Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[fsilano]

Allen and co.,

I went shopping today and have just finished assembling my new PTLE/XP workstation. What I would like to know now is is there any information available to help with the configuration of the system (i.e. tweaks)?? I am running Windows XP Pro. Here's what I ended up with:

MSI KT3 Ultra (no raid - didn't want it)
Athlon XP 2100+
512MB DDR333 Memory
Matrox G450 Dual Head Video (w/G550 upgrade)
AOpen 24x10x40 cdrw/cdr/cd
Western Digital 20GB 7200 U100 (System)
Western Digital 80GB 7200 U100 (System)
Enlight 72500AZ case w/300 watt power supply (a little on the wimpy side but Enlight makes a great PS and I think it will be fine).
AOC 17" Flat Screen

Thanks for the help. Let me know about the tweking. I am formatting and installing XP as I type this.

Frank

[Allen Hallada]

Originally posted by fsilano:
Allen and co.,

I went shopping today and have just finished assembling my new PTLE/XP workstation. What I would like to know now is is there any information available to help with the configuration of the system (i.e. tweaks)?? I am running Windows XP Pro. Here's what I ended up with:

MSI KT3 Ultra (no raid - didn't want it)
Athlon XP 2100+
512MB DDR333 Memory
Matrox G450 Dual Head Video (w/G550 upgrade)
AOpen 24x10x40 cdrw/cdr/cd
Western Digital 20GB 7200 U100 (System)
Western Digital 80GB 7200 U100 (System)
Enlight 72500AZ case w/300 watt power supply (a little on the wimpy side but Enlight makes a great PS and I think it will be fine).
AOC 17" Flat Screen

Thanks for the help. Let me know about the tweking. I am formatting and installing XP as I type this.

Frank

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Frank,
I'd seriously consider a 350W or bigger Enermax PSU for these XP2000+ and higher CPUs. It makes a huge difference in stability when you get adding more hardware ie. hard drives, CDRWs, DVDs, etc. But if it stays stable for you without the spontaneous reboots you are set. For tweeking, go to the PT Performance thread. I've only seen one of those MSI KT333 motherboards listed so far and I'm not sure of the setups on it for best performance. YOu may email the guy using it - executivos I believe is his DUC user name. Any reason for not going with the new line of Athlons? XP 2200+ or higher. They have dropped in price significantly last week and are definitely a jump in performance.

Good luck,
Allen
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[malik750]

HEY EVERYBODY WELL IM FINALLY LOOKING TO GET PROTOOLS LE. NOW I HAVE A DELL P3 500M 12G 192MBRAM WITH USB PORTS ETHER CARD AND ITS IT BEEN THRU CUBASE AND CAKEWALK NOW ITS ON ITS LAST LEG. "BARELLY BREATHING" SO I WANT TO BULID A CPU FROM WHAT I HAVE I KNOW I HAVE TO GET RIDE OF EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH IN THERE NOW WHAT DO I NEED TO GET SO I CAN GET UP AND RUNNING WITH PROTOOLS LE. CAN I BUILD IT WITH THE CASE I HAVE.

[malik750]

OH THANKS IN ADVANCE IM REALLY NEW TO THIS [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[fsilano]

Originally posted by Allen Hallada:
Frank,
I'd seriously consider a 350W or bigger Enermax PSU for these XP2000+ and higher CPUs. It makes a huge difference in stability when you get adding more hardware ie. hard drives, CDRWs, DVDs, etc. But if it stays stable for you without the spontaneous reboots you are set. For tweeking, go to the PT Performance thread. I've only seen one of those MSI KT333 motherboards listed so far and I'm not sure of the setups on it for best performance. YOu may email the guy using it - executivos I believe is his DUC user name. Any reason for not going with the new line of Athlons? XP 2200+ or higher. They have dropped in price significantly last week and are definitely a jump in performance.
Good luck,
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Allen, I figured I would give it a shot with the Enlight since I have good experiences with them in the past. If I have any problems with the PS I can just swap it out for a better one - not a biggie and I can use this one elsewhere. As far as the processor goes, they didn't have any 2200+'s and I got the 2100+ dirt cheap. I REALLY like the MSI board and I may end up buying another board and a 2600+ (or ??) and swapping the processors. For now, I think I am on my way and that this setup will get me through this project. Haven't installed the Digi001 card yet. Going to do that now and then install PT. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for the help. Oh...BTW, dual monitors - WHOA!!!! How cool is this???

Later,
Frank

[golf_bht]

Don't go for 2200+ as it is just a little bit faster than the 2100+. just wait for something faster to come. don't waste your money with that ****

[fsilano]

Anybody have a link to the PT PErformance thread? I am having trouble locating it.

Thanks,
Frank

[Allen Hallada]

Originally posted by golf_bht:
Don't go for 2200+ as it is just a little bit faster than the 2100+. just wait for something faster to come. don't waste your money with that ****

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Depends on which XP2200+ you are talking about. The new Thoroughbred line is definetly showing performance jumps over the older XP2100+ built on the Palomino core. For the $30.00 difference it is worth it. You can get an XP2200+ now for 145.00. Just a thought.

Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[BassWear]

What comes first the chicken or the egg? I still have not gotten this crazy thing (A7M266 and XP 2200)to boot. Since I was a little sqweemish about up dating the bios I took it into a local store with a good reputation. They say without hessitation that even with the 1007 (and beta 1008) the XP 2200 does not work with the A7M266. On the other hand I have all of you guys and Asus themselves saying it will work. Again, the board works with the 1.4, but not the XP 2200. I am at my whits end.

[BassWear]

What is better, to down grade my processor to a slower speed (what would you recomend), or up grade my mother board. I just have this sinking feeling knowing I spent all this money on a system that doesnt work and it will probably be a week before I can ship stuff around untill I do. Thank God for the DUC. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]