Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[SEBJOERG]

This is my setup now:

MB : Asus A7V333-X with onboard sound,lan. (Enabeled)
CPU: AMD XP2500 Barton runs at 166.67X12 = 2gig.
Cooling: Thermaltake Volcano 9 Coolmod running at approx 2800rpm.
RAM: Corsair 512 Mb DDR PC-2700 Cas2.0
System disk: Western Digital Caviar 20 Gig, 7200 rpm Master Promise IDE 1
Audio Disk: Western Digital Caviar 60 Gig, 7200 rpm. Partitioned in 2x30Gig. Master Promise
IDE 2
CD-ROM: Creative 48x Master regular IDE 2
Burner: Sony 4x2x24 Master regular IDE 1
Display card: Nvidia Vanta/Vanta LT 16 Mb AGP.
Keyboard: Logitech DeLuxe Ps2
Mouse: Standard Microsoft Ps2 wired mouse.
Digi 001 in PCI slot 3.
Promise ULTRA ATA-100 TX-2 controller in slot 2. No DMA option.
Both disks FAT 32.
Bios ver. 1.002.
Enabeled USB
Disabeled Com 2 for freeing up IRQ 3 for Digi001.

0 Time
1 Standard 101-/102-keyboard, or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interruptcontroller
3 Digidesign Digi 001
3 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-steering
4 Comm1 (COM1)
5 VIA PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller
5 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB universal hostcontroller
5 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB universal hostcontroller
5 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB universal hostcontroller
5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-steering
6 Standard floppycontroller
7 ECP-Paralell (LPT1)
8 CMOS/truetimeclock
9 Avance AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
9 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-steering
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI-buss
10 ASUSTeK/Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
10 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-steering
11 Win9x-ME Promise Ultra100 TX2 (tm) IDE Controller
11 NVidia Vanta/Vanta LT
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ-steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Mathprocessor
14 Primaryr IDE-controller (dobbel fifo)
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE-controller
15 Sekundary IDE-controller (dobbel fifo)
15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE-controller

Davec test:

32+22 with 128 buffer
32+24 with 256 buffer Can`t get more even with 1024 buffer.

Jayman test:

18 tracks. at 128 buffer.

After closing the tower, the cpu temp went up to 54C at max load.
49C at idle.
What`s the point of that "Jalla" led lighted plexitop that just looks stupid to me!
Is that why they call it "Coolmod"?
Removed that for better air flow. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]


Best,
Svein Egil. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Allen Hallada]

Svein,
Congrats on another incredible setup. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] Thanks for the heads up on the revision to the A7V333-X. I was under the impression that this board was specially designed from the beginning for the FSB333 processors and was an upgrade from the previous A7V333. Are you saying that it will not work with processors that run FSB266?
Now aren't you glad you stuck with the AMD?
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Allen Hallada]

Just got off the phone with Asus tech support and here is the scoop. YOu need A7V333-X PCB revision 2.01 to run the XP2500+ FSB333 processors or higher. It is backwards compatible with all the processors down to 700Mhz Duron. PCB revision is NOT bios revision, but a motherboard revision. So far everyone seems to have bought the newer revision.
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Allen Hallada]

Final word on the A7M266:

XP2100+ Model 6 is the highest we can use on this motherboard with bios version 1007. XP 2100+ Model 8 will not work. No enhancements are planned for the future. For the price, the A7V333-X is a better deal here now.

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

[DigiBG]

Hello,

I went with the Quickdraw system (now #3) when there was only one listed (thanks to Allen for keeping up such a great resource). I chose Intel over AMD due to the cooler running Intel (thinking less heat ==>less fans ==> less noise). However, that system has proven to be a difficult to setup. I used Micron 512 2700 333memory ... but the BIOS only recognizes it as 266 (I think this is causing some issues for me when I use Photoshop ...crashes due to memory errors). the Intel board's website lists non-approved RAM as a possible cause for this. Allen ... I noticed you now list Corsair memory ... curious if anyone has used this memory with the MB sucessfully. The first system I built (a few years ago) had an asus MB ... this intel MB requires you to physically move a jumper anytime you want to get into the bios (eeeeeehhhhh!). However, it does boot to XP incredibly fast. Any help with my memory issues would be greatly appreciated..... thanks for all the help so far!
[email protected] Uncle Sam's Dream Machine

[rascalmanny]

Will the PCB revision be listed on the box or the mobo itself? Or in the manual that comes with it? In other words, I would like to know before I hook everything up.

[Allen Hallada]

Originally posted by DigiBG:
Hello,

I went with the Quickdraw system (now #3) when there was only one listed (thanks to Allen for keeping up such a great resource). I chose Intel over AMD due to the cooler running Intel (thinking less heat ==>less fans ==> less noise). However, that system has proven to be a difficult to setup. I used Micron 512 2700 333memory ... but the BIOS only recognizes it as 266 (I think this is causing some issues for me when I use Photoshop ...crashes due to memory errors). the Intel board's website lists non-approved RAM as a possible cause for this. Allen ... I noticed you now list Corsair memory ... curious if anyone has used this memory with the MB sucessfully. The first system I built (a few years ago) had an asus MB ... this intel MB requires you to physically move a jumper anytime you want to get into the bios (eeeeeehhhhh!). However, it does boot to XP incredibly fast. Any help with my memory issues would be greatly appreciated..... thanks for all the help so far!
[email protected] Uncle Sam's Dream Machine

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">They have the Micron PC2700 512MB listed as non-supported for this motherboard? I'd call Intel and find out what they recommend then, or go to the www.crucial.com website and enter your motherboard to get the supported type. Sounds strange to me.
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Allen Hallada]

Originally posted by rascalmanny:
Will the PCB revision be listed on the box or the mobo itself? Or in the manual that comes with it? In other words, I would like to know before I hook everything up.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I think it is listed on the top of the motherboard on the side somewhere or maybe a sticker on the box.
If it were me and I couldn't find the number I'd hook it up anyways. So far they have all been the newer revision.
Allen
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[Allen Hallada]

Originally posted by Allen Hallada:
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by DigiBG:
Hello,

I went with the Quickdraw system (now #3) when there was only one listed (thanks to Allen for keeping up such a great resource). I chose Intel over AMD due to the cooler running Intel (thinking less heat ==>less fans ==> less noise). However, that system has proven to be a difficult to setup. I used Micron 512 2700 333memory ... but the BIOS only recognizes it as 266 (I think this is causing some issues for me when I use Photoshop ...crashes due to memory errors). the Intel board's website lists non-approved RAM as a possible cause for this. Allen ... I noticed you now list Corsair memory ... curious if anyone has used this memory with the MB sucessfully. The first system I built (a few years ago) had an asus MB ... this intel MB requires you to physically move a jumper anytime you want to get into the bios (eeeeeehhhhh!). However, it does boot to XP incredibly fast. Any help with my memory issues would be greatly appreciated..... thanks for all the help so far!
[email protected] Uncle Sam's Dream Machine

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">They have the Micron PC2700 512MB listed as non-supported for this motherboard? I'd call Intel and find out what they recommend then, or go to the www.crucial.com website and enter your motherboard to get the supported type. Sounds strange to me.
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] <hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">www.crucial.com has this ram listed:
512MB DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • Unbuffered • Non-parity • 6ns • 2.5V • 64Meg x 64

I'd definitely call Intel to figure this out.
Allen [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

[rascalmanny]

OK thanks. Yeah, I'd hook it up too.