New Computer for Pro Tools 10

[JimFerraro]

I would like to buy a Dell or HP workstation for under 2k and be certain its Pro Tools 10 qualified. The exact models listed on the compatibility page are not for sale on Dell or HP. Should I just assume that a Dell T5600 is the same as a T5500 for example. I would rather not go the sweetwater route or build my own system. Is there a list of qualifying computers that are actually available so I can be sure? One more thing, when I try to expand to 8g of memory while spec-ing out a Dell workstation, it looks like I have to go to NECC type memory. Is that a problem for Pro Tools compatibility? Thanks in advance.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by JimFerraro

I would like to buy a Dell or HP workstation for under 2k and be certain its Pro Tools 10 qualified. The exact models listed on the compatibility page are not for sale on Dell or HP. Should I just assume that a Dell T5600 is the same as a T5500 for example. I would rather not go the sweetwater route or build my own system. Is there a list of qualifying computers that are actually available so I can be sure? One more thing, when I try to expand to 8g of memory while spec-ing out a Dell workstation, it looks like I have to go to NECC type memory. Is that a problem for Pro Tools compatibility? Thanks in advance.

The PC world is ever-changing, so a list of approved machines is impossible to compile. Off the shelf isn't much better as manufacturers can(and often do) change things willy-nilly, so a machine that works might get component changes to the same model that renders it incompatible(but kudos for trying to do your homework up front). Even the Sweetwater systems are a bit of hit&miss. Building a PC with the proper parts is really the best and safest way to go, other than buying from someone that is maybe selling an older rig to finance a new one(my old i7 rig is available). Your $2k budget is perfect for a 6 core i7(socket 2011), x79 motherboard, 16GB of quad-channel RAM, and all the rest. Maybe you have someone local that is computer savvy enough to build, if you provide all the parts? This is the most proven basis for a newly built Pro Tools machine. The earlier socket 1366 i7/x58 mobo is also well-proven, but the 1155 and 1156 setups are quite a crap shoot(and don't get me started on i5's..........). Check the first page of this thread for more info:
http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=238426
Lots of great info, advice, tweaks, etc. My advice, build it(or find someone who can), build it right the first time and don't look back. Your budget will net you a winner, but only if you throw that cash in the proper direction

[EGS]

Originally Posted by albee1952

The PC world is ever-changing, so a list of approved machines is impossible to compile. Off the shelf isn't much better as manufacturers can(and often do) change things willy-nilly, so a machine that works might get component changes to the same model that renders it incompatible(but kudos for trying to do your homework up front). Even the Sweetwater systems are a bit of hit&miss. Building a PC with the proper parts is really the best and safest way to go, other than buying from someone that is maybe selling an older rig to finance a new one(my old i7 rig is available). Your $2k budget is perfect for a 6 core i7(socket 2011), x79 motherboard, 16GB of quad-channel RAM, and all the rest. Maybe you have someone local that is computer savvy enough to build, if you provide all the parts? This is the most proven basis for a newly built Pro Tools machine. The earlier socket 1366 i7/x58 mobo is also well-proven, but the 1155 and 1156 setups are quite a crap shoot(and don't get me started on i5's..........). Check the first page of this thread for more info:
http://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=238426
Lots of great info, advice, tweaks, etc. My advice, build it(or find someone who can), build it right the first time and don't look back. Your budget will net you a winner, but only if you throw that cash in the proper direction

+1. My build (based on the above DUC build thread) is stable & powerful.

[mikeyman]

if you have it built make sure your computer guy has a copy of all the setup instructions from Avid.Like recording to a seperate drive and i think i would get an i7 and there is a Bios tweek that Avid recomends that may help i'm not sure if these guys on the forum did the bios tweek .Listen to the guys here on the forum that have no problems with their rigs.And let us know what you decide on and how it's running so we can learn.Did you contact Avid and see if they would recomend one of the new models.It must be hard for them to keep up with the changes...Also will you be running the basic PT's 10 or the HD version or the tool kit version

[tpann]

I'll put in a plug here: I purchased a laptop PC from Rain Computers last April. I'm running Pro Tools 10 on it and I have been very happy. They build them to be PT-compliant and the customer service, to the extent I've needed it, has been great. The computer I have falls within your price range also. I highly recommend them.

