.1

[guitardom]

Hey guys,

On the subject of i7 4790k Protools rigs, I'm in the middle of building an HDX 2 rig and was hoping someone might be able to shed some light on a deal-breaking issue I've been having. Specs are below.

Initial install was OSX 10.8.5, and everything ran without issue. Upgraded to 10.9.4 through the Unibeast method and the HDX cards are no longer recognized properly by Protools. I run into "AAE error -1092" during the Initializing Hardware phase of launching protools 11, and I can't find any information regarding that particular error. PT10, Coreaudio Manager and Digitest all crash on launch, giving the same -1092 error. Audio Midi setup sees the cards, as does System Preferences. Obviously a major issue since Protools is basically the only thing this machine will be doing. Anyone know some troubleshooting I might be able to try? Bios settings, firmware upgrades (not sure how to do on HDX cards), etc?

Thanks guys!

GA-Z87X-OC FORCE, i7 4790k 4GHz, 2x HDX cards, Nvidia GTX 760, Corsair RM750 PSU, 32GB Ballistix Tactical 1600MHz, OSX 10.9.4, PT 11.2.1

Hello,
They are typically not very fond of us discussing hacks in this forum. But regardless, I am not sure. I would be checking into if there are other drivers on the system that need updated.

[ValkRider]

The 4790k is "on sale" everywhere for around 300-310$ from the 340$ it was up till the 5 series release. So 300-350$ for the 5820k is a killer price for 2 more cores.


Interesting, it makes me think about how powerful these new chips and chip-sets are in reality to what I currently have.
Being I am just a hobbyist and don't even own a HDX level system I have to ask myself how much computer do I really need for a dedicated daw machine.
X99 6 core/28 lanes versus 8 core/40 lane systems, what does a hobbyist really need? Even with just 32 gigs of memory it has to be a killer build.

Just more things to think about :D

[CME]

Fwiw I had a Mac Pro 6-core westmere a little while back. Keep in mind that's 2 generations ago. With 24GB of ram, I maybe could get the CPU usage meter up to 50%. Admittedly I mostly use audio tracks and very few, if any, VI's. But these newer chips would be overkill for me for a good long while. Part of the reason I'm interested.

And for the hobbyist I think the base chip is the one to get. You lose some PCIe lanes. But unless your running 3 graphics cards, plus several add-on cards (FireWire, TBolt if they're ever released, ect), you won't notice the loss. So at that point it's about cores and clock speed. The only way to get more cores is the $999 chip. And with a good cooling system would imagine you could easily OC either 6-core chip to very similar speeds.

[Emcha_audio]

I'm undecided between the I7 5960x or the i7 5930k
5960x: 20 MB cache 8 core base 3 GHZ (don't care about overclocking)
5930k: 15 MB cach 6 core base 3.5 GHZ (don't care about overclocking)

wondering if the 5 MB cache and extra 2 core will warrant the 500$ extra at a lower core speed...

[Escape]

x99/Haswell-E failures so beware
http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-x99-motherboard-goes-up-in-smoke-for-reasons-unknown_150008

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=msi_x99_fail&num=1

[Shan]

...Plus there are no 16gb sticks so a bit limited on how much can be installed. I complain about that when almost 10 years back Shan and I (among others) were spending 100$ per gb stick for ram with our Opteron builds!!

Quite true. I spent around $800 for 4G of RAM on that first Opteron build. :eek: :D

Shane

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by guitardom
...Plus there are no 16gb sticks so a bit limited on how much can be installed. I complain about that when almost 10 years back Shan and I (among others) were spending 100$ per gb stick for ram with our Opteron builds!!
Quite true. I spent around $800 for 4G of RAM on that first Opteron build. :eek: :D

Shane
That brings back memories. Had to turn the monitors up just to drown the noise of that machine. She was slick for it's time, that's for sure.

[Improv]

Wow... I had a dual Opteron system back in the day. Memories...

I just hit the button on this build. I'm hoping I can get PTHDX 10 running on it with old PCI hardware... a Digidesign label 64-bit Magma chassis full of HD core and Accel cards with 3 non-Digi interfaces with HD cards (2 Lynx Aurora, 1 Apogee AD-16x). If it doesn't work out, it can hang out for a minute until we upgrade to modern HDX hardware. Or perhaps a native editing station.

PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RCpFCJ) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RCpFCJ/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80633i74930k) ($619.51 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) ($30.66 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P9X79 LE ATX LGA2011 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p9x79le) ($245.87 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c9q32gzh) ($375.47 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct512mx100ssd1) ($224.68 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GT 640 2GB Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gt6402gd3) ($102.39 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl) ($96.28 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu750hx) ($149.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas)
Total: $1844.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-16 02:20 EDT-0400

[ValkRider]

You may know this already.
Make sure that particular motherboard has the latest bios installed. There are quite a few reviews mentioning the need to update that boards bios.

I don't own one, but read some reviews that did mention that. People thought the board was DOA but it just needed a bios update.

Wow... I had a dual Opteron system back in the day. Memories...

I just hit the button on this build. I'm hoping I can get PTHDX 10 running on it with old PCI hardware... a Digidesign label 64-bit Magma chassis full of HD core and Accel cards with 3 non-Digi interfaces with HD cards (2 Lynx Aurora, 1 Apogee AD-16x). If it doesn't work out, it can hang out for a minute until we upgrade to modern HDX hardware. Or perhaps a native editing station.

PCPartPicker part list (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RCpFCJ) / Price breakdown by merchant (http://pcpartpicker.com/p/RCpFCJ/by_merchant/)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4930K 3.4GHz 6-Core Processor (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/intel-cpu-bx80633i74930k) ($619.51 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/cooler-master-cpu-cooler-rr212e20pkr2) ($30.66 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus P9X79 LE ATX LGA2011 Motherboard (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-motherboard-p9x79le) ($245.87 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Z Series 32GB (4 x 8GB) DDR3-2133 Memory (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/gskill-memory-f32133c9q32gzh) ($375.47 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 512GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/crucial-internal-hard-drive-ct512mx100ssd1) ($224.68 @ Amazon)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GT 640 2GB Video Card (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-gt6402gd3) ($102.39 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Define R4 (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/fractal-design-case-fdcadefr4bl) ($96.28 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair Professional 750W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cmpsu750hx) ($149.74 @ Amazon)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer (http://pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-optical-drive-drw24b1stblkbas)
Total: $1844.60
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-16 02:20 EDT-0400

[SixBladeKnife]

After much deliberation I committed to an X99 based system today.

Picked up a 5820k and GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD4 motherboard. Will buy everything else on Black Friday/Cyber Monday or as it goes on sale. Didn't want to pass up a 6 core i7 for $299 though, plus saved $40 on the motherboard by bundling :-)

http://www.microcenter.com/product/437203/Core_i7-5820k_33_GHz_LGA_2011_V3_Tray_Processor

[Shan]

That brings back memories. Had to turn the monitors up just to drown the noise of that machine. She was slick for it's time, that's for sure.

Ah yes. I completely forgot about the dual hurricanes that kicked in. :D

Shane

[guitardom]

Just wanted to drop in a quick post.

I have a 5820k system up and going. I have not touched the Bios, stock everything, including ram. I have tweaked the OS and such.

On the Dverb 2 test (48k, 24 bit, 64 hw buff, sig gen bussed to mono audio) I am getting 576 dverbs. That is 96 audio tracks w 6 dverbs a piece. I could probably sneak a few more in there, but its running well.

I am running it side by side with my 3930k. I only have 1, 11 HD license and 1 regular PT 11, so I am sticking to the track count for "non" HD systems. my 3930k has Windows 8.1 and 7 on the 5820k, so that could be a slight difference though not sure which way or the other.

It has a hair bit more top end than the 3930k. You can notice it at high CPU usages and trying to move a fader and such. It also seems a hair bit more stable. I am running identical drivers on each (Asio4all) just to make the comparisons fair as well. My 3930k choked after around 3 minutes on the dverb test with the 576 dverbs, the 5820k is having no issues after 20 min.

After the bios tweaks and such, things might change a bit, but overall, it screams past a 4 core 4790k system (almost twice the power) but does not have the push past the 3930k system I was hoping for as it seems almost the same. Of course the 5930k would be the proper comparison and I am sure it will have a bit more power and throughput speed, just not sure how much yet.

[ValkRider]

I have been doing some reading on the new X99 motherboards.
In regard to Pro Tools I wonder about some of the features available.

As an example I was reading about an ASRock board.
It has connectors so you can software switch hard drives on and off.
If you purchase the 28Lane Intel Chip there are notes that it will disable a certain pcie slot.
More of a concern to big gamers I suppose.
There are software programs that are supplied by ASRock that adjust things.

Again in regard to P.T. will installing these MB software tools mess with P.T.?
In the past P.T. has been pretty fussy with bios settings, software that affects the the system hardware ect..
With these new and very powerful M.B's and CPU's do you think P.T. will still get buggy and flaky?
I know time will tell but before I dump $2k into a new build I wonder if all these features become moot because of P.T. restrictions/interaction.

It seems that more of the most modern system builds seem to running well for people.
What is very tempting with the new X99 is the future potential to add Xeon processors as things mature and prices moderate.
DDR4 $$$ is the killer right now.
Here is another piece of news to chew on. Maybe not for consumers?
Quote:
However thanks to ASRock’s server team, ASRock Rack, it would seem that there will be some Xeons for sale from Intel with both DDR3 and DDR4 support.
Link to quote: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8536/intels-haswellep-xeons-with-ddr3-and-ddr4-on-the-horizon

Any thoughts on some of this ?

[guitardom]

I have been doing some reading on the new X99 motherboards.
In regard to Pro Tools I wonder about some of the features available.

As an example I was reading about an ASRock board.
It has connectors so you can software switch hard drives on and off.
If you purchase the 28Lane Intel Chip there are notes that it will disable a certain pcie slot.
More of a concern to big gamers I suppose.
There are software programs that are supplied by ASRock that adjust things.

