i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by SUPER_STEVE

GIGABYTE GA-X58-USB3 LGA 1366 Intel X58 USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Gigabyte boards are cheaper but some of us have found them to be a little problematic and I would suggest finding an ASUS P6T6 WS motherboard.

RAM needs to be Triple Channel 1333 and Corsair XMS3 12GB 3 x 4GB is bang on the money. You could populate all slots by grabbing another kit of 3 x 4GB Corsair XMS3 12GB.

Hard Drive Western Digital Caviar Black. I picked 1.5 TB because it supports 64 MB Cache and secondly it's cheap. You would need two maybe three. One for Operating System, one for recording and the other for samples, maybe.

Can I also suggest that you use Casper as a backup solution. This cheap as software creates partitions and clones hard drives. With 1.5 TB drives, you can partition the system drive into a size that you need, clone that partition for backup and save it to another created partition on another drive. From here you can have an Internet partition, a Pro Tools only partition, etc., and using EasyBCD to create and edit boot.ini so you can get into those created partitions on the system drive. EasyBCD is free for private/non commercial use.

[mano111]

Originally Posted by cfinch

So I am think about getting my buddy to build me a computer. And this will be the last big purchase I make in a long time, so I want it to be right. If anyone can answer a few question, and take a look at a few of the pieces of harward, etc, for compatability issues etc...

motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128440 GIGABYTE GA-880GM-USB3 AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Quiet running tower: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163166 SILVERSTONE Black Aluminum / 0.8mm SECC Grandia Series GD05B micro-ATX / Mini-DTX / Mini-ITX MB, 1x5.25", 2x3.5"+1x2.5"HDD or 1x3.5"+2x2.5"HDD, 3x120mm golf bladed fan, 11" expansion card capable HTPC Case

Internal drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147134 SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128D/AM 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) Desktop Upgrade Kit

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116986

Power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139027 CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V v2.3 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

usb 3.0 External hard drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822149186 TOSHIBA Canvio 3.0 750GB USB 3.0 Black/White Portable External Hard Drive E05A075CAU3XW

Cd/DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151236 SAMSUNG CD/DVD Burner 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model SH-222AL/RSBS LightScribe Support

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220484 Patriot G series ‘Sector 5’ Edition 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model PGV38G1600ELK

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103962 AMD FX-6100 Zambezi 3.3GHz Socket AM3+ 95W Six-Core Desktop Processor FD6100WMGUSBX

It's either this or a very exspensive I-mac... I would rather get a more powerful dependable pc if all possible though...


Thank you for your time... any help would be great.

thanks,
chris

Hi,

Nice build for an HTPC, But seriously at some point one has to decide what the build is intended for. This build, while it might be able to run PT is far from ideal.

Start with an Intel CPU, go with a well tested motherboard, and a dedicated GPU.

For some examples of working builds that run Protools well check out the first page of this thread.

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by mano111

This build, while it might be able to run PT is far from ideal. Start with an Intel CPU, go with a well tested motherboard, and a dedicated GPU.

Second that, unless of course, you are a trailblazer.

[SUPER_STEVE]

@filosofem

I was able to find the Asus motherboard on amazon for about $340. It seems to me though that to do this right, I'll need to spend at least $1000 dollars... possibly more. I'm just worried that this computer could be obsolete within the next couple of years, before I get done with my undergrad. Do you think this computer could last me at least 3 to 4 years? And at this point, I might as well ask you, do you have any recommendations on cases, cooling units, power supplies, graphics cards, and firewire ports? I think that would cover everything needed. And please remember I am trying to build sort of a budget computer
Also, how do you feel about purchasing used parts, say off of ebay?

Thanks again, Aaron. Your help is extremely appreciated.

[guitardom]

Originally Posted by SUPER_STEVE

@filosofem

I was able to find the Asus motherboard on amazon for about $340. It seems to me though that to do this right, I'll need to spend at least $1000 dollars... possibly more. I'm just worried that this computer could be obsolete within the next couple of years, before I get done with my undergrad. Do you think this computer could last me at least 3 to 4 years? And at this point, I might as well ask you, do you have any recommendations on cases, cooling units, power supplies, graphics cards, and firewire ports? I think that would cover everything needed. And please remember I am trying to build sort of a budget computer
Also, how do you feel about purchasing used parts, say off of ebay?

