Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[badperson]

here's my new list...sorry for so mnay posts.

ptle 6.4 on an 001 running xp.

--Asus A8V Via Socket 939
--AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939
--LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner
--ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
--Update DIAMOND GX700PCIE256SB Radeon X700 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
--ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink
--CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400


thanks,
bp

[dtpdwworkshop]

Allen,

Will this system work well together?

Asus A8N-E
Athalon 64 4800+ X2
1GB (2x512MB) Kingston DDR 3200 400MHz
ATI Radeon X1800XL 256 GDDR3 PCI-X dual DVI
Seagate 80GB IDE 7200rpm
Seagate 2x250GB SATA 7200rpm - Mirrored
DVD-RW Dual Layer
Windows XP-Pro with service pack 2

By the way, I have a 002

Dave

[Allen Hallada]

Allen,

Will this system work well together?

Asus A8N-E
Athalon 64 4800+ X2
1GB (2x512MB) Kingston DDR 3200 400MHz
ATI Radeon X1800XL 256 GDDR3 PCI-X dual DVI
Seagate 80GB IDE 7200rpm
Seagate 2x250GB SATA 7200rpm - Mirrored
DVD-RW Dual Layer
Windows XP-Pro with service pack 2

By the way, I have a 002

Dave

Just check to make sure that ram is supported on this motherboard for dual core processors at www.asus.com and that you are using PTLE 7.0.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

here's my new list...sorry for so mnay posts.

ptle 6.4 on an 001 running xp.

--Asus A8V Via Socket 939
--AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939
--LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner
--ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower
--Update DIAMOND GX700PCIE256SB Radeon X700 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
--ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink
--CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400


thanks,
bp

I don't think that video card works with this motherboard. You will need to stick with an AGP card yet for this motherboard, or you could get the A8V-E and use this video card.
Allen

[Allen Hallada]

I know you guys are big fans of AMD processors, but can anyone tell me whether the Digi-approved Dell systems are any good? I have an Mbox and PTle 6.7. My toshiba laptop isn't quite doing it for me!
Thanks,
Bella

Bella,
You would have better luck if you were running PTLE 7.0 if you wanted a Dell. The older versions of PTLE run much better on AMD chipsets and processors in my opinion. There are some people using them however. If I were in your shoes and didn't want to build my own system, I'd look into either an iMac G5 or MacMini G4 for that MBox. The MacMini actually does very well and you can buy one for under 500.00 now. Check the Apple store at www.apple.com

Allen

[Yehudah R]

Hi! I am now doing my research to build a computer for the PTLE digi 002 system. So far I am just beginning at this.

I saw the specs on your system "The Allenstein Machine" and noticed it was last updated 11/20/05.

I was wondering:

1. Have you made any changes to this system that you have not yet posted?
2. How do you compare this system to the new Dual Core Apple computers?
3. The Motherboard you listed the Asus A8N-E Dual Core Motherboard looks great - Would you consider using the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard or any other if price was not an issue?
4. In general if you could spend a couple thousand on building a system what would you do?

Thanks so much for you help!

All the best,

Yehudah R.

[psus15]

Hey DAZED!!! (or anyone else who read about the GATEWAY 5028 that I purchased for use with protools)

It is with great dissapointment that I tell you I am taking back the 5028 tomorrow to BEST BUY.

In it's stock configuration, (and with a FIREWIRE SEAGATE HD ATTACHED for audio) I had occasional hiccups the first few days. (light session work) Occasional HW buffer errors, DAE 6087 once a day...nothing I hadn't seen before, but occasionally annoying.

As I moved into HEAVIER sessions, I errors became more frequent. Then OUT OF NO WHERE...BAM. 2 days ago, I go to mix a session, I open the session, and I get the "protools has encountered an error...must shut down." From that point on, I got errors all the time. (random shutdowns, cpu running out of power errors when the cpu meter wasn't even 1/4???)

SO, I went out and got a external HD (which I would need anyway if I built my own DAW) and as I feared, it did not help.

I did NOT purchase a digi approved firewire, but the ultimate goal/reason to buy a computer RETAIL is that I didn't want to have to upgrade every piece of gear to make it work. So I bet a few of the problems could have been fixed with a better FIREWIRE, but not all....

WHEN THE SESSION WORKED, HOLY COW...FAST...no latency (64 samples)...VIRTUALLY unlimited plug use (at least compared to what I am used to), but alas, in the end, I SHOULD HAVE JUST FOLLOWED EVERYONE'S ADVICE AND BUILT MY OWN!!!

YES, I tried all the optimization tweaks listed in the thread on this site, and it still didn't work right.

Off to newegg to price out my custom build....sorry dazedandconfused, this one is a NO GO.

Word.

[Belladonna]

Hi Allen,
Thanks for the tip about Dell computers. I'm considering going with an Athalon based system, based on what you say - and wonder if you could tell me whether this looks any good. I can't afford to go with the processor you recommend, so I've downgraded a bit. Also, I couldn't find the video card you suggest - is this a suitable substitution, or can you recommend another?

Thank you in advance for any comments you may have about this system. I really do appreciate it.

Enlight Steel Mid Tower Case, Black $54.99
AMD® Athlon™ 64 X2 - 3800+ (Socket 939) [BVBOX] Retail Box w/ Heatsink and Fan $344.99
Heat Sink and Fan included with CPU $0.01
Asus® A8N-SLi, Socket 939, NVIDIA® nForce™4 SLi Chipset w/ PCI Express x16 (ATX) $149.99
Corsair™ 2Gb XMS3200 TwinX Matched Pair Series (TWINX2048-3200) $279.99
300GB Maxtor® DiamondMax® 10 SATA2-300 7200RPM 16Mb OEM $154.99
Mitsumi 3½ in (1.44Mb) Floppy Disk Drive, Black $9.99
Sapphire® Radeon™ X700 - Radeon™ X700 VPU w/256Mb DDR & PCI Express x16 TVO $129.99
On-Board PCI Sound built-into motherboard $0.01
On-Board 10/100Mb Lan built-into motherboard $0.01
Logitech® Media Keyboard (Retail Box), Black $34.99
Samsung 940B 19in, Digital Active Matrix TFT LCD (Retail Box), Black $454.99
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home w/ CD & Manual (OEM) $114.99
Sony DW-Q30A Dual Layer DVD±R/RW Drive (IDE) OEM, Black $49.99
Enlight 450W ATX 12V Ver 2.0 Power Supply $69.99
Arctic Silver® Thermal Compound (3g Tube - multiple applications) $9.99


Best Price: $1815.00

(this is all in Canadian dollard, BTW) I will need to add a system drive as well - maybe 80 or 100 GB.

Bella p.s. I don't mind upgrading to 7.0 if necessary

[Nait Daug]

HELP! I recently purchased the ultimate system that Allen recommended. I copied it exactly, even got the 10,000 rpm HD's, the Digi approved firewire card. Bought the 002, installed everything (with some help) and I can't get PT to perform. I get CPU confliction errors just trying to run simple playback, then interruption errors if I change the H/W buffer size like PT recommends.

AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH

I know this system is way too quick to be getting those errors. Obviously my configuration is off somewhere, but I'm not a computer whiz by any means. Where do I start? Can anyone help? I'll PAY for help darnit! I'm losing money and clients every day this thing doesn't work.

DESPARATE!

[ejs]

Do I need the Zalman Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler if I purchase the AMD ATHLON 64 X2 4800+ (ADA4800CDBOX) RETAIL BOXED BUNDLEd W/ the A8N-E from:
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/Viewprodu...+AMD+CPU<%2Fb>