Again in regard to P.T. will installing these MB software tools mess with P.T.?
In the past P.T. has been pretty fussy with bios settings, software that affects the the system hardware ect..
With these new and very powerful M.B's and CPU's do you think P.T. will still get buggy and flaky?
I know time will tell but before I dump $2k into a new build I wonder if all these features become moot because of P.T. restrictions/interaction.

It seems that more of the most modern system builds seem to running well for people.
What is very tempting with the new X99 is the future potential to add Xeon processors as things mature and prices moderate.
DDR4 $$$ is the killer right now.
Here is another piece of news to chew on. Maybe not for consumers?
Quote:
However thanks to ASRock’s server team, ASRock Rack, it would seem that there will be some Xeons for sale from Intel with both DDR3 and DDR4 support.
Link to quote: http://www.anandtech.com/show/8536/intels-haswellep-xeons-with-ddr3-and-ddr4-on-the-horizon

Any thoughts on some of this ?

First off, no one is really going to have an answer about the x99 boards as I believe I am the only person with one going right now.
Second, I am not installing ANY of those tools on my computers. They have been nightmares for some people on the earlier i7 generations. Don't see why it would be any different.

Xeons typically require ecc registered ram. It will always cost more for it. Ddr4 will drop given some time. I wouldn't mess w these hybrid systems. As far as adding Xeon processors to these boards, it comes down to money. The current 8 core is a grand. Chances are it will not be dropping in price other than an occasional sale. If You needed more than that, might as well just go to a dual processor system cause it's going to be crazy expensive regardless.

[ValkRider]

First off, no one is really going to have an answer about the x99 boards as I believe I am the only person with one going right now.
Second, I am not installing ANY of those tools on my computers. They have been nightmares for some people on the earlier i7 generations. Don't see why it would be any different.

Xeons typically require ecc registered ram. It will always cost more for it. Ddr4 will drop given some time. I wouldn't mess w these hybrid systems. As far as adding Xeon processors to these boards, it comes down to money. The current 8 core is a grand. Chances are it will not be dropping in price other than an occasional sale. If You needed more than that, might as well just go to a dual processor system cause it's going to be crazy expensive regardless.

I do appreciate your feedback as I know you are pretty tech savy.
Common sense would lead me to believe that all that cool software by manufacturers is nothing but trouble as it often has been in the past.

Like everyone else I want stability for PT. I would install a medium grade graphics card and maybe leave the windows 7 Aero feature on.
I would have a SSD for the O.S. and spinners for the rest.
I am considering Windows 8.1 as long as I can adjust the interface to my liking.
I have a PCIe firewire card now so that will move over along with my hard drives.

The big kicker as you said is the memory. My thinking was to just get 16 gig to start with and then when the better memory becomes available then ratchet up to say 64gig. Hell I'm working with 8 gigs of mem now so 16 teamed up with a new super system things should fly for me.

Water cooling is the only thing I have not messed with. Seems like the Corsair company makes nice systems. Liquid and electronics just makes me nervous. Seems like the new chips draw a lot of juice so I am guessing water cooling is the safest bet in the long run.
Being I'm not gaming then maybe air cooling could work???

I priced most everything out and I think I can get a system in place for approx. $1750-$2000 if I keep the memory costs down.

My last thing is a new computer case, just not sure what to get.
I have a old cube style case with split areas for the drives and M.Board but it isn't built to accommodate liquid cooling. I think it an old LianLi Cube.

Either way let us know how your system performs if you do any optimizations. I see you didn't change any bios settings for your new build and that is cool because it was highly recommended with previous generations of equipment. Have you tried any xmp O.C. profiles for your memory on the new rig?

Thanks again for any info you can share and or suggestions.
Lou

[mesaone]

In my experience, closed-loop liquid CPU coolers with 120mm and 240mm radiators don't perform as well as a good air heatsink, when it comes to fan noise. If your computer is in the control room, this is an issue.

[ValkRider]

In my experience, closed-loop liquid CPU coolers with 120mm and 240mm radiators don't perform as well as a good air heatsink, when it comes to fan noise. If your computer is in the control room, this is an issue.


What would your favorite air sinks be for the X99 platform?

I haven't built a new system since the 1156 socket.

[ValkRider]

Just for giggles..
This is a X-99 build, hap hazardly thrown together.
I would drop the extra cash for the better CPU and I believe the Mother board is server capable.
Have to look and make sure it isn't server memory only.
I have a power supply, hard drives, monitor etc..
I just slammed all this into a NewEgg wish list with no real research just to get an idea.
I may not need the case if I go with air cooling. Maybe lesser mother board also. Memory is $$ as we know.

1 SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD512BW 2.5" 512GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820147194)
Item #: N82E16820147194
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy -$160.00 Instant
$499.99 $339.99

1 Intel Core i7-5930K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.5GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75930K (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819117403) Item #: N82E16819117403 $589.99

1 G.SKILL Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4-21300) Desktop Memory Model F4-2666C15Q-16GRR (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231797)
Item #: N82E16820231797 $294.99

1 ASRock X99 WS LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813157536) Item #: N82E16813157536$323.99

1 Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - Full Version (32 & 64-bit) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16832416711)
Item #: N82E16832416711 $199.99

1 Noctua NH-D14 120mm & 140mm SSO CPU Cooler (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835608018)
Item #: N82E16835608018 -$21.00 Instant $99.99 $78.99

1 Cooler Master HAF X - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with Windowed Side Panel and USB 3.0 Ports (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811119225)
Item #: N82E16811119225 -$10.00 Instant $20.00 Mail-in Rebate Card (http://images10.newegg.com/uploadfilesfornewegg/rebate/SH/CoolerMaster11-119-225Sep01Sep3014rw21.pdf)
$199.99 $189.99

1 Cooler Master MegaFlow 200 - Sleeve Bearing 200mm Silent Fan for Computer Cases (Black) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835103178)
Item #: N82E16835103178 $25.99 $19.99
Subtotal: $2,037.92

[mesaone]

Noctua is what my first choice would be, but my only Haswell build is a laptop ☺ so I can't give you a definitive answer re: X99

If noise is a concern for you, like it is for me, maybe ditch the HAF case and go for a Fractal R4

[ValkRider]

Noctua is what my first choice would be, but my only Haswell build is a laptop ☺ so I can't give you a definitive answer re: X99

If noise is a concern for you, like it is for me, maybe ditch the HAF case and go for a Fractal R4

Yes, I will really look into a different case , room noise is an issue.
You have me thinking, being this isn't a big azz gamer build maybe a mid tower case like the Fractal would do the job.
As long as the Fractal can handle 4 hard drives and the SSD I'm good to go. Oops, forgot a DVD burner also.
I don't need a big honkin video card and only one of those of course. The only other pcie slot I will use for now is for the firewire.
My current (small) video card is passively cooled (heat sink only).
I'm not doing video work with Pro tools and outside of watching tutorials on dvd or something like that I can go with something moderate even if I have to change what I have.

Well it's fun planning this out either way.

[guitardom]

I do appreciate your feedback as I know you are pretty tech savy.
Common sense would lead me to believe that all that cool software by manufacturers is nothing but trouble as it often has been in the past.

Like everyone else I want stability for PT. I would install a medium grade graphics card and maybe leave the windows 7 Aero feature on.
I would have a SSD for the O.S. and spinners for the rest.
I am considering Windows 8.1 as long as I can adjust the interface to my liking.
I have a PCIe firewire card now so that will move over along with my hard drives.

The big kicker as you said is the memory. My thinking was to just get 16 gig to start with and then when the better memory becomes available then ratchet up to say 64gig. Hell I'm working with 8 gigs of mem now so 16 teamed up with a new super system things should fly for me.

Water cooling is the only thing I have not messed with. Seems like the Corsair company makes nice systems. Liquid and electronics just makes me nervous. Seems like the new chips draw a lot of juice so I am guessing water cooling is the safest bet in the long run.
Being I'm not gaming then maybe air cooling could work???

I priced most everything out and I think I can get a system in place for approx. $1750-$2000 if I keep the memory costs down.

My last thing is a new computer case, just not sure what to get.
I have a old cube style case with split areas for the drives and M.Board but it isn't built to accommodate liquid cooling. I think it an old LianLi Cube.

Either way let us know how your system performs if you do any optimizations. I see you didn't change any bios settings for your new build and that is cool because it was highly recommended with previous generations of equipment. Have you tried any xmp O.C. profiles for your memory on the new rig?

Thanks again for any info you can share and or suggestions.
Lou

Leaving aero on does not have to do with computer capability, vid card, or power, but issues it causes with PT. It should be off regardless.

Memory should be purchased in quad sets for this system. Finding a quad of quality 2gb sticks is not very easy.

I prefer water as i can keep my ambient system temps down lower than w an air cooler. They are trickier to install properly for airflow though and require a lot of room. My cores idling on the 5820k are in the high 20's, so extremely low, so it doesnt have to be running hot. My Oc'd 4790k's run hotter.

Cases are tough. The one you picked out i really like. Functionality wise it smokes the R4 but no idea how it would be noise wise.

Dont skimp out and reuse power supplys. They are a vital piece of the puzzle and the most prone to go out. The magic of a psu going out is that they occasionally take other components out with them. I will replace mine about every 2 years or so and have a spare in the closet.

Havent messed with Oc'ing it. Bios's are being released regularly for ithem since they are new so just leaving it for now since it resets on updates.

[8dB.co.uk]

Fractal Arc Midi is a great case - 8 drive bays and room for water Cooling

[ValkRider]

Leaving aero on does not have to do with computer capability, vid card, or power, but issues it causes with PT. It should be off regardless.

Memory should be purchased in quad sets for this system. Finding a quad of quality 2gb sticks is not very easy.

I prefer water as i can keep my ambient system temps down lower than w an air cooler. They are trickier to install properly for airflow though and require a lot of room. My cores idling on the 5820k are in the high 20's, so extremely low, so it doesnt have to be running hot. My Oc'd 4790k's run hotter.