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by tpann

I'll put in a plug here: I purchased a laptop PC from Rain Computers last April. I'm running Pro Tools 10 on it and I have been very happy. They build them to be PT-compliant and the customer service, to the extent I've needed it, has been great. The computer I have falls within your price range also. I highly recommend them.

Testimonials are good too But remember, dollar for dollar, a desktop machine will have more horsepower.

[mikeyman]

those Rain computers are expensive.I might look into these but i'm not sure if they will run PT's Just throwing some ideas out there don't take my word for it thats for sure check with the other Pro's.Just interested to see what Albee think of these
http://pcaudiolabs.com/rokbox_i7-buynow.asp

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by mikeyman

those Rain computers are expensive.I might look into these but i'm not sure if they will run PT's Just throwing some ideas out there don't take my word for it thats for sure check with the other Pro's.Just interested to see what Albee think of these
http://pcaudiolabs.com/rokbox_i7-buynow.asp

I'm hardly the last word here, but I don't recommend Ivy Bridge for Pro Tools. My experience(i5 2500K, Asus P8P67, 16GB of RAM) was a total bust(but it makes a fine office machine for the studio). For me, there are only 2 i7 setups; socket 1366/X58 mobo, and socket 2011/X79 mobo(my next build) $1800-2000 will build a smokin' 6 core socket 2011.............

[Bob Olhsson]

Year or two old Dell and HP workstations go for a song on E-Bay because developers always want the very latest/fastest and most people don't understand what they are.

[JimFerraro]

Thank you all for the advice. Has anyone tried one of these companies that build custom computers? Here is an initial stab at configuring something based on your advice. The company is called ADA Direct. What do you think?

DESKTOP PC Core™ i7 X79 4-DIMM SLI® / CrossFireX™ Performance Custom Computer System $1915.11

COMPUCASE HEC 6C28B Black Mid-Tower Case, No PSU, ATX

HEC X-Power 585 585W Power Supply, 24-pin ATX12V, Dual 80mm Fans, OEM

ASUS Rampage IV Gene, LGA2011, Intel® X79, DDR3-2400 (O.C.) 32GB /4, PCIe x16 SLI CF /2+1*, SATA 6Gb/s /4, 3Gb/s /3, USB 3.0 /4, HDA, GbLAN, mATX, Retail

INTEL Core i7-3930K Six-Core, 3.2 - 3.8GHz TB, LGA2011, 12MB L3 Cache, HT EM64T EIST VT XD, 32nm, 130W, Retail w/o Fan

INTEL RTS2011AC CPU Cooler, Socket 2011, Copper/Aluminum, Retail

G SKILL 32GB (4 x 8GB) Ripjaws Z PC3-12800 DDR3 1600MHz CL10 (10-10-10-30) 1.5V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC

EVGA GeForce® GTX 660 SuperClocked 1046MHz, 2GB GDDR5 6008MHz, PCIe x16 SLI, DP + HDMI + 2 x DVI, Retail

CRUCIAL 256GB M4 SSD, MLC Marvell 88SS9174, 500/260 MB/s, 2.5-Inch, SATA 6 Gb/s, Retail

RAID No RAID, Independent HDD Drives

LITE-ON iHAS124 Black 24x DVD±RW Dual-Layer Burner, SATA, OEM

LINKSYS WMP600N Wireless-N Adapter, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, Draft 2.0, PCI, Retail

MICROSOFT Windows 7 Professional 32-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM

WARRANTY Silver Warranty Package (3 Year Limited Parts, 3 Year Labor Warranty)