Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[Ambulance Chaser]

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade the CPU of my rig, currently a 2400+ XP on an A7N8X-D. What's the best 32-bit socket A CPU out there? The Nvidia chipset hasn't given me troubles with PT LE that I know of so far...

[Allen Hallada]

hey guys. I am going to be upgrading from the mbox, to the digi 002R. I have been using PC, and since it looks like PC is pretty comparable to the mac with pro tools advances now, I may just stick with a pc. I was wondering what would you guys recommend for me? I dont wnat to spend more than I have to. Id like to stay between 5-800. if that is even possible for a good machine to run the 002 I dont even know. I will be utilizing lots of tracks. i plan to record rock bands, including full mic set up for drums. I plan on using the ADAT to bring in the drum tracks off an 8 channel pre amp. Id like it to be a machine I can grow with.

thanks for the help guys!

Check the first post on this thread and you will find two current systems listed. I'd go with the AMD 64 system and you should be able to stay below 800.00 now.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

Hi, I'm looking to upgrade the CPU of my rig, currently a 2400+ XP on an A7N8X-D. What's the best 32-bit socket A CPU out there? The Nvidia chipset hasn't given me troubles with PT LE that I know of so far...

Athlon XP 3200. See www.pricewatch.com for best prices.

Allen

[djspl]

Hello all. After reading everything from 6/04 to present, I have a few questions...

I just purchased an Mbox along with a K8V-X, 3000+ (I know, I know, 3700+) and Win XP Home. This machine will be audio only. I have built at least 10 computers, I love to overclock and tweek windows (this machine will be tame and stable though).

I already have 2 Hitachi 80 GB SATA drives along with an Antec 350 watt power supply, LiteOn CDRW/DVDrom and 2 x 256 MB Kingmax single sided ram modules. I also have a nice Antec case with a 92mm rear fan, the stock A64 HSF and a fan controller.

My question is regarding the K8V-X's single sided ram requirement that is stated in the manual (there was a post regarding this last year). To retain DDR400, 2 or 3, single sided sided sticks can be used together or 1 single + 1 double sided stick together. Basically, I think I can only install 3 "sides" of ram and still run at DDR400.
(manual, page 1-11 http://www.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/sock...1879_k8v-x.pdf )

Since I have not been able to find single sided, 512 MB sticks I will have to use only 768 MB of ram, which I can live with (not a power user, yet). Which DDR400 configuration would be most stable?:

I use my 2 x 256 (single sided) and buy one more 256 MB stick, totaling 3 sticks and 768 MB
or
I use one of my 256 sticks and buy a 512 stick (double sided), totaling 2 sticks and 768 MB?

Do I even need to worry about single and double sided? I would rather get 2 x 512, but there are no single sided 512 MB sticks. I think I have been in "matched pair, dual channel" mode for too long and the thought of using 3 sticks or different size sticks is scaring me.

Thanks for any help and a big thanks to Allen for the great thread.

[filete1]

Yep!
I have some memory questions too:

The K8V mobo have 3 sockets for 184-pin DDR Ram, and I already got 2x 512MB DDR400,
I have check the mobo manual, and there says that to use the 3 DIMM, the max speed
for all 3 sockets is DDR200!
This means that I can get another DDR400 module and will only work at DDR200 speed,
or to use the 3 sockets, I need to get DDR200 instead?



Thanks

[optimus]

I'm currently considering upgrading to the Allenstein machine, but with a few tweaks recommended by the computer guy at the store (in order to save some $$$). I was wondering if these changes were alright or would cause some problems.

1. Change the 80 Gig HD's to a lower capacity, say 40 Gig.

2. Change the Athlon 64 3700+ to a 3400+

3. Change the ATI Radeon 9600 to a MSI Radeon 9550SE 128MB TVO

4. I don't think I'll need a DVD drive, so I'd go with a CD burner.

I don't know much about this, as it may show. I just don't want to guess at buying a setup and have it give me sub-optimal results again. I'll be running an m-box with PTLE. Any recommendations on this setup or how I may save a little more $$$ without compromising performance?

[djspl]

Yep!
I have some memory questions too:

The K8V mobo have 3 sockets for 184-pin DDR Ram, and I already got 2x 512MB DDR400,
I have check the mobo manual, and there says that to use the 3 DIMM, the max speed
for all 3 sockets is DDR200!
This means that I can get another DDR400 module and will only work at DDR200 speed,
or to use the 3 sockets, I need to get DDR200 instead?