Cases are tough. The one you picked out i really like. Functionality wise it smokes the R4 but no idea how it would be noise wise.

Dont skimp out and reuse power supplys. They are a vital piece of the puzzle and the most prone to go out. The magic of a psu going out is that they occasionally take other components out with them. I will replace mine about every 2 years or so and have a spare in the closet.

Havent messed with Oc'ing it. Bios's are being released regularly for ithem since they are new so just leaving it for now since it resets on updates.


Great input about the Aero functionality, off it is.

Should all 8 memory slots be populated?
I thought maybe using only 4 slots until memory availability shakes itself out would be ok.
If I have to populate all 8 slots, I'll need to think that through some.

I can understand the PSU thinking also. In the end it is cheap insurance and I always go for a larger power supply, not a place to skimp.
Oh! if you know a quiet and beefy PSU supply let me know.

I have always liked a big case for flexibility and for room to work.
I have a big old Cosmos1 case for my game computer, older model now
but I love it . Once I decide that I will drop the cash for this I'll really take the time to detail everything out. Especially peripheral case cooling fans. I want quiet.

Again, thanks for the input.

[Natanel Arnson]

I'm about to do a build, i originally planned to go with a 3930k, just cause its awesome. But on the other hand, z87 chipset is more future proof. Is the i7 4770 good enough for heavy VI streaming?

[zedhed]

I've never fancied myself a trail blazer but an unexpected opportunity has arisen enabling my business to allow me the extravagance of building a new computer so I wasted no time in running out to buy the components and put it together.

Pro Tools is not yet installed but so far this thing is 'smokin!' fast and seriously quiet. In fact with the spinners not yet installed (SSD's only) I can hardly even hear it running. It's my first foray into Win 8 (8.1) and I can't say that I like it much. I may go back to Win7 but I'll wait until I've installed PT and see how it goes before doing so.

Here is the build;
Gigabyte X99 SOC Force Mobo
http://www.gigabyte.co.nz/products/product-page.aspx?pid=5129#ov

Intel® Core™ i7-5930K Processor (15M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz)
http://ark.intel.com/products/82931

Crucial (4x8) 32GB DDR4 RAM CT8G4DFD8213 UDIMM 288-pin 2133MT/s
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct8g4dfd8213

Cooler Master heatsink Hyper 612 PWM
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-612-pwm/

Cooler Master V750 Semi-Modular Power supply
http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/gaming-v-sm-series/v750s/

Cooler Master Centurion 6 Tower case
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/centurion6/

EVGA GeForce GTX750 Graphics
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-2758-KR

3 x Samsung 840 Pro SSD (1 each: System, Audio, Samples)
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/uk/html/about/SSD840Pro.html

3x 1TB WD Caviar Black 64mb cache HDD

So, now off to install HDN card and install PT. I'll report back on progress.

[albee1952]

I've never fancied myself a trail blazer but an unexpected opportunity has arisen enabling my business to allow me the extravagance of building a new computer so I wasted no time in running out to buy the components and put it together.

Pro Tools is not yet installed but so far this thing is 'smokin!' fast and seriously quiet. In fact with the spinners not yet installed (SSD's only) I can hardly even hear it running. It's my first foray into Win 8 (8.1) and I can't say that I like it much. I may go back to Win7 but I'll wait until I've installed PT and see how it goes before doing so.

Here is the build;
Gigabyte X99 SOC Force Mobo
http://wccftech.com/gigabyte-x99-soc-force-motherboard-unveiled-flagship-oc-board-fitted-oc-panel/

Intel® Core™ i7-5930K Processor (15M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz)
http://ark.intel.com/products/82931

Crucial (4x8) 32GB DDR4 RAM CT8G4DFD8213 UDIMM 288-pin 2133MT/s
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct8g4dfd8213

Cooler Master heatsink Hyper 612 PWM
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-612-pwm/

Cooler Master V750 Semi-Modular Power supply
http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/gaming-v-sm-series/v750s/

Cooler Master Centurion 6 Tower case
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/centurion6/

EVGA GeForce GTX750 Graphics
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-2758-KR

3 x Samsung 840 Pro SSD (1 each: System, Audio, Samples)
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/uk/html/about/SSD840Pro.html

3x 1TB WD Caviar Black 64mb cache HDD

So, now off to install HDN card and install PT. I'll report back on progress.
Yes, please do. Am still thinking about an X79 build as I KNOW it'll work. But this looks very promising:D

[Natanel Arnson]

I've never fancied myself a trail blazer but ....



Wow, monster build :D Hope it goes well

[mesaone]

It's my first foray into Win 8 (8.1) and I can't say that I like it much. I may go back to Win7 but I'll wait until I've installed PT and see how it goes before doing so.

Pro Tools HD 11.2.1 running smoothly on Windows 8.1 here, but I haven't yet put it through its paces. As far as acclimating to Win8, it's fairly easy... You don't even have to use the "metro" UI, you can arrange it to boot straight to desktop.

Win8 boots fast. So fast that you might have trouble getting into BIOS, since the window of opportunity is so slim. 8 seconds from cold start to desktop here. I'm using an 840 EVO boot drive, so yours will be faster.

[zedhed]

WOW, that was the fastest and easiest install I've ever had with PT. (PTHD v11-2-1) So far I've tested the demo track and all is good.

I timed from pressing the computer boot button to having an open session...50 seconds!:eek::eek: If I didn't have a password to Login it would be quicker.

I have yet to install plugins/instruments etc.

BTW, no optimizations done yet.

Yes Albee, I've done my first system backup :D

[Brandonx1]

Just finished me new build. Pt 11.2.1, Windows 8.1 pro, ASUS x99-e WS, 5960x @ 4.4Ghz 32 gigs ram. d-verb 1100 and room to spare. I could crank this thing to 1200, I know it.

[albee1952]

Just finished me new build. Pt 11.2.1, Windows 8.1 pro, ASUS x99-e WS, 5960x @ 4.4Ghz 32 gigs ram. d-verb 1100 and room to spare. I could crank this thing to 1200, I know it.

We need a full parts list for this one:D

[guitardom]

I'm about to do a build, i originally planned to go with a 3930k, just cause its awesome. But on the other hand, z87 chipset is more future proof. Is the i7 4770 good enough for heavy VI streaming?

The 3930k will have over twice the power of a 4770. The latter does have newer technology, but for pure horsepower it is not close.

[guitardom]

I've never fancied myself a trail blazer but an unexpected opportunity has arisen enabling my business to allow me the extravagance of building a new computer so I wasted no time in running out to buy the components and put it together.

Pro Tools is not yet installed but so far this thing is 'smokin!' fast and seriously quiet. In fact with the spinners not yet installed (SSD's only) I can hardly even hear it running. It's my first foray into Win 8 (8.1) and I can't say that I like it much. I may go back to Win7 but I'll wait until I've installed PT and see how it goes before doing so.

Here is the build;
Gigabyte X99 SOC Force Mobo
http://wccftech.com/gigabyte-x99-soc-force-motherboard-unveiled-flagship-oc-board-fitted-oc-panel/

Intel® Core™ i7-5930K Processor (15M Cache, up to 3.70 GHz)
http://ark.intel.com/products/82931

Crucial (4x8) 32GB DDR4 RAM CT8G4DFD8213 UDIMM 288-pin 2133MT/s
http://www.crucial.com/usa/en/ct8g4dfd8213

Cooler Master heatsink Hyper 612 PWM
http://www.coolermaster.com/cooling/cpu-air-cooler/hyper-612-pwm/

Cooler Master V750 Semi-Modular Power supply
http://www.coolermaster.com/powersupply/gaming-v-sm-series/v750s/

Cooler Master Centurion 6 Tower case
http://www.coolermaster.com/case/mid-tower/centurion6/

EVGA GeForce GTX750 Graphics
http://www.evga.com/Products/Product.aspx?pn=02G-P4-2758-KR

3 x Samsung 840 Pro SSD (1 each: System, Audio, Samples)
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/minisite/SSD/uk/html/about/SSD840Pro.html

3x 1TB WD Caviar Black 64mb cache HDD

So, now off to install HDN card and install PT. I'll report back on progress.

You did get 8.1 pro?? The standard version will only recognize up to 16gb of ram.

[zedhed]

You did get 8.1 pro?? The standard version will only recognize up to 16gb of ram.

Yes of course :D

[Natanel Arnson]

The 3930k will have over twice the power of a 4770. The latter does have newer technology, but for pure horsepower it is not close.

Thank you

[Brandonx1]

We need a full parts list for this one:D

Asus x99-e WS
5960x
32gigs Skill Rapjaws 2666 DDR4
Corsair h100
Full Tower case
1000watt silent PSU
Quadro 1800 video
Samsung xp941 SSD
2 3tb spinner hard drives
HDX 1, Omni, 192 digital, sync HD PT 11.2.1
Thunderbolt EXII/Dual

Geekbench 31900 beats a NMP by a lot (12 core is only 27000).

[philip888]

Shan what do you guys think about the i7 980 Extreme?
I can get a pretty good deal on one.
Might get me another year out of my x58 gigabyte board.

[guitardom]

Shan what do you guys think about the i7 980 Extreme?
I can get a pretty good deal on one.
Might get me another year out of my x58 gigabyte board.

Its the 6 core of this series if I am not mistaken. It is going to have quite a bump of power over your 950, but still a bit old in comparison to more modern cpu's. My x58 had been moved to my home theater pc a couple years back when I built my 3930k. It finally just had enough and has been acting wonky. Its sitting on a desk right now trying to get the nerve to pitch it in the can....

[guitardom]

Asus x99-e WS
5960x
32gigs Skill Rapjaws 2666 DDR4
Corsair h100
Full Tower case
1000watt silent PSU
Quadro 1800 video
Samsung xp941 SSD
2 3tb spinner hard drives
HDX 1, Omni, 192 digital, sync HD PT 11.2.1
Thunderbolt EXII/Dual

Geekbench 31900 beats a NMP by a lot (12 core is only 27000).

