Pro Tools Motherboard compatibility...New computer being built

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by LochNESS

My first post on these boards. Sorry to dredge up an old thread. Google brought me here.

Thinking of purchasing my first-ever ProTools to install on the PC described in my sig. I'm not good at memorizing tech specs, so some details are missing; I'll add those in later when I have them handy. Meanwhile ...

Thoughts? I read most of this thread before posting ... I saw a lot of Intel i7 cpu recommendations ... will I be ok with an i5 chip? I have a PCI-express slot available, as well as a PCI slot. I've been told that PCI-express is the way to go. But when reading comments, I saw a few mentions of MOTU PCI card. Does the ProTools software not come with its own PCI card? Is the MOTU card just an interface? sold separately?

Would buying an older version of ProTools run more smoothly than the most current version? is that even an option? I'm sure there are questions I'm not even asking ... thanks in advance

You would be better served by starting a new thread, or reading the thread on Best PC Builds(spend an afternoon looking over the DUC and this will pop up). Re the i5, I say no. Pro Tools needs a power house and i5 is not a power house CPU(i7 is all I would ever recommend). The second most critical hardware detail is the motherboard chipset and I am behind the times with my 2 systems using X58 and X79 chipsets. These days, I think X99 is the best choice. Socket 2011 designates which range of CPU's that are best.

PT software is software. A PCIe card is hardware(a PCI card is old hardware). The MOTU card allows you to connect certain MOTU interfaces(you need both the card AND interface). There are other interface+card systems, or you can use most any of the USB interfaces on the market(or Thunderbolt on certain systems that have a Thunderbolt option)

[LochNESS]

Thanks for the reply, Dave.

I can't help but wonder what PT users did before the i7 chip was released. Is there no version of PT that will work with an i5? What about the ProTools | First version? Maybe a good way for me to get my feet wet before I invest in another chip?

I have two systems, one i5 and one i7. The i5 is a newer generation, so I was thinking to use that system. But maybe an older i7 is still better? or should I upgrade the i7 to a newer gen since that board already has an i7 socket?

I am aware that PCI and express slots are hardware, I guess I was trying to ask how the software is bundled. In a perfect world ... I am liking the HD Native PCIe card but wondering if I will also need to buy a PT interface ... I have a 3rd-party interface already, but Avid's website says the only way to buy HD Native is to purchase the HD interface bundle? It's a little confusing... Avid lists all the interfaces and software versions but doesn't specify what you get when you buy this or that (what's in the box). I'm planning a trip to my local retailer in the morning to see if I can get this all cleared up. Thanks again for your replies.

[Sugarnutz]

I ran a 001 on an AMD Athlon XP 2700 w/4 GB of RAM and 40 GB hard drives back in the day. I had 32 tracks & bunches of plugins, actually ran that system editing an album project over one weekend with nary a crash. One song had over 100 edits using Pitch-N-Time processing on the lead vocal alone. Paid for that 001 over that weekend, so don't say an i5 won't cut it. Sure; Get the best if you can afford it, but never let money get in yer' way. Look at my sig and see what a limited budget can accomplish these days (the i7 PT 12 build is my 1st every bleeding edge build & is mainly my home desktop).

[LochNESS]

THANK YOU! I am very excited to see what I can accomplish on my system. I have very positive hopes.

I heard a great omen today ...

My wife texted me while I was hurriedly Swiffer-ing my piano keys. I was maybe doing this for 3-5 seconds, just a quick dusting. Anyway, the phone "ding" sounds and a split second after my Swiffer presses down on the keys a hair too heavily and sounds one of the notes - and it was the exact same pitch, same register. Crazy. Then I realize the song that is playing on the radio (yes, I still listen to radio sometimes) has just modulated to that same key (root note).

I'm thinking with 88 piano keys, and the cell phone ding, and the song on the radio, and the timing in which it all took place, the odds of this happening have to be one in a million.

Here's to silly *positive* omens

[LochNESS]

PS: Have fun filling 8TB of online storage! I am still working on my 3TB external drive back at the house. And that includes my entire iTunes library, which includes more than a dozen HD movies. Plus, iMovie projects (it's the home computer and yes my wife has a Mac and yes I did just build a PC ... house divided)!

[Sugarnutz]

What would you say if I told you I've about filled it up. The two 300 GB 10K Raptors are about to be moved to the HD rig making room for another 4 TB hybrid drive in the native machine. I save everything, occasionally housekeeping, but never more than 10% (mostly redundant files/folders).

[LochNESS]

Originally Posted by Sugarnutz

What would you say if I told you I've about filled it up ...

um wow 8TB yeah I would say that's crazy. Great for you, though! You must have a ton of work. I guess I'll learn soon enough how much space PT sessions require, I'm only just beginning.