Which motherboard/processor for pci cards?

[sean shannon]

My G5 just died, and apple can't fix it as it is "vintage", and they no longer fix them. I have the PCI HD cards, so I can't use, nor do I want to buy, a new mac. So PC it is.

After searching the (very) old recommendations in the sticky, I am still not sure what is successfully being used with PTHD 8 in 2010 with the PCI cards. I feel more comfortable building from scratch than buying a pre-built PC, I just need to know what parts work together best.

Could someone help by listing their (still available) motherboard/CPU combo that they know works with a PCI HD3 and Pro Tools HD8? Thanks for the help, I'm bedazzled by the sheer number of motherboards out there.

[sean shannon]

Also, is there a digidesign-approved PC systems/components list? I used to be able to find one here. Any help is much appreciated, I am under pressure and shuffling sessions around as I type this.

[Third Eye Studios]

Hi Sean, as far as I know there's not a list of approved components, although there is a list of approved computers somewhere. Most of the computers on the list are a little old, but still working great for some users.

Here's a link to a recent build from Intel Doc. It's down the page a little.
http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=274137

My computer build is in my profile. It's not proven with HD3, but works great with my HD2/i7.

About 3 or 4 pages back in this forum, there's some threads with pretty recent builds and there descriptions. I don't really keep up with the various components people are using until I'm ready to do a fresh build myself.

[sean shannon]

Is anyone using this for HD3 PCI?
GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3G

It has 5 PCI slots, and can use a core 2 quad processor.

[sean shannon]

Here's another one I've found. 3 PCI slots. i7 CPU support.
Asus P7P55D LE

Any thoughts on these 2 motherboards? Successes?

[x9blade]

Originally Posted by sean shannon

Is anyone using this for HD3 PCI?
GIGABYTE GA-P35-S3G

It has 5 PCI slots, and can use a core 2 quad processor.

i've been using this for a couple of years.had some teething probs in the beginning but, turned out great for my hd 4 and at times 5 system.bad news.......... they dont make it any more. maybe find one on ebay.

new build is using a p55 ud3L

[sean shannon]

That one is hard to find, also. I was hoping someone has a modern, available system recommendation, as I need to get a motherboard/CPU right now, my mac has died and I have sessions piling up. Any recent builds? i7? All three of the boards listed above are difficult to find or discontinued. Scrolling through the motherboards on newegg is daunting.

I really don't want to go to ebay for a used board, I'd like to buy new. Thanks for the suggestions, any others? I will buy and set up 2 identical systems, so I want to get a new one that is known to work with PTHD 8 PCI.

[sean shannon]

Wow. I really didn't expect it to be so quiet around here. Bump...

[Stickmanly]

Hello,
I recently had to replace my motherboard and upon the excellent advice of a few helpful people - I used the following:

Mobo:
http://www.frys.com/product/6030448?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG


CPU:
http://www.frys.com/product/5981624?...H:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Memory:
http://www.frys.com/product/6009088?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG


I'm running a PCI HD2 and a digi192. It has been super solid for tracking 16 tracks of drums at once and using VI's.

I hope this helps,

[sean shannon]

Thank you. Are you sure about that model number? ASUS P7P55D PRO. Doesn't look like it has PCI slots together. How is your HD2 PCI setup in there? ASUS P7P55D LE has been recommended here, and has 3 adjacent PCI slots, but I can't seem to find one for sale.