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  #4971  
Old 08-22-2012, 10:31 AM
Dism Dism is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

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Originally Posted by albee1952 View Post
Honestly, the reason for this thread(and a few others that are like it) is because "off the shelf" computers are so UNlikely to work well. On a tight budget, I would search vendors(like newegg or tigerdirect) for closeouts on an X58 motherboard and a socket 1366 i7 cpu(950 or higher). That, with 6 or 12GB of triple channel RAM will deliver plenty of grunt for your needs and should come in within your budget. Or maybe somebody on the DUC has built a new rig and has an earlier quad system that they could sell you(I might be on of those as I do have an i7 rig that is my backup system).
I agree, as well.

The only "off the shelf" computer I'd ever recommend is a Mac, and that's only especially because they are so streamlined when it comes to the components they use.

Otherwise, building it yourself is the most reliable way to a solid DAW.
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  #4972  
Old 08-22-2012, 08:55 PM
mrmetal mrmetal is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

Quote:
Originally Posted by albee1952 View Post
Honestly, the reason for this thread(and a few others that are like it) is because "off the shelf" computers are so UNlikely to work well. On a tight budget, I would search vendors(like newegg or tigerdirect) for closeouts on an X58 motherboard and a socket 1366 i7 cpu(950 or higher). That, with 6 or 12GB of triple channel RAM will deliver plenty of grunt for your needs and should come in within your budget. Or maybe somebody on the DUC has built a new rig and has an earlier quad system that they could sell you(I might be on of those as I do have an i7 rig that is my backup system).
Thanks. After looking at prices of x58 motherboard and an i7 950 cpu, I think I'll stay with the 2011 sockets. I was able to find a combo deal for an i7 3820 and the gigabyte board and think I may have a starter system ready to be ordered. Opinions on my choices are welcome - as I said, this will be my first attempt at building and I'm not entirely sure how to choose components.

Case: Antec 300 ATX mid tower - $54.99
CPU: Intel i7 3820 Sandy Bridge-E 3.6Hz - $289
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3 - $229
PSU: 650W Corsair Enthusiast Series TX650 - $89.99
Memory - 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 - $38.99
Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX - $109.99
Graphics - EVGA GeForce 8400 - $34.99
Operating System - Windows 7 Professional (educational pricing, upgrade) - $64.95

Still looking at a heatsink for the processor and a firewire card.
Total - $911.90

If I choose to go with the Sabertooth X79, then final price would be almost exactly $1000. With the Gigabyte, I'd need to get a firewire card, so the cost is just about a wash.

Please let me know your thoughts on this proposed system. Thanks again!
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  #4973  
Old 08-23-2012, 07:22 AM
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albee1952 albee1952 is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

mrmetal, You will need 2 hard drives(at least). Is that 8GB RAM in 2 or 4 sticks? If the mobo runs quad channel, then you want 4 sticks, and I would up to 16GB. All else looks good to me

BTW, check out the Corsair H60 liquid cooler(but make sure whatever cooler you go with will fit the case. Coolers are getting larger all the time)
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  #4974  
Old 08-23-2012, 09:47 AM
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TOM@METRO TOM@METRO is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

I use this cooler, with the extra fan from Cooler Master for push pull. I tried the Corsair liquid cooler but found no significant advantage, and they can leak. (I have an HDX card to protect).
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  #4975  
Old 08-23-2012, 10:41 AM
Dorian27 Dorian27 is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

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Originally Posted by mrmetal View Post
Are there off-the-shelf computers I can purchase
When I researched this it just seemed like I could get a lot more bang for my buck if I went with a home build instead of off the shelf.
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Last edited by Dorian27; 08-23-2012 at 10:42 AM. Reason: quote glitch
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  #4976  
Old 08-23-2012, 08:08 PM
mrmetal mrmetal is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

Thanks everybody. Not too sure how confident I am with building a system, but I'll give a try. Thanks for the recommendations on kicking up the memory and the coolers. Also turns out that I was able to find a open box motherboard for a decent price - an ASUS P9X79 WS. Any experience with this card? Also, turns out Newegg's prices change every other day. The prices I listed above are not accurate anymore, and the same system would be about 1100 today, so I had to reconfigure some things to keep within my budget.

So the new proposed system is:
i7 3820 CPU, Open Box ASUS P9X79 WS, Antec 300 case, Antec 650W Earthwatts PSU, 16 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 DDR3; Refurbished 1 TB WD Caviar Green; MSI GeForce 8400 Graphics, Cooler Master Hyper rr h612 Heatsink, W7 x64. Total cost: 990.68 ($952 with rebates). I never thought I'd be able to meet my $1000 budget. My sincere thanks!

Reusing some old components until I can further upgrade: DVD Roms, 1TB WD hard drive, a couple of firewire external hard drives. Some components have those mail-in rebates (which I am never good at following through).

Again, any thoughts and input is appreciated.
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  #4977  
Old 08-24-2012, 10:38 AM
filosofem filosofem is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmetal View Post
So the new proposed system is:
i7 3820 CPU, Open Box ASUS P9X79 WS, Antec 300 case, Antec 650W Earthwatts PSU, 16 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 DDR3; Refurbished 1 TB WD Caviar Green; MSI GeForce 8400 Graphics, Cooler Master Hyper rr h612 Heatsink, W7 x64. Total cost: 990.68 ($952 with rebates). I never thought I'd be able to meet my $1000 budget.
Looks good mrmetal, please share with us your thoughts on completion with perhaps dverb test.
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  #4978  
Old 08-24-2012, 01:02 PM
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TOM@METRO TOM@METRO is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrmetal View Post
So the new proposed system is:
i7 3820 CPU, Open Box ASUS P9X79 WS, Antec 300 case, Antec 650W Earthwatts PSU, 16 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 DDR3; Refurbished 1 TB WD Caviar Green; MSI GeForce 8400 Graphics, Cooler Master Hyper rr h612 Heatsink, W7 x64. Total cost: 990.68 ($952 with rebates). I never thought I'd be able to meet my $1000 budget. My sincere thanks!
This Green drive is not recommended for audio streaming. Go with a WD Black (or equivalent) for audio.
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Pro Tools Ultimate 2024 HDX Hybrid
HD Omni and 192 I/Os
Windows 10
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All Samsung Pro SSDs
Ampex MM1200 2" 24 trk tape
Outboard: UREI, Eventide, Lexicon, Yamaha, TC Electronics, Orban, ART, EchoAudio, Dolby, Hughes, API, Neve, Audio Arts, BBE, Aphex, Berringer, MOTU, dbx, Allison, etc.
Plug-ins: Too many to talk about.

www.metrostudios.com
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  #4979  
Old 08-24-2012, 01:27 PM
CME CME is offline
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Default

And while no means required, a small SSD for the OS and secondary drives for your audio/VI's/backups, is a great way to go and shouldn't cost much more. I have a Samsung 64gb drive as my OS drive that didn't cost much. Also makes keeping back-ups easier as I can back it up several time to a 320GB drive I had lying around.
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  #4980  
Old 08-24-2012, 02:00 PM
filosofem filosofem is offline
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Default Re: i7 Builds - Specs and Results

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Originally Posted by TOM@METRO View Post
This Green drive is not recommended for audio streaming. Go with a WD Black (or equivalent) for audio.
Good catch Tom.
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