i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[Pique Arestiuvee]

Thanks for the info, Shane! Glad to hear you've had a lot experience with both ECC and non ECC RAM and that you actually find non ECC to be beneficial in terms of performance and plugin count.

I regards to the Avid qualification, if you go to the same link you provided for the minimum system requirements and scroll down to "supported computers" they have a list of Windows "qualified" computers, and the only desktop qualified computers they have are HP Xeon workstations.

In an earlier post in this thread, #6470 by Ulisauer (post is currently on page 647 at the bottom), Ulisauer mentions that he has an i7 build and he needed support from Avid but they said they couldn't help him because it is not a supported computer.

It sounds like a lot of people are having success with I7 PCs and Pro Tools, and going with an I7 is the route that I really want to go because it seems like the performance and price blows everything else out of the water, but I am just concerned and trying to get the real deal on why there are no "qualified" or "supported" I7 desktops on that list.

Curiously, they have supported I7 laptops on there, but obviously the expectations of how far you can push a laptop are a lot lower than a desktop, so maybe they have a different qualification process for laptops?

Thanks!

[Shan]

Originally Posted by Pique Arestiuvee

I regards to the Avid qualification, if you go to the same link you provided for the minimum system requirements and scroll down to "supported computers" they have a list of Windows "qualified" computers, and the only desktop qualified computers they have are HP Xeon workstations.

As mentioned earlier, the i7 is very much supported by Avid.

Originally Posted by Pique Arestiuvee

In an earlier post in this thread, #6470 by Ulisauer (post is currently on page 647 at the bottom), Ulisauer mentions that he has an i7 build and he needed support from Avid but they said they couldn't help him because it is not a supported computer.

That is a different issue and not i7 related.

Originally Posted by Pique Arestiuvee

...I am just concerned and trying to get the real deal on why there are no "qualified" or "supported" I7 desktops on that list.

It comes down to how much money and resources Avid wants to invest in qualified systems on PC. If anything, Microsoft PCs should also be on that list in my honest opinion. If you don't want to build your own and looking for a guaranteed prebuilt i7 system that works, then I highly recommend getting in touch with Nick or Steve.

Hope that helps.

Shane

[CME]

The qualified list for professionals that absolutely need their systems to never break, or when they do, be able to call avid and get it fixed asap. Cost isn't an issue for these users. They will buy whatever avid says and are willing to pay for the premium support plans.

So Avid only picks and qualifies one line of PC computers that they use and test extensively. It's impossible to rigorously test all the possible PC's out there. And then trying to help someone trouble shoot over the phone? Not going to happen unless you have a qualified system. That doesn't mean you can't build as good or an even better system. Probably for less money. You just can't call avid and complain when something isn't going quite right. Which you probably won't need to ever do anyway if you build a system recommended by these guys, or buy a preconfigured system designed for pro tools. As mentioned above.

[Pique Arestiuvee]

Cool thanks for the reply! I went back and looked at the minimum requirements page and found they actually wrote a note in there right above the Supported Computers section. Can't believe I missed it before. it says:

"It is important to note that Avid tests and qualifies specific configurations. While systems that meet the minimum requirements may operate without problems, please understand we can only provide support for qualified systems. Below you will find detailed information about qualified configurations."

I definitely like that line "while systems that meet the minimum requirements may operate without problems" part because it seems to go along with your theory about whether or not they want to spend time and money qualifying more PCs (since there are so many ways to build one). Knowing that with all the positive stuff I read in this thread it makes me feel a lot more comfortable going the I7 route.

I tried calling technical support today to see how they would handle it if I called in with a problem on on an I7 desktop build but couldn't get through. I'm gonna try again tomorrow and I'll update if I find out anything post-worthy.

Even if they don't offer support, the DUC always seems to have great solutions to problems anyways!

[YYR123]

Yes Pro tools PC are great guys...

Neil and Steve will get you a great system

[Bob Olhsson]

Originally Posted by YYR123

Yes Pro tools PC are great guys...

Neil and Steve will get you a great system

They sure did that for me!

[guitardom]

As of a couple weeks ago, I believe every Avid supported HP machine has been discontinued or updated/changed. They are only available on the used market.

[newptbuild]

Hey everyone, I'm helping my boss put together a new PT 12 build after using OS X for many years. We're going to be running the latest version of PT HD and I just wanted to make sure the build I put together will play nicely with Pro Tools 12. All of the 'qualified' builds on the Avid site are outdated and no longer available for purchase. Here is the current build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hrXdgL

We have 2 monitors and 1 TV we need to output to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by newptbuild

Hey everyone, I'm helping my boss put together a new PT 12 build after using OS X for many years. We're going to be running the latest version of PT HD and I just wanted to make sure the build I put together will play nicely with Pro Tools 12. All of the 'qualified' builds on the Avid site are outdated and no longer available for purchase. Here is the current build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/hrXdgL

We have 2 monitors and 1 TV we need to output to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

You haven't mentioned the drive to which you will actually record.

[newptbuild]

Just a standard Western Digital 7200 rpm hard drive.