Pro Tools Motherboard compatibility...New computer being built

[qtheproducer]

Greetings all!

Thank you for reading upon this post.

I am about to build a new music computer and would like to know if these motherboards are compatible with the new mbox 3rd generation and pro tools 9/10?


-1st....Asrock P67 Extreme4 Gen3 1155 ATX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157265)

-2nd...ASUS P8Z68-V/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131792)

If these are compatible which one would be better?

I will using the i7 2700k as my processor/cpu and I intend to overclock it at some point. I will have a water cooling solution for the overclocking. I will have an external graphics card as well.

Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you so much for your response!

[NickRyanAudio]

Originally Posted by qtheproducer

I am about to build a new music computer

Good luck! Avid products are not friendly with PC's, especially self-build. And they have no plan to patch, update, or offer help in any way besides tell you to "buy a mac"

Be prepared to install, test, return to store, install, test, return to store, repeat for CPU, mobo, graphics card, FW card and more.

[qtheproducer]

Originally Posted by NickRyanAudio

Good luck! Avid products are not friendly with PC's, especially self-build. And they have no plan to patch, update, or offer help in any way besides tell you to "buy a mac"

Be prepared to install, test, return to store, install, test, return to store, repeat for CPU, mobo, graphics card, FW card and more.

Really? I look down upon Avid for not listing more motherboards as compatible on a Windows OS.

[TCM]

Originally Posted by NickRyanAudio

Good luck! Avid products are not friendly with PC's, especially self-build. And they have no plan to patch, update, or offer help in any way besides tell you to "buy a mac"

Be prepared to install, test, return to store, install, test, return to store, repeat for CPU, mobo, graphics card, FW card and more.

There maybe smoother sailing with a Mac, indeed, but there have been successful PC builts:

http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=238426

[arhall]

Originally Posted by NickRyanAudio

Good luck! Avid products are not friendly with PC's, especially self-build. And they have no plan to patch, update, or offer help in any way besides tell you to "buy a mac"

Be prepared to install, test, return to store, install, test, return to store, repeat for CPU, mobo, graphics card, FW card and more.

I second that!

[Blissful World]

Originally Posted by NickRyanAudio

Good luck! Avid products are not friendly with PC's, especially self-build. And they have no plan to patch, update, or offer help in any way besides tell you to "buy a mac"

Be prepared to install, test, return to store, install, test, return to store, repeat for CPU, mobo, graphics card, FW card and more.

I'm using an Asus P8P67 which is a year old now, but works perfectly well.

1) I've emailed Avid support three times in the past weeks since I installed PT10 Win Native and they were polite, professional, and helpful each time.

2) Yeah, PT is picky about PC parts, but it's not near that dire if you do your homework. I could tell my video card seemed a little off, so I replaced it myself before installing.

3) There's nothing wrong with being a copycat if you copy the right cat. Just copy a working configuration. It's not brain surgery.

4) The company has been nothing if not industrious at incorporating all sorts of improvements into the software. It doesn't matter if other DAWs already had them. This contradicts your statement the company sits around uncaring, doing nothing all day.

5) If a Mac was the last computer on earth I would never buy one because of the company's history of insulting ads trying to get the point across that Mac-heads are hip and elite and PC-heads are dullards with zero personality.

It is true the Avid PC component recommendations are an outdated joke. It is also true that I have more PC experience than most people. But I am hardly a PC tech all day and haven't run a DAW in many years. My system is rock solid. It is rock solid because I accepted the fact the component bar would be raised if I went with Avid and just worked through a couple of imcompatabiliites without feeling like I'd been singled out for persecution.

Alternatively, I could have paid four times as much for a gleaming new Mac Pro than what I paid for a used but modern PC system. No, thanks!

[albee1952]

Intel i7 9xx (socket 1366) on an X58 motherboard is proven solid and reliable. SandyBridge E(socket 2011) on an X79 motherboard looks really promising(a few builds are up and running with excellent results). There are simply too many options and combinations for any company to test them all. Apple makes a handful so it doesn't take long to test and verify those.

[mesaone]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Intel i7 9xx (socket 1366) on an X58 motherboard is proven solid and reliable.

Confirmed stable here. i7 960 3.2 GHz (LGA 1366) with an ASUS Sabertooth X58 motherboard.

I can confirm the following for three Pro Tools versions (LE8, 9, 10)
-works with G-Skill Ripjaws RAM overclocked to 1600
-works with hyperthreading on (4x2 cores)
-works with hyperthreading off (4 cores)
-works with overclock (at least with my 960 upped to 3.8 GHz)

A few things:

1) I turn AERO off, and set the shortcut for pro tools to "disable desktop composition"
2) PT runs better for me when utilizing 3 of 4 cores (hyperthreading off)
3) I am currently using MBOX 3. Milage may vary for other interfaces I suppose.
4) I have tested two firewire interfaces, both had dropouts and driver problems with the motherboard's built-in FW port. I installed a 3rd party PCI express card with the TI chipset ($25 from NewEgg) and that fixed it.
5) while PT works even with this processor overclocked to 3.8GHz, I reduced it to 3.4 because of heat concerns. Currently using the Antec Kuhler 620 closed-loop liquid cooling system

[Old School Audio Guy]

Originally Posted by albee1952

Intel i7 9xx (socket 1366) on an X58 motherboard is proven solid and reliable. SandyBridge E(socket 2011) on an X79 motherboard looks really promising(a few builds are up and running with excellent results). There are simply too many options and combinations for any company to test them all. Apple makes a handful so it doesn't take long to test and verify those.

I have an older ASUS P6T and have a solid system that works fine I have used Asus for many years and my computer friend at Cal PolyTech recommends them as number 1
They have good support as opposed to none and a whole system cost a quarter or less than a Mac in fact I am converting a friend who has had Macs for year over to Window and an ASUS with dual 6 core Processors. Remember to get Windows 7 Pro it is very solid and make sure it is Service pack 1. This is a very good solid and reliable system you can go wrong with and Asus and an i7 4 or 6 cores. Just do all of the OS and system optimizing that is all over this Forum. Win7 works fine there are lots of engineers using them everyday. Just stay away from the AMD they have issues with Pro Audio. Oh yea use an SSD for your OS and Programs and either a Seagate Barracuda 7200 drive or a WD Black Cavier for your audio drives and a separate drive for your video if you are using video. Enjoy your build and go have a few great Dinner with the money you save or get yourself some great plugins from Flux, Softube or Waves.
Good luck!

[HKnight]

Originally Posted by Blissful World

5) If a Mac was the last computer on earth I would never buy one because of the company's history of insulting ads trying to get the point across that Mac-heads are hip and elite and PC-heads are dullards with zero personality.

Alternatively, I could have paid four times as much for a gleaming new Mac Pro than what I paid for a used but modern PC system. No, thanks!

Couldn't have said it any better! F**k a mac. Its nothing more than an expensive fisher price and Id much rather have a tonka. :)))