i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[YYR123]

What are the specs that you got and what price point did you get

[Fezzler]

Rok Box OB-1 Tower - Titanium Grey - 7 slots
850w PS
Noctua fan/cooling system
Gigabit GA-X99-UD4 mobo
Intel Haswell-E 3.3GHz i7-5820K 6-core
16GB DDR4-2400 Quad Channel 4x4GB
Primary Drive 240GB SSD
2nd Drive 2T 7200 rpm SATA
Basic ProTools certified graphics card that can drive two monitors
CD/DVD burner etc.
Win 8.1/ProTools 11/Eleven Rack pre-loaded
Quiet Operation option
Pre-ship burn in/testing
Extended Service and Warranty

I'll add my own Firewire card, wireless keyboard and mouse, wireless dongle if needed and either one 24-inch LCD display or two smaller ones (space limited).

Still discussing final prices but if you go to their site you could spec one and get in the ball park. My final may be different due to other requests I've made.

And yes, I could build one myself and save money. But my time is worth money too. And when I calculate the time it would take me to spec all the parts, order, receive, read basic install information, install, update drivers, load software, configure I truly believe I'm saving money and sanity.

For those who have the time and patience to do there own build, I admire you and go for it! I may try a RasberryPi project this year! Does that count?

[mmk]

Originally Posted by Fezzler

Rok Box OB-1 Tower - Titanium Grey - 7 slots
850w PS
Noctua fan/cooling system
Gigabit GA-X99-UD4 mobo
Intel Haswell-E 3.3GHz i7-5820K 6-core
16GB DDR4-2400 Quad Channel 4x4GB
Primary Drive 240GB SSD
2nd Drive 2T 7200 rpm SATA
Basic ProTools certified graphics card that can drive two monitors
CD/DVD burner etc.
Win 8.1/ProTools 11/Eleven Rack pre-loaded
Quiet Operation option
Pre-ship burn in/testing
Extended Service and Warranty

I'll add my own Firewire card, wireless keyboard and mouse, wireless dongle if needed and either one 24-inch LCD display or two smaller ones (space limited).

Still discussing final prices but if you go to their site you could spec one and get in the ball park. My final may be different due to other requests I've made.

And yes, I could build one myself and save money. But my time is worth money too. And when I calculate the time it would take me to spec all the parts, order, receive, read basic install information, install, update drivers, load software, configure I truly believe I'm saving money and sanity.

For those who have the time and patience to do there own build, I admire you and go for it! I may try a RasberryPi project this year! Does that count?

Just looked at the PCaudiolabs website that sells that system. its 3k for your setup, which is not bad, but that same setup can be self built for at least a thousand less.

Antec P280 Case (looks almost same case as they are selling) - 109 on newegg
Noctula CPU Cooler / Case Fan - $100 total on newegg 77 for cpu fan 20 for case fan
Gigabyte x99-ud4 - $270 at tigerdirect
I7 5820k - $389 at B&H photo (I've seen it as low as $289 at Fry's!)
16gb Ddr4 2400 memory (Kingston Hyper X like they sell) - $300 at tigerdirect
250 Gb SSD (Samsung Evo) - $120 from B&H Photo
2tb 7200 RPM Audio Drive (WD Black) - $128 from B&H Photo
EVGA Geforce GTX 750Ti Graphics Card (Decent Card) - $136 from B&H Photo
LG Cd/Dvd Burner / Blu ray player - $50 On Newegg
Windows 8.1 - $90 from B&H Photo
Corsair RM850 850 Watt Power Supply - 140 From B&H Photo
Logitech MK520 Wireless Keyboard / Mouse - 35 from B&H Photo


Total price for system:
1867 add some extra costs maybe tax / shipping here and there call it 2k (most prices tax / shipping is factored in). In a way this might be better than the sytem they are selling. With that $1000 saved you can buy Your monitor or two and a pro tools license!

Keep in mind if you find some sales or swap different parts you can probobly build this for about $1500. Everything i listed was of good to high quality though. For noise control that antec case is good. I bought my dad the Antec P100 case its super quiet it has some sort of sound deadening inside the case. I'm sure the P280 is even better, it might even be the case they are using. Always best to do it yourself in my opinion, but whatever you choose to do good luck with the build!

[YYR123]

I agree you will always save money even if it's a little bit by building it yourself.

the problem is does the end-user have the wherewithal to assemble the system himself, if there is any doubt most people generally get someone else to do it them for them

[chrisdee]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Define "bigger screen" I run a 32" LED TV at 1920x1080 with a lowly GeForce 610 1GB card(and previously with a PNY GeForce 210 card) and it looks great. AFAIK, nVidia is still preferred over ATI cards(but many of them are also working). I'd say to get the best advice, let us know exactly what your new screen will be

Thanks,

I got my eyes on three alternatives.

