Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[andrewhart]

daeron80,

retail motherboards almost always include manuals, driver cds, sata cables, molex to sata power adapter, ide cable, and other similar accessories.

retail hard drives usually have the manual, drivers, and a sata cable as well.

Also, noticed you got the Asus P5Q Turbo as the open box one, I got the same one as well a few weeks back. However I RMA'd it because it didn't post. So best of luck with your new system!

[mano111]

Originally Posted by andrewhart

Also, noticed you got the Asus P5Q Turbo as the open box one, I got the same one as well a few weeks back. However I RMA'd it because it didn't post. So best of luck with your new system!

Hey daeron80,

Maybe you got andrewhart's refurbished mobo

[daeron80]

Thanks everyone for your input to this thread! The new baby is up and running and blowing my mind. And for those of you who pioneered the way, spending the money, time, and effort to figure out what works and what doesn't, what to watch out for, and building tips, and posted it for those of us following in your train, words cannot express my gratitude. For running a finnicky accretion largely ported from Motorola code, to be able to just buy the parts, slap it together, and have it running without a hitch on the advice of a trustworthy online community - that's priceless.

[TOM@METRO]

Just another big +1 for the Q9550. I've been running them for a year now, and though I'm ready for an upgrade, It's not because the CPU is inadequate in any way.

[daeron80]

I'm super happy. I did a big audio-only mix, not a hiccup. Then I did a little MIDI session, and at first I thought I had the play-pause plague. But then I remembered, I hadn't even done the standard system tweaks Digi recommends! Once I did those, it was clear sailing.

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by daeron80

I'm super happy. I did a big audio-only mix, not a hiccup. Then I did a little MIDI session, and at first I thought I had the play-pause plague. But then I remembered, I hadn't even done the standard system tweaks Digi recommends! Once I did those, it was clear sailing.

He said headroon.

[Danny Hays]

Has anyone been to Best Buy Or Walmart this week? All they sell now are Windows 7 64 bit machines. The Walmart sales person said all XP and Vista computers have been recalled. Avid/Digidesign clearly states Pro Tools LE is not compatible with any 64 bit Windows operating systems. So if you already have a LE interface and running XP or Vista, your OK, untill your XP/Vista machine dies.
How can Avid/Digidesign still continue to sell 003,002 or Mboxes when you cannot even buy a new Windows computer that will run Pro Tools???? Avid/Digidesign wont even respond to emails on this problem.
I personally don't care for Pro Tools except for the fact I can get the latency low enough to use it as a live processor, 2 tracks.
I would look at Cakewalk Sonar or Steinberg Nuendo, as I have never seen a Pc that wont run them.
Just a warning for people looking at getting into Pro Tools LE and a Windows computer.

[daeron80]

Bosh. Anyone who goes to Best Buy or Walmart to by a computer to run a DAW hasn't done his homework to start with. Buy the parts at Newegg, and XP at CompUSA. When I bought XP last month, the one near me had 19 copies left. For $89 ea.

[Danny Hays]

I'm talking about laptops. I've built many desktops but never a laptop. Microsoft states they will discontinue supporting XP.
Besides, I think you've missed to point. Not many people can do as you said you did and build your own computer. XP is being discontinued and eventually we won't be able to buy a "Legal" version. Then your LE hardware will be a paper weight.

[daeron80]

Originally Posted by Danny Hays

I'm talking about laptops.

Ah. Well, not the best places to buy a laptop for a DAW, either. Walk into Best Buy and ask for an external firewire hard drive with an Oxford chipset and see what response you get. And Walmart? Forget it.

I bet most compatible laptops that come with Win7 would run XP just fine, either as a fresh install or a dual boot.

Originally Posted by Danny Hays

Microsoft states they will discontinue supporting XP.

In 2014! I reckon A/D will get around to releasing a Windows 7 compatible version sometime in the next 4 to 5 years. They're cuttin' it a little close, I admit. But XP is not quite ready to go on the cart.

I feel happeeeee, I feel happeeee. I want to go for a walk!