I am jealous!!!! cant wait to get one built! :cool:

[mesaone]

The 3930k will have over twice the power of a 4770. The latter does have newer technology, but for pure horsepower it is not close.
It doesn't look that way on paper, aside from pcie lanes... Could you expand on this?

[guitardom]

It doesn't look that way on paper, aside from pcie lanes... Could you expand on this?

I tested an overclocked 4790k a couple days ago I built side by side with my 3930k and a new 5820k I had just built.

The 3930k and 5820k are almost identical. posted the info in a few posts up.

The 3930k and 5820k were almost twice the power of the OC'd (to 4.2hz) 4790k doing multiple tests in Pro Tools.

The 4790k Oc'd is going to be a decent amount more power than a 4770.

In reality it will have OVER twice the power.

[mesaone]

Thanks. I wasn't prepared for such a disparity between the real-world performance comparison and the specs comparison. This just reminds me that impulse buying computer parts is a huge no-no.

[philip888]

Its the 6 core of this series if I am not mistaken. It is going to have quite a bump of power over your 950, but still a bit old in comparison to more modern cpu's. My x58 had been moved to my home theater pc a couple years back when I built my 3930k. It finally just had enough and has been acting wonky. Its sitting on a desk right now trying to get the nerve to pitch it in the can....


Yea you can overclock these pretty well I am finding out.
I think this will get me through next year and then once the prices have come down on the newest stuff I will make a new build.

[Natanel Arnson]

I tested an overclocked 4790k a couple days ago I built side by side with my 3930k and a new 5820k I had just built.

The 3930k and 5820k are almost identical. posted the info in a few posts up.

The 3930k and 5820k were almost twice the power of the OC'd (to 4.2hz) 4790k doing multiple tests in Pro Tools.

The 4790k Oc'd is going to be a decent amount more power than a 4770.

In reality it will have OVER twice the power.

Great, thanks for letting us know

I'm gonna go with the 4930k in the end, as it's a bit better than the 3930k, for a cheaper price on amazon. 3930k can only be found from private sellers, which is prob why it's more expensive.

[Natanel Arnson]

I tested an overclocked 4790k a couple days ago I built side by side with my 3930k and a new 5820k I had just built.

The 3930k and 5820k are almost identical. posted the info in a few posts up.



Really?! The 3930k(or 4930k) is $200 more

[YYR123]

3930k can only be found from private sellers, which is prob why it's more expensive.


3930k's have always been pricy - they retailed at over $500 for most of the time it was in production.

You can check that info on geekbench as well

[guitardom]

Yea you can overclock these pretty well I am finding out.
I think this will get me through next year and then once the prices have come down on the newest stuff I will make a new build.

The only thing I would expect to drop in price is the ddr4 ram. Everything else is consistent with the pricing levels of the last few years.

[guitardom]

Really?! The 3930k(or 4930k) is $200 more

It is the difference in 2 generations. The modern match to the 3930k is the 5930k. The 3820 has now evolved to the 5820. All things being comparable (matching sandy gen to haswell gen part for part) we would be talking about the 3930k and the 5930k, but as things have progressed, all the newer gen is getting faster and more powerful and is matching up to the older and higher end processors. Moores law in action!! :cool:

[guitardom]

Great, thanks for letting us know

I'm gonna go with the 4930k in the end, as it's a bit better than the 3930k, for a cheaper price on amazon. 3930k can only be found from private sellers, which is prob why it's more expensive.

I might price out a 5820k system If I were you. The Price difference in the processors could go towards the ram difference and you would have a more modern supported system including the new Sata protocols and a TB expansion port just in case for the future on many boards.

[Natanel Arnson]

I might price out a 5820k system If I were you. The Price difference in the processors could go towards the ram difference and you would have a more modern supported system including the new Sata protocols and a TB expansion port just in case for the future on many boards.

Interesting. I may do just that, considering like you said, the 5820k being equal, and at a much cheaper price

[zedhed]

I'll report back on progress.

Yes, please do. Am still thinking about an X79 build as I KNOW it'll work. But this looks very promising:D

Hey Albee, so far so good. Everything to do with PT has installed and is working properly to date...no glitches whatsoever. I have to say this is a quantum leap from the x58, it feels like racing down the autobahn in a Mercedes benz :D

[guitardom]

Hey Albee, so far so good. Everything to do with PT has installed and is working properly to date...no glitches whatsoever. I have to say this is a quantum leap from the x58, it feels like racing down the autobahn in a Mercedes benz :D

the 3930k was way over twice the power of the x58 920. Going from it to the 5930k has to be a beautiful thing for you!!!

My home theater pc I just used a lower end 400 series processor that still had almost the same specs of the x58 920, only it was less than 100$ :D

[zedhed]

Progress to date is excellent....absolutely stable. It's been over a week now and I have had no issues at all. Super Quick startup, everything snappy during record/Edit/mix and fast shutdown.

In saying that, the only third party plugins being used at moment are Spectrasonics Omnisphere & Trillion, Superior Drummer and Lexicon PCM Reverb bundle. Also using Avid Pro Compressor/Limiter/Expander.

The above mentioned plugins are the only ones installed (apart from those that come with PT). Pro Tools 10 is not Co-installed.

No Dverb test done yet as I wanted to do endurance test first. At this point I'll say the intel x99 platform is nothing short of outstanding.:D

[zedhed]

Deverb 2.0 test done (exactly as specified):

No over-clocking, RAM timing set to Auto, No BIOS tweaks (Mobo bios set to default) @3.5GHz

1024 Buffer ....605 (121 Tracks x5)
CPU (Total) .....96%

Funny thing is I’m surfing the web while listening to the tone being recorded as well switching to type this info in Microsoft Word with all open at the same time....LOL :D

Now I'm off to bed with that bloody tone ringing in my ears. I don't know if it's the uninterrupted tone or the excitement that's raised my blood pressure.

BTW: this computer is seriously quiet.

[Shan]

Deverb 2.0 test done (exactly as specified):

No over-clocking, RAM timing set to Auto, No BIOS tweaks (Mobo bios set to default) @3.5GHz

1024 Buffer ....605 (121 Tracks x5)
CPU (Total) .....96%

Funny thing is I’m surfing the web while listening to the tone being recorded as well switching to type this info in Microsoft Word with all open at the same time....LOL :D

Now I'm off to bed with that bloody tone ringing in my ears. I don't know if it's the uninterrupted tone or the excitement that's raised my blood pressure.

BTW: this computer is seriously quiet.

Nice! Congrats on the new system.

Shane

[Natanel Arnson]

My custom pc is up and running!!!!! Ridiculous speed :D

Computer
Model : OEM
Serial Number : To Be Fille***********
Chassis : Desktop
Mainboard : ASRock X79 Extreme6
Serial Number : E80-440********
BIOS : AMI (OEM) P3.00 01/24/2014
Total Memory : 32GB DIMM DDR3

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4930K CPU @ 3.40GHz (6C 12T 3.9GHz, 3.9GHz IMC, 6x 256kB L2, 12MB L3)
Socket/Slot : FC LGA2011

Chipset
Memory Controller : ASRock Core (Ivy Bridge-E) DMI2 100MHz
Memory Controller : ASRock Core (Ivy Bridge-E) Integrated Memory Controller 0 Target Address/Thermal Registers 100MHz, 4x 8GB DIMM DDR3 8.4GHz 256-bit

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston KHX1600C9D38G 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-27 5-39-12-6)
Memory Module : Kingston KHX1600C9D38G 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-27 5-39-12-6)
Memory Module : Kingston KHX1600C9D38G 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-27 5-39-12-6)
Memory Module : Kingston KHX1600C9D38G 8GB DIMM DDR3 PC3-12800U DDR3-1600 (9-9-9-27 5-39-12-6)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : ACI VG248
(1920x1080, 30.2")
Video Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (5CU 640SP SM5.0 1.16GHz/1.44GHz, 2MB L2, 2GB 5.4GHz 128-bit, PCIe 2.00 x16)

Graphics Processor
OpenCL GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (640SP 5C 1.16GHz/1.44GHz, 2MB L2, 2GB 5.4GHz 128-bit)
Compute Shader Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (640SP 5C 1.16GHz/1.44GHz, 2MB L2, 2GB 5.4GHz 128-bit)
CUDA GP Processor : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (640SP 5C 1.16GHz/1.44GHz, 2MB L2, 2GB 5.4GHz 128-bit)

Storage Devices
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB (500.1GB, SATA600, SSD) : 466GB (C:)
WDC WD10EZEX-08M2NA0 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 932GB (E:)
Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB (500.1GB, SATA600, SSD) : 466GB (D:)
WDC WD10JMVW-11AJGS0 (1TB, USB2/SATA300, 5400rpm, 8MB Cache) : 932GB (F:)
HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22NS30 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (G:)

Logical Storage Devices
Data : 100MB (NTFS)
New Volume (E:) : 932GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD10EZEX-08M2NA0 (1TB, SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)
Samsung SSD (D:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB (500.1GB, SATA600, SSD)
East West CCC 2 (F:) : 931GB (NTFS) @ WDC WD10JMVW-11AJGS0 (1TB, USB2/SATA300, 5400rpm, 8MB Cache)
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ Samsung SSD 840 EVO 500GB (500.1GB, SATA600, SSD)
Optical Drive (G:) : N/A @ HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22NS30 (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)


Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom NetLink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet (Ethernet, 1Gbps)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 6.01.7601 (Service Pack 1)
Platform Compliance : x64

Windows Experience Index
Current System : 1.0

[Natanel Arnson]

Funny thing is I’m surfing the web while listening to the tone being recorded as well switching to type this info in Microsoft Word with all open at the same time....LOL :D



Haha, i have the same thing. It's so weird to be able to do stuff while bouncing, instead of stepping 3 feet away from my computer, lest i hit a key and the whole thing crash.

[zedhed]

Glad you're up & running....congrats!

I'm loving every minute using PT now. It hasn't always been that way.

I've had no problems whatsoever and it's nice to be able to multitask if the need arises while having PT open as well.