Thanks again, Aaron. Your help is extremely appreciated.

see you are in portales....poor guy i live up in the farmington area, but hanging out in albuq this week..

no matter what you do the machine will be outdated in a year or 2 anyway you look at it. the deal is though, it should still be working and capable of everything that it is capable of today.

i personally would not buy parts of ebay. maybe craigslist as you can actually go see it and check it out before you buy, but i would do nothing but maybe vid card and case. everything else i would want new for the most part.

i personally have no issue with gigabyte and have used them for years and personally prefer them. i have had one issue out of about 4 boards and the board was over 2 years old and not sure if it was my fault when swapping vid cards or not. the 1366 socket has proven to work very well and i actually dont know of any boards that are not working, but we have many that are proven. i would not hesitate if money was a serious issue to get a cheaper asus or gigabyte 1366 board.

ram is cheap!! i would not get less than 3-4gb sticks. the faster you can afford the better. i am using this combo now ram board and is flawless. a comparable asus board would be asus. but the board manufacturer should have a list of approved ram and i would ONLY buy what is on that list.

cooler

do not skimp on psu. i personally use corsair or ocz.

skimp on the vid card. also prefer fanless myself for less noise. asus, gigabyte, evga, have all been good cards. but simpler the better and avid is saying to use nvidia based cards now as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121473
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130606

for a couple.

cases is total preference. i use rackmount. others prefer standard case. look for one that will have multiple fan spots including in the door, couple on back, possibly one on the top. need cooling!!! and prepare to buy fans to install in these spots if the case does not include them. few i found real quick on cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156226
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156237
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811103035

would go w 2 of these for hard drives. one for audio, one for os.

[cfinch]

Mano, what do u mean by HTPC? And also I will tell my biilder to check out that page. Thanks for the reply bro..

[mano111]

Originally Posted by cfinch

Mano, what do u mean by HTPC? ..

Home Theater PC.

And also I will tell my biilder to check out that page. Thanks for the reply bro

Thats a good idea. Tell to copy one of those builds to the letter and you'll be good to go.

[SUPER_STEVE]

Originally Posted by guitardom

see you are in portales....poor guy i live up in the farmington area, but hanging out in albuq this week..

no matter what you do the machine will be outdated in a year or 2 anyway you look at it. the deal is though, it should still be working and capable of everything that it is capable of today.

i personally would not buy parts of ebay. maybe craigslist as you can actually go see it and check it out before you buy, but i would do nothing but maybe vid card and case. everything else i would want new for the most part.

i personally have no issue with gigabyte and have used them for years and personally prefer them. i have had one issue out of about 4 boards and the board was over 2 years old and not sure if it was my fault when swapping vid cards or not. the 1366 socket has proven to work very well and i actually dont know of any boards that are not working, but we have many that are proven. i would not hesitate if money was a serious issue to get a cheaper asus or gigabyte 1366 board.

ram is cheap!! i would not get less than 3-4gb sticks. the faster you can afford the better. i am using this combo now ram board and is flawless. a comparable asus board would be asus. but the board manufacturer should have a list of approved ram and i would ONLY buy what is on that list.

cooler

do not skimp on psu. i personally use corsair or ocz.

skimp on the vid card. also prefer fanless myself for less noise. asus, gigabyte, evga, have all been good cards. but simpler the better and avid is saying to use nvidia based cards now as well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121473
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130606

for a couple.

cases is total preference. i use rackmount. others prefer standard case. look for one that will have multiple fan spots including in the door, couple on back, possibly one on the top. need cooling!!! and prepare to buy fans to install in these spots if the case does not include them. few i found real quick on cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156226
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156237
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811103035

would go w 2 of these for hard drives. one for audio, one for os.

That's funny guitardom because I just left Albuquerque today! I was visiting my girlfriend there since Wednesday...
Though I'm sure yours and filosofem's advice are equally good, I think I probably will have to go with some of your suggestions to help bring price down. I think at this point I'll start putting together a list. I'll want to run it by you guys, and I'm sure I'll have more questions!
Thanks a bunch

Questions already! What processor do you have guitardom? I also found the 750 gb hard drive new on amazon for $130. Would that be better than recertified? And any recommendations on a firewire card and DVD drive?

[guitardom]

Originally Posted by SUPER_STEVE

That's funny guitardom because I just left Albuquerque today! I was visiting my girlfriend there since Wednesday...
Though I'm sure yours and filosofem's advice are equally good, I think I probably will have to go with some of your suggestions to help bring price down. I think at this point I'll start putting together a list. I'll want to run it by you guys, and I'm sure I'll have more questions!
Thanks a bunch

Questions already! What processor do you have guitardom? I also found the 750 gb hard drive new on amazon for $130. Would that be better than recertified? And any recommendations on a firewire card and DVD drive?

i hate that drive! i worked down in clovis off and on for about a year and from 40 south was terrible!! my wife works at a hopital in albuq so she is down there a lot and i am back and forth depending on my work schedule.

i use an i7 920. i did not realize the drive i linked were recertified. i would go new. they have shot up massively in price!! i would get a 750 for audio and partition it, but can get a smaller 500 or something for the os drive. my i7 computer will be 3 years old this feb!!! i did have to replace the motherboard a few months back and upgraded the ram. but has been great. never kept a daw machine this long before! typically 2 years max.

firewire card will be dependent on the board. the gigabyte board i use, the onboard firewire works fine. i still have some old dynex i got from best buy years ago that works as well. dvd burner, dont matter much. just get one that is sata and NOT ide. no need to spend over 50$, heck i would be trying to spend 35-40$ on it.

[mykhal c]

Happy new year guys!!! Continued success in 2012!!!