1) The BenQ BL3200PT 32" (2560 x 1440) screen : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-372-_-Product
2) Samsung S34E790C 34" (3440 x 1440) curved screen : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7446-_-Product
3) SAMSUNG U28D590D 28" (3840 x 2160) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0009-_-Product

My current card is a (2560 x 1600) Nvidia Quadro FX 580 512MB, and my current screen is a 27" (1920 x 1080) Samsung screen.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product...fx_580_us.html

[Fezzler]

Originally Posted by mmk

Just looked at the PCaudiolabs website that sells that system. its 3k for your setup, which is not bad, but that same setup can be self built for at least a thousand less.

Antec P280 Case (looks almost same case as they are selling) - 109 on newegg
Noctula CPU Cooler / Case Fan - $100 total on newegg 77 for cpu fan 20 for case fan
Gigabyte x99-ud4 - $270 at tigerdirect
I7 5820k - $389 at B&H photo (I've seen it as low as $289 at Fry's!)
16gb Ddr4 2400 memory (Kingston Hyper X like they sell) - $300 at tigerdirect
250 Gb SSD (Samsung Evo) - $120 from B&H Photo
2tb 7200 RPM Audio Drive (WD Black) - $128 from B&H Photo
EVGA Geforce GTX 750Ti Graphics Card (Decent Card) - $136 from B&H Photo
LG Cd/Dvd Burner / Blu ray player - $50 On Newegg
Windows 8.1 - $90 from B&H Photo
Corsair RM850 850 Watt Power Supply - 140 From B&H Photo
Logitech MK520 Wireless Keyboard / Mouse - 35 from B&H Photo


Total price for system:
1867 add some extra costs maybe tax / shipping here and there call it 2k (most prices tax / shipping is factored in). In a way this might be better than the sytem they are selling. With that $1000 saved you can buy Your monitor or two and a pro tools license!

Keep in mind if you find some sales or swap different parts you can probobly build this for about $1500. Everything i listed was of good to high quality though. For noise control that antec case is good. I bought my dad the Antec P100 case its super quiet it has some sort of sound deadening inside the case. I'm sure the P280 is even better, it might even be the case they are using. Always best to do it yourself in my opinion, but whatever you choose to do good luck with the build!

I respect your opinion. Like me, you did your homework.

Re: "In a way this might be better than the system they are selling."

Well, maybe or maybe not here or there. When I consider that I have never spec.'d, ordered, built, configured a system such as this, the quality of the service, support and their time/expertise is worth every cent to me. In fact, a great value. I know what I'm getting and it will work and have support.

But again, as I posted in attempt to anticipate such a fair response:

"Still discussing final prices but if you go to their site you could spec one and get in the ball park. My final price may be different due to other requests I've made." In other words, the price on the site is not exactly what I am paying and the premium I'm getting is well worth it to me.

"And yes, I could build one myself and save money. But my time is worth money too. And when I calculate the time it would take me to spec all the parts, order, receive, read basic install information, install, update drivers, load software, configure I truly believe I'm saving money and sanity.

For those who have the time and patience to do there own build, I admire you and go for it!"

In the spirit of the thread and in gratitude to everyone who provided guidance I thought it was appropriate to share where I ended up.

It's about the music so its all good - build or buy.

[Fezzler]

Originally Posted by YYR123

I agree you will always save money even if it's a little bit by building it yourself.

the problem is does the end-user have the wherewithal to assemble the system himself, if there is any doubt most people generally get someone else to do it them for them

Exactly. It's all good. And some of those who do not have the time or experience to confidently build a system value the expertise and are willing to pay for it. I know and respect there are many DIY folks here, but people with expertise do add value. It is worth the extra to me to receive a working, tested, supported system build by folks with proven experience.

Maybe someday I will build my own. In fact, I will. But today and can't afford to risk the learning curve or have the time to do it.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by chrisdee

Thanks,

I got my eyes on three alternatives.

1) The BenQ BL3200PT 32" (2560 x 1440) screen : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-372-_-Product
2) Samsung S34E790C 34" (3440 x 1440) curved screen : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...7446-_-Product
3) SAMSUNG U28D590D 28" (3840 x 2160) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0009-_-Product

My current card is a (2560 x 1600) Nvidia Quadro FX 580 512MB, and my current screen is a 27" (1920 x 1080) Samsung screen.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product...fx_580_us.html

'scuse me while I wipe up the drool

[YYR123]

Originally Posted by Fezzler

Exactly. It's all good. And some of those who do not have the time or experience to confidently build a system value the expertise and are willing to pay for it..

Don't worry I wasn't slamming you for it, just making a statement

[Mattiasnyc]

Originally Posted by albee1952

'scuse me while I wipe up the drool

Just fyi: The Samsung 3840x1440 panel type also comes in a non-curved screen for around $900.