[jeffdumps]

Here is what I have put together on Newegg for about $1000.
Do you guys see any issues I might be overlooking here? Please comment.
I will take your input into consideration and revise my build if there are any items that could be improved or may be problematic.

I plan on running PT 11 with my Eleven Rack. I'll probably use drum loops, guitar recording and maybe one or two virtual instruments. I would probably record 2 simultaneous stereo tracks maximum, but most likely 1 stereo and 1 mono simultaneously.

Some things I am not sure about:
Windows version? Should I get 8.1 Pro or stick with 7?
Is 8 gigs enough RAM?
Do you really need a solid state HD? Are the results very noticeable?
Should I cool with a fan or some other liquid type cooler?

Thanks, Jeff

Build:
WD BLACK SERIES WD1003FZEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
iStarUSA D-313SE-MATX Black Aluminum / Steel 3U Rackmount Compact Industrial
ASUS Z97-PRO LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2 220-G2-0750-XR 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified
Full Modular Power Supply Intel 4th Gen CPU Compatible 10 Year Warranty
Intel Core i7-4790K Haswell Quad-Core 4.0GHz LGA 1150 Desktop Processor
G.SKILL Trident X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2400 (PC3 19200)
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit
Enermax ETS-T40-TB CPU Cooler With T.B.SILENCE PWM Twister Bearing Fan Compatible with latest
Intel 2011/1150 and AMD FM2/FM1/AM3+

[albee1952]

My 2 cents:
Some things I am not sure about:
Windows version? Should I get 8.1 Pro or stick with 7? Shouldn't matter but 7 might be easier(and 10 is on the horizon:eek:)
Is 8 gigs enough RAM? No-16GB minimum or 32to "future-proof" it(or 64 if you have the cash:D)
Do you really need a solid state HD? Are the results very noticeable? Maybe-if cash is tight, buy a spinner. With the RIGHT SSD, the machine can boot much faster and open programs somewhat faster, but if you are not used to it, then you won't notice a non-change:o Buy the WRONG SSD and you wasted your money(learned the hard way):rolleyes:
Should I cool with a fan or some other liquid type cooler? Either is fine. Some are quieter. If noise matters, look for a quiet solution.

[Shan]

Some things I am not sure about:
Windows version? Should I get 8.1 Pro or stick with 7?
Is 8 gigs enough RAM?


Avid recommends 16GB (http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/compatibility/Pro-Tools-HD-11-System-Requirements) or more. Only NVIDIA graphics cards are supported (http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en422339?popup=true). I myself would stick with Windows 7.

Shane

[zedhed]

Personally, I can't speak highly enough of an SSD drive. If you don't get one, you won't notice the difference as Albee said. But if you do, you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier. ;)

The Samsung 840 EVO or PRO series SSDs are great.

[albee1952]

The Samsung 840 EVO or PRO series SSDs are great.
Yep...wish I bought one of THOSE;)

[jeffdumps]

Personally, I can't speak highly enough of an SSD drive. If you don't get one, you won't notice the difference as Albee said. But if you do, you'll wonder why you didn't do it earlier. ;)

The Samsung 840 EVO or PRO series SSDs are great.

I've noticed some people use a smaller SSD along with a larger spinner. I take it most people are using the SSD for OS and PT and the spinner for session data?

[zedhed]

I've noticed some people use a smaller SSD along with a larger spinner. I take it most people are using the SSD for OS and PT and the spinner for session data?

Correct.

Though I went all out & got SSD for system, recording & samples...why...because I got a good deal on them. Having a mobo that supports fast transfer rates between the three makes PT performance EXCEPTIONAL!

[CME]

You can get 500gb SSD's for less than $200. I paid that for a used 160gb a couple of years ago. At this rate everyone should have an SSD at least for their system drive.

[jeffdumps]

Okay, from all the input from everyone I've finally settled. I plan on using a 500gb spinner from my old computer in conjunction with this setup. I saved a few bucks by sticking with 1600mhz RAM and using the OEM cooling fan with the CPU. I may add another 2x8gb RAM later. Went with the SSD! It ran me about $1400 with shipping to Alaska and two cheap monitors. It should be here for a weekend build! Thanks everyone again for the recommendations and feedback!

Acer S220HQLAbd Black 21.5" 5ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor
iStarUSA D-313SE-MATX Black Aluminum / Steel 3U Rackmount Compact Industrial Chassis - Black Bezel
EVGA 120-G1-0650-XR 650W ATX12V / EPS12V 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Power Supply
ASUS Z97-PRO LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-4790K Haswell Quad-Core 4.0GHz LGA 1150 Desktop Processor BX80646I74790K
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Profile Desktop
NVIDIA® Quadro® K600 VCQK600-PB 1GB GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Workstation Video Card
SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 1x nm Samsung Toggle DDR 2.0 3-Bit MLC NAND Flash Memory (400Mbps) Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - OEM

[zedhed]

Good luck with your build and let us know how it goes.

[jeffdumps]

Good luck with your build and let us know how it goes.

Well it's up and running! I'm happy so far - for the first time in 10 years I have been able to record audio on my computer with ZERO problems with latency or computing power issues! The SSD is really quick and I am glad I took the advice. I didn't know they sell the drive bay bracket separately but I made it work without it. My 3U case was a little cramped in the front, so it was like a puzzle trying to get everything in there. The PSU fan is pointing down with about 2" of space between it and the bottom of the case, but there is ventilation on the back corner and seems to be doing just fine. My 250GB spinner is not being recognized in BIOS, so I think I need to plug it in on a different SATA connector and try that. The sound quality it amazing, there's no real lag in PT so I'm really happy about that.

I would like to post my dverb test results for everyone to see. I think I am following the instructions on the i7 build thread - set up is done, tone generated on the first track, mono dverb on all 5 inserts on track 2, duplicate track 2. etc... Is the point to see how many duplicate tracks you can record on simultaneously while keeping the tone un-interrupted? When I record the dverb tracks, is there no input on the tracks, basically record nothing?

[Shan]

Is the point to see how many duplicate tracks you can record on simultaneously while keeping the tone un-interrupted?

You want to achieve an uninterrupted tone along with seeing how far you can go until your CPU maxes out.

When I record the dverb tracks, is there no input on the tracks, basically record nothing?

Just use the default settings that get created automatically when you create the audio track. You're not recording any audio per se, hence you'll see flat lined waveforms on all your audio tracks. Congrats on the new system!

Shane

[Jerry K.]

I am getting ready to do a new build and I am looking for some advice. I have read through the last 15ish pages and there is some great info but I am still a little confused. With so many options to choose from, how can I narrow down my search for a Intel i7/MB combo. I want high performance but would like to buy wherever the price break point is between cutting edge and still very good ($600ish). Maybe the better question is what is it that I don't want to consider and what is an absolute must, in regards to the CPU and also the MB. I am running the latest PT and waves. I have been using windows 8.1 x64 but I am pretty sure I am going to go back to Win 7 x64.

Thanks in advance!

[SixBladeKnife]

X99 Build!

I just ordered the rest of my components for an X99 build. Very excited to put this machine together. I probably went a hair overboard. In the back of my mind I think I've tricked myself into believing if I buy nice guitars and components that I'll make better music (which it total bullcrap of course) :D

Hopefully this results in a stable ProTools 11 build. Came in a hair under $2,150. (Already had one of the displays)


Core i7-5820k
Gigabyte GA-X99
Crucial Ballistix Sport 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2400
SAMSUNG 850 Pro 256GB - Windows 8.1 Pro - For Protools
2 x WD Black Series 1TB
2 x Asus VX279Q
Gigabyte GV-N750OC-2GI G-SYNC Support GeForce GTX 750 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDCP
Fractal Design Define R4 Black Pearl
Noctua NH-D14 SE2011
Corsair HX Series HX850
ASUS Black Blu-ray Burner
Intel 530 Series 120GB - Just an extra cheap SSD for Linux
Logitech K270 Keyboard
Asus PCE-N15 Wireless Adapter

[ButterFace]

X99 Build!

I just ordered the rest of my components for an X99 build. Very excited to put this machine together. I probably went a hair overboard. In the back of my mind I think I've tricked myself into believing if I buy nice guitars and components that I'll make better music (which it total bullcrap of course) :D



No, it's true. You WILL make better music. It's been well documented in this thread over the years.

I've been planning a similar build for some time now. Perhaps you will inspire me to finally take the plunge. Good luck on your build let us know how you're progressing.

[mykhal c]

posted Brandonx1's new X99 build on page 1...;) SUPA DUPA!!!:D

[JebHiatt]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to build a rig to run PT 11. This will be my first build ever, so I could really use some advice. Here's what I have so far:

Processor:
Intel Core i7-4790K Haswell Quad-Core 4.0GHz LGA 1150 Desktop Processor BX80646I74790K

Motherboard:
ASUS SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK1 LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

RAM:
G.SKILL Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory Model F3-1866C9D-16GSR

SSD:
Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Hard Drive:
HGST Deskstar NAS H3IKNAS40003272SN (0S03664) 4TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" High-Performance Hard Drive for Desktop NAS Systems Bare Drive

Video Card:
NVIDIA® Quadro® K2000 VCQK2000-PB 2GB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card

Disc Drive:
LG Black Blu-ray Drive SATA Model UH12NS30 - OEM

Power Supply:
CORSAIR RM Series RM850 850W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Corsair RM850 Power Supply

Case:
Xigmatek Assassin II CCM-45ABX-U01 Black SECC ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Cooling System:
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120 mm PWM Fan

Wireless Card:
Intel 7260HMWDTX1 PCIe x1 Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 for Desktop

Any problems I'm not aware of or parts that I'm missing?

[mesaone]

Motherboard only supports dual-channel. At this price point, you can find one that supports quad channel.

Video card is way overkill for just PT.

I don't know anything about that HGST hard drive, maybe someone can chime in about it.

Any particular reason you're going with a wireless card, instead of running some cat 5e? Wifi can pose a problem for Pro Tools in some configurations.