Thanks

According to the manual, to use 3 sockets with the K8V-X you need 3 sticks of single sided ram. I have yet to find single sided 512 MB sticks of ram, so in order to run at DDR400/FSB200 you need 3, single sided, 256 MB sticks or the board will downclock (according to the manual). Even if you use your 2 512 MB sticks, the board will downclock to DDR333/FSB166.

According to the manual's chart, the max amount of ram you can use and still preserve DDR400/FSB200 is 768 MB, either with 3, 256 MB single sided sticks or with 1 256 (single sided) and 1 512 MB, (double sided). You cannot run 2 512 MB sticks and retain DDR400/FSB200, assuming all 512 sticks are double sided. Again, this is all according to the manual.
(edit: or you can use a 1 GB stick)

This brings me to my question, above. Which is more stable?
3 x 256
or
1 x 256 and 1 x 512.

If this situation is true, then I hope this helps anyone trying to decide which K8V motherboard to use. Personally, I didn't want all the extra features of the "deluxe" version, but if I had know about the ram limitations of the "X" version, I might have bought one anyways. This thread is great, but it doesn't really mention the K8V-X's limitations as far as memory configuration.

[Allen Hallada]

According to the manual, to use 3 sockets with the K8V-X you need 3 sticks of single sided ram. I have yet to find single sided 512 MB sticks of ram, so in order to run at DDR400/FSB200 you need 3, single sided, 256 MB sticks or the board will downclock (according to the manual). Even if you use your 2 512 MB sticks, the board will downclock to DDR333/FSB166.

According to the manual's chart, the max amount of ram you can use and still preserve DDR400/FSB200 is 768 MB, either with 3, 256 MB single sided sticks or with 1 256 (single sided) and 1 512 MB, (double sided). You cannot run 2 512 MB sticks and retain DDR400/FSB200, assuming all 512 sticks are double sided. Again, this is all according to the manual.
(edit: or you can use a 1 GB stick)

This brings me to my question, above. Which is more stable?
3 x 256
or
1 x 256 and 1 x 512.

If this situation is true, then I hope this helps anyone trying to decide which K8V motherboard to use. Personally, I didn't want all the extra features of the "deluxe" version, but if I had know about the ram limitations of the "X" version, I might have bought one anyways. This thread is great, but it doesn't really mention the K8V-X's limitations as far as memory configuration.

Well first off I never recommended the K8V-X. If you read the first post you won't see any mention of it. The system listed is the one I recommend. To list every motherboard made and all of its idiosyncracies is not the purpose of this thread.
Go to www.crucial.com to get the correct ram for the K8V-X motherboard.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

I'm currently considering upgrading to the Allenstein machine, but with a few tweaks recommended by the computer guy at the store (in order to save some $$$). I was wondering if these changes were alright or would cause some problems.

1. Change the 80 Gig HD's to a lower capacity, say 40 Gig.

2. Change the Athlon 64 3700+ to a 3400+

3. Change the ATI Radeon 9600 to a MSI Radeon 9550SE 128MB TVO

4. I don't think I'll need a DVD drive, so I'd go with a CD burner.

I don't know much about this, as it may show. I just don't want to guess at buying a setup and have it give me sub-optimal results again. I'll be running an m-box with PTLE. Any recommendations on this setup or how I may save a little more $$$ without compromising performance?

I doubt your computer guy can beat www.newegg.com pricing on the listed setup even with cheaper parts. You can do what you want but I'd recommend sticking with the recommended setup as it is proven over and over. And definetly get the DVD burner. For 50.00 it is hard to beat. The AMD 64 3400 processors available now only come with 512mb L2 cache so either go with the mobile 3400 or get the desktop 3700 listed. For mobile 3400 you will need the K8V Deluxe and download the latest bios. Definitely get the ATI 9600 for compatibility reasons.

Allen

[filete1]

Well first off I never recommended the K8V-X. If you read the first post you won't see any mention of it. The system listed is the one I recommend. To list every motherboard made and all of its idiosyncracies is not the purpose of this thread.
Go to www.crucial.com to get the correct ram for the K8V-X motherboard.

Hi again,
I forgot to say, that my mobo is not the K8V-X!
Its the K8V SE Deluxe.
So, can you tell me if I use 3 DIMMS of DDR400 the system will speed down
the sockets to DDR200?