[JebHiatt]

What exactly would be the benefit of quad channel over dual channel?

I thought the card might be a little much for just Pro Tools, but I would also like to be able to play games on fairly high settings.

As for the wireless card, my living situation at the moment prevents me from running wires from the router to the computer, so it's either wireless or nothing.

[mesaone]

http://www.legitreviews.com/ddr3-memory-performance-analysis-on-intel-x79_1779/3

You can get great gaming performance for less cost, the Quadro series is meant more for rendering than for gaming. Try a Geforce card, which will offer you better gaming performance and also save you some money. Like this one for $169 after rebate, and is quiet: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125556

[tatothekid426]

Can anyone give advice on which of these two graphic cards would be more recommended for my new pc:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4069#ov

http://www.evga.com/products/Specs/GPU.aspx?pn=5abfe4f7-78a0-4cf8-98ac-d1b6578aff4c

PC spcs:

Asus Sabertooth x79
Intel Core i7-3820
32 GB Corsair Vengeance memory
Zalman CNPS9900 Max CPU Cooler
Antec P280 case
Zalman ZM750-XG GoldRock PSU
SSD 256 Gb Samsung 840 HD
Windows 7 Pro 64

Thanks in advance

[mesaone]

GT640 if you plan to connect 3 monitors, 550ti if you want to connect 2 monitors. The 550ti seems to have a much better heatsink and fan.

[tatothekid426]

GT640 if you plan to connect 3 monitors, 550ti if you want to connect 2 monitors. The 550ti seems to have a much better heatsink and fan.

Great. I'll try the 550ti. Thanks for the info.

[Michael Carpenter]

I'm just starting to gather info, with the help of a friend, to do a new build. I'm currently on a Macbook Pro, using a Thunderbolt HD interface. So i need to incorporate Thunderbolt into my build. I was a PC guy for a long time, and while the Macbook Pro has been fantastic, and simple, i'm keen to see where PC's are at these days.

My friend has suggested this guy to get things going. Anything i should be aware of? GA-Z97X-UD7 TH

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4995#ov

Thanks in advance..

MC

[mesaone]

Anything i should be aware of?

Before you continue, make sure your interface will work with the build. I don't know what's what in the world of PC Thunderbolt 2, but you should probably check if there are Windows drivers for your interface.

[Brandonx1]

You can also use new x99 motherboards from asus. They support thunderbolt.

[CME]

You can also use new x99 motherboards from asus. They support thunderbolt.


I've been researching a build. I've always been a fan of the x58-x79-x99 boards. But with the cost of the parts, and power of z87/97 builds, it makes it hard to decide. I'll probably eventually go to x99 route. It's hard to argue with the ability to support 15-18 or more cores. ;)

[Brandonx1]

I've been researching a build. I've always been a fan of the x58-x79-x99 boards. But with the cost of the parts, and power of z87/97 builds, it makes it hard to decide. I'll probably eventually go to x99 route. It's hard to argue with the ability to support 15-18 or more cores. ;)

You can just use a 5820k i7. 380 bucks. Ddr4 is gettin cheager too.

[Michael Carpenter]

Great point mesaone. Is there a Thunderbolt driver for Windows? Didn't think of that..

[CME]

You can just use a 5820k i7. 380 bucks. Ddr4 is gettin cheager too.


Yep. And that's the proc I'm looking at. But the mobo's cost $300+, and still need an add-in tb card. But if I could someday score a 12-18 core xeon to drop in it. It would last me for a very very long time lol.

[knandermueller]

Hey Guys,

I'm back after 5 years having built my first successful rig based off of specs on this thread back when it was new (thanks to all the guys again who helped me out back then, it's been a hell of a run). I'm still dragging a 002 behind me trying to get the most out of it before I upgrade to something a little less "all in one", (separate pre's, control surface, I/O) etc. I'm looking for a future proof system (another 5 years would be nice) that I can still use my 002 on for the next 18 months or so, but then will support something a little more current (looking to the thunderbolt capability in the pipeline) I'm running PT 10 right now, but have the upgrade to 11 queued up for when I leave the 002. I was looking at Jeffdumps build liking the specs and wondering if anyone could think of any reason why I would have issues running a 002 on something similar in the short term.

I'd really like to go with the 4790K, and the ASUS Z97 Pro. I have an Intel 730 240 GB SSD I picked up for a song on black friday for the OS, as well as some Kingston SSDs for sessions, I'd probably get new RAM, keep my old case (Antec 900) and power supply (Corsair 750 Watt), monitors, Caviar Blacks etc. I looked back a ton of pages and it looks like most people running similar configs are using the Eleven Rack. Any insights into whether I would have issues with a 002? I figured I would just pop a Texas Instruments firewire card in the system for my connectivity with the expectation that the thunderbolt header on the Z97 or USB3 will carry me through my next upgrade. As old as it is, the 002 is still a workhorse that meets my needs, and unfortunately, I can't afford to upgrade both my computer and my interface at the same time.

Incidentally I was thinking of trying to just use the onboard Intel HD4600 graphics since I don't use the system for anything else and it would save money and noise, anyone else have luck taking that approach, or do most of you use separate graphics cards?

I definitely love to hear what you guys think.

[philip888]

There are current no Windows drivers for Thunderbolt.

[Emcha_audio]

There ARE thunderbolt drivers for windows.

http://techremedy.co.nz/win/thunderbolt-driver-win8/

and

http://support.asus.com/download.aspx?SLanguage=en&p=1&s=29&m=Rampage%20III%20Black%20Edition&os=30&hashedid=9lQi2FfX7JlZKdtm

and http://oyendigital.com/tech/drivers/MiniPro_ThunderBolt_Win.pdf

and http://www.seagate.com/ca/en/support/downloads/item/thunderboltwin-master-dl/

[Monty_python]

Hi guys. If a generic answer/opinion exists to this generic question, please respond. PT11 on PC. Which would you choose, a slightly faster intel quad core or a slightly slower 6-core. I'm at the beginning stages of a new build.

Thanks for your time!
Monty

[philip888]

So is thunderbolt the same on Windows as a MAC? I don't think so.

[mesaone]

Which would you choose, a slightly faster intel quad core or a slightly slower 6-core. I'm at the beginning stages of a new build.

How much is "slightly"? If we're talking 3.2 GHz hexacore vs 3.4 GHz quadcore, go with the higher core count.

[Monty_python]

How much is "slightly"? If we're talking 3.2 GHz hexacore vs 3.4 GHz quadcore, go with the higher core count.

That's what I was implying. just trying to have some guidelines while looking around. If it was 3.3 6-core vs. 4.0 4-core would you feel the same? I want to get more into mixing on this new build if that makes any difference.

Thanks for the response!
Monty

[guitardom]

So is thunderbolt the same on Windows as a MAC? I don't think so.
Actually its identical, no different than USB between the 2. It is designed by Intel, not some magic Apple product. The difference comes in driver support only. But being that Windows users can build machines with whatever specs we want, we are not being forced into new protocols like Apple users. TB just is not necessary for Windows users. You might even be surprised to know that HDN TB had worked on Windows just as long as it has on OSX.

[guitardom]

That's what I was implying. just trying to have some guidelines while looking around. If it was 3.3 6-core vs. 4.0 4-core would you feel the same? I want to get more into mixing on this new build if that makes any difference.

Thanks for the response!
Monty

No comparison, the 6 core will have quite a bit more power.

[Monty_python]

Thanks a bunch!

[TOM@METRO]

No comparison, the 6 core will have quite a bit more power.

6 core here. He's right.

[YYR123]

Hex-a-monster!!!


But still looking at getting a HD3 tracking rig!!! Hahah

[guitardom]

Hex-a-monster!!!


But still looking at getting a HD3 tracking rig!!! Hahah

I still track on an HD system at a buddy's studio. They work fine and get the job done. They do feel a bit sluggish though in comparison to a modern system. You are going to have issues getting a modern build w the slots next to each other to link the cards. You almost need to buy a complete system including the computer that housed the cards.

[Fezzler]

Any successful i7 Micro ATX or Mini ITX builds out there?

I'm not a studio or power users. Weekend man cave recording hack. Upgraded to PT 11. Thinking about doing my first build.

[Rotundra]

With the help of pcpartpciker.com and many hours of research, I put this together as a build for PT11 (not yet ordered):

i7 5820k processor
Asus X99-A ATX LGA2011-3 MB
G.Skill Ripjaws 4 series 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR4-2666 ram
Intel 730 Series 240GB 2.5" SSD (system drive only)
2/ WD Black edition 2 TB 7200 rpm 64 MB buffer (1 dedicated audio)
Nvidia NVS 510 Workstation graphics card (recommended for professional graphics, used in medical, stock trading etc.)
Corsair ATX 12v 850 watt PS (digital switching)
Windows 7 or 8 OEM...still undecided

With a case, its right about 1300.00
System will get daily use, my current i7 920 Bloomfield build is reached its limit as the VI's effects and channels continue to grow. This looks like a worthy upgrade, what say you?

[Rotundra]

apologies, it's more like 1600.00 in total.

[aaron987]

I pulled the trigger on a very similar system today - parts will arrive shortly:

ASUS X99-A Mobo
Intel Core I7-5820K
Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3
Corsair Vengeance Lpx 16GB 4X4GB DDR4 DRAM 2666MHZ
Corsair Force LX 256GB 2.5in Solid State Drive
Western Digital WD3003FZEX Black 3TB Spinner
NVIDIA Quadro K2200 by PNY 4GB Video Card (as I also use Adobe & Autodesk)
BenQ BL2710PT 27in WQHD 2560X1440 LED Monitor IPS
SIIG Firewire 800 3-PORT PCIe
ASUS BW-16D1HT Extreme Blu-ray Writer
Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 850W Power Supply
Cooler Master Sliencio 652S Silent ATX Mid Tower Case
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Edition 64Bit DVD SP1 OEM

After reading the last 50 pages of this thread, it made me head towards the X99 6-Core route. Hopefully it works out.

[Rotundra]

What is your reasoning with staying with windows 7?

Not having any windows 8 systems, I dont have much to compare. After researching I find nothing definitive to say 1 over the other.

The gut says 8 because it's newer, updated system, drivers etc...

[mesaone]

What is your reasoning with staying with windows 7?

I stand on both sides of the demarcation. If your PC is dedicated to Pro Tools or general production, Win8 offers absolutely nothing over 7. More audio interfaces have win7 drivers, also.

[aaron987]

Nothing more than I don't like the look and feel of Windows 8 - it feels like a touchscreen tablet instead of an operating system.

[mesaone]

Nothing more than I don't like the look and feel of Windows 8 - it feels like a touchscreen tablet instead of an operating system.

Let's be clear, Windows 8 has two modes - Metro and Desktop. Desktop is the same as it was in win7.

[aaron987]

Fair enough. Did not know that - all I've ever seen is the other mode. I've been in Mac land for a while and decided to build a PC.

[Rotundra]

The only possible advantage then for a 8 would be a cheaper upgrade path to windows 10...in theory

[Shan]

Let's be clear, Windows 8 has two modes - Metro and Desktop. Desktop is the same as it was in win7.

I'll have to disagree with that one. The W8 desktop is an unnecessary mashup with many parts of metro. Many changes and tweaks are needed even for the simple things when it comes to making the W8 desktop the same as W7. Thankfully W10(knock on wood) has reverted and improved the desktop to it's former W7 status. :-)

Shane

[Shan]

The only possible advantage then for a 8 would be a cheaper upgrade path to windows 10...in theory

It's likely that MS will offer the same upgrade path for W7 and even XP owners. They desperately don't want users sitting on W7 for the next decade like the XP era. A good reliable source to follow on this topic is Paul Thurrott (http://winsupersite.com/windows/windows-10). :-)

Shane

[WKG]

In my experience Win 8 smokes Win 7 for audio. Setting to boot makes it a breeze. Most other aspects really aren't all that much different than Win 7.

[Shan]

In my experience Win 8 smokes Win 7 for audio.

Is there any data or benchmarks that can be done to demonstrate this? I have PT in both W7 and W8 and have not seen any improvements with audio or PT performance. :-)

Shane

[WKG]

Do you have any data or benchmarks that demonstrate this? I have PT in both W7 and W8 and have not seen any improvements with audio or PT performance. :-)

Shane

I am referring mostly to ease of setup, use and overall lack of issues. I haven't run benchmarks on the same system, I don't have the time nor inclination to suffer that abuse. :D

I spent way more time tweaking in Win 7 and Win 8 has been basically plug & play and with the occasional exception of a few buggy plugins nearly error free out of the gate. I've still got a mobile setup on Win 7 for now but there is no way I would ever use it for a new one.

[aaron987]

Interesting. Has anyone else had an easier time setting up their builds for Pro Tools with Windows 8.1 Pro?

[guitardom]

Interesting. Has anyone else had an easier time setting up their builds for Pro Tools with Windows 8.1 Pro?

I find no real issues with 8.1

It is a bit sensitive to EIST function in the Bios (speedstepping) as it does increase the DPC latency a decent amount more in 8 than 7. Keep it disabled.

Setting it up to boot into desktop mode, it looks no different than 7. Learn the shortcut "winkey+x" (or right click the win logo) and it will pop open a tab to let you jump into about anything in the control panel, Task manager, and many other functions quickly and reduces any need to key around.

The search function for programs and such is crazy fast and friendly. on the tile window, just type, no need to click in search or anything.

I prefer working in 8 due to some things that are just faster to do, but it doesnt matter all that much to me. It does take a bit to learn some of the quirks though.

[Fezzler]

The plethora of information on the board is overwhelming.

I am frozen trying to build or buy a new computer for PT11. I did notice that LE 8 seemed to run more stable on my iMac G5 as opposed to my Core Duo 2.6 Win7 PC. That's why I originally thought of a Mac Mini. But they no longer make an i7 version. And for that amount of money, I hesitate to buy a eBay or Craigslist used one. The new iMacs with i7 and 16 GB ram are very expensive.

The I was thinking Sweetwater Creation Station. But I could build a comparable i7 for hundreds less (but I do agree SW support and guarantees may be worth letting them build it.)

Now I'm looking at off the shelf Performance boxes from Lenovo and Dell.

Finally, here is a build I have outlined at New Egg. Seems too expensive at $1,700+. For this much I can get a Creation Station with support and warranty.

Absolutely confused on what to do. :(:confused: Also, I am a weekend hobbyist guitar player/recorder. Not a studio.

My Build: Any areas to cut cost?

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Model #:WD3003FZEX
$162.99

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4-21300) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M4A2666C16
$289.99

Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium Grey w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
$99.99

ASUS X99-A LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard Model #:X99-A
$254.99

EVGA 110-B2-0850-V1 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Power Supply ...
$94.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K
$389.99

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 1x nm Samsung Toggle DDR 2.0 3-Bit MLC NAND Flash Memory (400Mbps) Internal ...
$129.99

ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST - OEM
$19.99

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit - OEM
$139.99
1 New Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card

New Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card
Memory Size: 1GB
$172.39

Subtotal: $1,755.30

[albee1952]

The plethora of information on the board is overwhelming.

I am frozen trying to build or buy a new computer for PT11. I did notice that LE 8 seemed to run more stable on my iMac G5 as opposed to my Core Duo 2.6 Win7 PC. That's why I originally thought of a Mac Mini. But they no longer make an i7 version. And for that amount of money, I hesitate to buy a eBay or Craigslist used one. The new iMacs with i7 and 16 GB ram are very expensive.

The I was thinking Sweetwater Creation Station. But I could build a comparable i7 for hundreds less (but I do agree SW support and guarantees may be worth letting them build it.)

Now I'm looking at off the shelf Performance boxes from Lenovo and Dell.

Finally, here is a build I have outlined at New Egg. Seems too expensive at $1,700+. For this much I can get a Creation Station with support and warranty.

Absolutely confused on what to do. :(:confused: Also, I am a weekend hobbyist guitar player/recorder. Not a studio.

My Build: Any areas to cut cost?

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Model #:WD3003FZEX
$162.99

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4-21300) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M4A2666C16
$289.99

Fractal Design Define R3 Titanium Grey w/ USB 3.0 ATX Mid Tower Silent PC Computer Case
$99.99

ASUS X99-A LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard Model #:X99-A
$254.99

EVGA 110-B2-0850-V1 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Power Supply ...
$94.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K
$389.99

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 1x nm Samsung Toggle DDR 2.0 3-Bit MLC NAND Flash Memory (400Mbps) Internal ...
$129.99

ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST - OEM
$19.99

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit - OEM
$139.99
1 New Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card

New Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card
Memory Size: 1GB
$172.39

Subtotal: $1,755.30
www.pro-tools-pc.com

[Fezzler]

Thoughts on this build I modified?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4OzlPuH98

Can a 6-core run cool in a micro ATX case?
On New Egg, some reports of trouble with this mobo, but I can't tell if there are just as many people who it worked fine for.

Is it true it is more efficient to fill all memory slots (4x4) than use 2 (2x8)?

Rosewill Legacy U3-S-Window Silver Aluminum Alloy MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case $99.99

ASUS Rampage IV Gene LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $254.49

CORSAIR RM Series RM650 650W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Corsair RM650 Power Supply $109.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K $389.99

CORSAIR Hydro Series H80i High Performance Water/Liquid CPU Cooler. $89.99

2 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL $151.98

EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-2662-RX GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card Manufactured Recertified Refurbished $159.99

SAMSUNG 850 EVO-Series MZ-75E250B/AM 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $139.99

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $162.99

Memorex USB 2.0 External Multi Format Slim DVD Recorder Model 98251 $49.99

Windows 8.1 Pro $140


Subtotal: $1,750


Interesting. Going smaller will bang your knuckles and risk (?) sufficient cooling but not cost any less.

[albee1952]

To Fezzler: I don't have all the answers, but do have a few suggestions. A 6 core will generate some heat and you really need a GOOD and QUIET cooler. I doubt you can tick both those boxes in a small form case(not sure at all that the Corsair you list will fit a small case). The Antec P280 is fairly quiet and can be found on eBay for well under $100:o

Re filling the RAM slots, it depends on how the motherboard handles RAM. If it offers quad-channel(as does the X79 series), then you need 4 sticks(or 8) for the best performance. If it only offers dual-channel, then I'm not sure it will matter.

Your graphics card is serious overkill unless you plan on doing a lot of video and such.

An internal DVD drive will be under $20:o I would swap the single 3TB drive for a pair of 2TB(stay with the WD Black) and dedicate the other to sample libraries and backups. If you install a 3-slot SATA drive cage, you would be able to pull and swap hard drives easily, and still have room for an internal DVD burner in the P280:o

[YYR123]

Good recommendations Dave -

Now a 650w PSU? No way, get a 1000-1200w Gold certified PSU. Especially if your going with an upgraded video card.

250 SSD for the OS
250 SSD for the session drive
2tb spinner for the samples
2/3 TB for backups.

For real you will use them.....and I like seagate drives quieter in my experience, and WD is all I 'used' to buy.

[Fezzler]

To Fezzler: I don't have all the answers, but do have a few suggestions. A 6 core will generate some heat and you really need a GOOD and QUIET cooler. I doubt you can tick both those boxes in a small form case(not sure at all that the Corsair you list will fit a small case). The Antec P280 is fairly quiet and can be found on eBay for well under $100:o

Re filling the RAM slots, it depends on how the motherboard handles RAM. If it offers quad-channel(as does the X79 series), then you need 4 sticks(or 8) for the best performance. If it only offers dual-channel, then I'm not sure it will matter.

Your graphics card is serious overkill unless you plan on doing a lot of video and such.

An internal DVD drive will be under $20:o I would swap the single 3TB drive for a pair of 2TB(stay with the WD Black) and dedicate the other to sample libraries and backups. If you install a 3-slot SATA drive cage, you would be able to pull and swap hard drives easily, and still have room for an internal DVD burner in the P280:o

Appreciated. Listening and learning. Micro ATX may not be the way to go.

[Fezzler]

Good recommendations Dave -

Now a 650w PSU? No way, get a 1000-1200w Gold certified PSU. Especially if your going with an upgraded video card.

250 SSD for the OS
250 SSD for the session drive
2tb spinner for the samples
2/3 TB for backups.

For real you will use them.....and I like seagate drives quieter in my experience, and WD is all I 'used' to buy.

I appreciated the advice. All still true for a home studio weekend hobbyist who does a few hours during the week? Smart to build for future or more power and capacity than I need?

[hybridarts]

Can I just start by saying what a fantastic thread!! Been reading this thread and others for the last two weeks with great interest as I dip back into recording again.

I'm a little home studio enthusiast(with some training:-)) who has been out of the game for some time and have jumped back in with the recent cross-grade pricing(pt10/11) offered by Avid. The last version of tools i was running was m-powered 7.4.x and as expected my current pc is a little under-powered. Which leads to my question(s).

If I don't delay too much I can still build an x79 system which will run my delta 1010. However, if I take the plunge and go x99(or mission control as my friend calls it!); it will surely mean retirement as I don't trust the whole pci to pice adapter path. Would just appreciate some thoughts from users as I've been looking at RME products if I go x99 and I'm concerned about the lack of driver support with a legacy product if I stick with M-Audio(x79). So, would you go with pcie or firewire on a pc build? The two products that most interest me are the fireface 802 or multi-face II with card. I am also looking at an apollo using thunderbolt. I guess at the heart of it I'm tossing up between technologies; pcie or firewire/thunderbolt on the build. Has anyone had success adapting pci to pice? Feels unreliable(cheap parts) but could it be successful?

All thoughts appreciated.

j.

[Fezzler]

To Fezzler: I don't have all the answers, but do have a few suggestions. A 6 core will generate some heat and you really need a GOOD and QUIET cooler. I doubt you can tick both those boxes in a small form case(not sure at all that the Corsair you list will fit a small case). The Antec P280 is fairly quiet and can be found on eBay for well under $100:o

Re filling the RAM slots, it depends on how the motherboard handles RAM. If it offers quad-channel(as does the X79 series), then you need 4 sticks(or 8) for the best performance. If it only offers dual-channel, then I'm not sure it will matter.

Your graphics card is serious overkill unless you plan on doing a lot of video and such.

An internal DVD drive will be under $20:o I would swap the single 3TB drive for a pair of 2TB(stay with the WD Black) and dedicate the other to sample libraries and backups. If you install a 3-slot SATA drive cage, you would be able to pull and swap hard drives easily, and still have room for an internal DVD burner in the P280:o


Graphics Card recommendation? Yea, I don't want more than I need. I don't do any heavy graphics but would like to run two monitors.

[guitardom]

Thoughts on this build I modified?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF4OzlPuH98

Can a 6-core run cool in a micro ATX case?
On New Egg, some reports of trouble with this mobo, but I can't tell if there are just as many people who it worked fine for.

Is it true it is more efficient to fill all memory slots (4x4) than use 2 (2x8)?

Rosewill Legacy U3-S-Window Silver Aluminum Alloy MicroATX Mini Tower Computer Case $99.99

ASUS Rampage IV Gene LGA 2011 Intel X79 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard $254.49

CORSAIR RM Series RM650 650W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Corsair RM650 Power Supply $109.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K $389.99

CORSAIR Hydro Series H80i High Performance Water/Liquid CPU Cooler. $89.99

2 G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL $151.98

EVGA SuperClocked 02G-P4-2662-RX GeForce GTX 660 2GB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card Manufactured Recertified Refurbished $159.99

SAMSUNG 850 EVO-Series MZ-75E250B/AM 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $139.99

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $162.99

Memorex USB 2.0 External Multi Format Slim DVD Recorder Model 98251 $49.99

Windows 8.1 Pro $140


Subtotal: $1,750


Interesting. Going smaller will bang your knuckles and risk (?) sufficient cooling but not cost any less.
You have multiple issues.
The processor and motherboard are not compatible together. All you have to do is look at the socket type to see that (2011/2011-3)
The cooler will not fit in that case period.
You have ddr3 ram listed and the processor requires ddr4.
The video card very likely won't fit in that case. 660's are huge.

[guitardom]

Can I just start by saying what a fantastic thread!! Been reading this thread and others for the last two weeks with great interest as I dip back into recording again.

I'm a little home studio enthusiast(with some training:-)) who has been out of the game for some time and have jumped back in with the recent cross-grade pricing(pt10/11) offered by Avid. The last version of tools i was running was m-powered 7.4.x and as expected my current pc is a little under-powered. Which leads to my question(s).

If I don't delay too much I can still build an x79 system which will run my delta 1010. However, if I take the plunge and go x99(or mission control as my friend calls it!); it will surely mean retirement as I don't trust the whole pci to pice adapter path. Would just appreciate some thoughts from users as I've been looking at RME products if I go x99 and I'm concerned about the lack of driver support with a legacy product if I stick with M-Audio(x79). So, would you go with pcie or firewire on a pc build? The two products that most interest me are the fireface 802 or multi-face II with card. I am also looking at an apollo using thunderbolt. I guess at the heart of it I'm tossing up between technologies; pcie or firewire/thunderbolt on the build. Has anyone had success adapting pci to pice? Feels unreliable(cheap parts) but could it be successful?

All thoughts appreciated.

j.
I have a customer that just got an adapter (pcie to PCI,about 80$) for his delta and it's working fine. I would take either of those RME over it though. Apollo Would have to be FireWire as they don't have drivers for Windows and TB.

[Fezzler]

You have multiple issues.
The processor and motherboard are not compatible together. All you have to do is look at the socket type to see that (2011/2011-3)
The cooler will not fit in that case period.
You have ddr3 ram listed and the processor requires ddr4.
The video card very likely won't fit in that case. 660's are huge.

Thanks. Learning. After more research, I think a Micro ATX is not the way to go. Too much heat in tight case. Although, that's what I really would prefer.

[Fezzler]

Back to Mid-Tower Build. Thoughts? Issues?
Anyway to lower cost some?

CORSAIR RM Series RM1000 1000W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Corsair RM1000 Power Supply $149.99

CORSAIR Hydro Series H80i High Performance Water/Liquid CPU Cooler. $89.99

Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White Silent ATX Mid Tower Case Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White Silent ATX Mid Tower Case $79.99

ASUS X99-A LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $254.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K $389.99

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 1x nm Samsung Toggle DDR 2.0 3-Bit MLC NAND Flash Memory (400Mbps) Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $129.99

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4-21300) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M4A2666C16 $289.99

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $162.99

ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST $19.91

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit $139.99

Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card New $172.39

Subtotal: $1,880.29

[YYR123]

I appreciated the advice. All still true for a home studio weekend hobbyist who does a few hours during the week?

Even more so, because you don't want to be chasing your tail, in the limited time you have available.....

Smart to build for future or more power and capacity than I need?


Not only smart but wise!

[YYR123]

Would be a great machine....

From what I see. You still should plan for 3 HD's

And you might be able to drop the ram down to a 1866mhz set....if it saves you some coin

And I'm not familiar with that CPU but it should be fine, if you want to upgrade are there more powerful CPU options in that socket type?

[guitardom]

Back to Mid-Tower Build. Thoughts? Issues?
Anyway to lower cost some?

CORSAIR RM Series RM1000 1000W ATX12V v2.31 and EPS 2.92 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Corsair RM1000 Power Supply $149.99

CORSAIR Hydro Series H80i High Performance Water/Liquid CPU Cooler. $89.99

Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White Silent ATX Mid Tower Case Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White Silent ATX Mid Tower Case $79.99

ASUS X99-A LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $254.99

Intel Core i7-5820K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.3GHz LGA 2011-v3 140W Desktop Processor BX80648I75820K $389.99

SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 1x nm Samsung Toggle DDR 2.0 3-Bit MLC NAND Flash Memory (400Mbps) Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) $129.99

CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (4 x 4GB) 288-Pin DDR4 SDRAM DDR4 2666 (PC4-21300) Desktop Memory Model CMK16GX4M4A2666C16 $289.99

WD BLACK SERIES WD3003FZEX 3TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $162.99

ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST ASUS DVD-Writer Black SATA Model DRW-24F1ST $19.91

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro - 64-bit $139.99

Asus NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 1GB GDDR5 VGA DVI HDMI PCI Express Video Card New $172.39

Subtotal: $1,880.29

The PSU could be brought down to a 750 easily.

You could bring the vid card down to an nvidia 610 or 640 (740) bring that price down quite a bit.

With 16 gb of ram you can use Windows home premium

[YYR123]

Yeah I forgot that the newer i7's haswells consumed less power.....

On my system - with 4 HD's and my i7-3930k and a passive heatsink I wanted to make sure I had enough power.

I am running a 1000w PSU

[guitardom]

Would be a great machine....

From what I see. You still should plan for 3 HD's

And you might be able to drop the ram down to a 1866mhz set....if it saves you some coin

And I'm not familiar with that CPU but it should be fine, if you want to upgrade are there more powerful CPU options in that socket type?

the slowest speed for ddr4 is 2100 I believe.

[mesaone]

the slowest speed for ddr4 is 2100 I believe.

1600-2400 MHz stock, from what I've read. I can't wait to upgrade!

[guitardom]

1600-2400 MHz stock, from what I've read. I can't wait to upgrade!
hhmmm, I have never seen any under 2133 to be more specific. The fastest I have used is 2666 a few times in builds. Its hard to go faster though because the prices skyrocket!

[Fezzler]

The PSU could be brought down to a 750 easily.

You could bring the vid card down to an nvidia 610 or 640 (740) bring that price down quite a bit.

With 16 gb of ram you can use Windows home premium


Thanks. I think I dialed it in.

Didn't see a "Home Premium" version of Win 8.1.