i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[EGS]

Originally Posted by zedhed

UPDATE:
I've finished my new build (Dedicated Pro Tools only Rig...Running PT11HD v 11.3.2).

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO D
CPU: Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900K 16 Core/24 Thread
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15S (with two fans, push/pull) Extra Fan
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64GB (2x 32gb 5200MHz) 2 slots free
Drives: 2 x Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVME PCIE 4.0 M.2 SSD (Record & Samples)
1 x Samsung 980 Pro 1TB NVME PCIE 4.0 M.2 SSD (System Win 11)
PSU: Corsair HX Series HX850 Platinim (Modular)
GPU:Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6 PCIE 4
CASE: Fractal Define XL R2

I have only done a test run with Pro Tools so far, but wow this thing kicks ass!

I can't speak highly enough about the Fractal Computer Case, running 5 fans (7 mounts) and is extremely quiet. Solidly built and shields EMI very well too.

Great job!

[EGS]

Originally Posted by Skwaidu

...native performance on low buffers seems to have improved massively just between 2020.3 and 2021.12...

Please explain. Thanks!

[Skwaidu]

Originally Posted by EGS

Please explain. Thanks!

This seems to not be common knowledge, but I was just involved with some benching comparisons and weird differences in low H/W buffer performance between these 2 PT versions (2020.3 and 2021.12).

To summarize, on PT 2020 the CPU (plugin) power was abysmal as the buffer went down towards 64, but on 2021.12 it stayed nearly the same across all buffer settins.

The latter indicates that PT has a "hybrid playback buffer" (not to be confused with the "Hybrid Engine" brought to HDX and Carbon users) for non-live input / playback tracks, similar to Cubase's switchable Asio Guard ("AG") or Reaper's Anticipative FX Processing ("AFX") which get similar gains (and without them on, the low buffer CPU performance decreases as well, like on the earlier PT version).

My sources tell me that this behaviour has varied between PT versions in the past as well, without much disclosure from Avid. But, the current version is much more powerful on low buffers, so great!

[EGS]

Originally Posted by Skwaidu

... on PT 2020 the CPU (plugin) power was abysmal as the buffer went down towards 64, but on 2021.12 it stayed nearly the same across all buffer settins...

On my 2020.5 vanilla desktop, I can run TONS of plugs at buffer64. For me, it's a non-issue. Having said that, 64 uses more CPU vs 1028. If 2021.12 has addressed this ---> great! Anybody else seeing this? Thanks!

[Skwaidu]

Originally Posted by EGS

On my 2020.5 vanilla desktop, I can run TONS of plugs at buffer64. For me, it's a non-issue. Having said that, 64 uses more CPU vs 1028. If 2021.12 has addressed this ---> great! Anybody else seeing this? Thanks!

Ok, that's interesting. The test was run on a few systems on 2020.3, then on the other with 2021.12 to confirm what I was seeing on my end with the newest version (very small plugin count maximum differences between the buffers).

The difference was *massive* between 64 and 1024 buffer on 2020.3 and an older CPU (like, tenfold), so possibly they already did some tweaking between 2020.3 and 2020.5. if you're getting good perf from the latter.

Note, I didn't see these 2020.3 behaviours personally but do trust the source.

[ValkRider]

Originally Posted by zedhed

UPDATE:
I've finished my new build (Dedicated Pro Tools only Rig...Running PT11HD v 11.3.2).

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO D
CPU: Intel Alder Lake Core i9-12900K 16 Core/24 Thread
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15S (with two fans, push/pull) Extra Fan
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 64GB (2x 32gb 5200MHz) 2 slots free
Drives: 2 x Samsung 980 Pro 2TB NVME PCIE 4.0 M.2 SSD (Record & Samples)
1 x Samsung 980 Pro 1TB NVME PCIE 4.0 M.2 SSD (System Win 11)
PSU: Corsair HX Series HX850 Platinim (Modular)
GPU:Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3060 12GB GDDR6 PCIE 4
CASE: Fractal Define XL R2

.

This is great. Looks like what I am going to be building also.
I was wondering how you set your case up with cooling fans.

Did you swap out the Fractal case fans?
Did you add any additional fans to the top or bottom of case?
I searched on that model case but didn't find any for sale in U.S.A. at the major places.

I have a few WD Black spinner drives I am thinking of moving over but not sure yet.

Congrats on the build. I hope it is stable for you.
Edit: Just realized you are running 5 case fans. Which positions for the extra 2?

[EGS]

Originally Posted by Skwaidu

...The difference was *massive*...

I made a stress-test with tons of tracks & plugs on PT2020.5. The session will all-track record & playback, at both buffer 64 & 1028. However, note usage differences:
Windows Task Manager CPU Utilization:
buffer 64=70%
buffer 1028=46%
Pro Tools System Usage CPU Total:
buffer 64=80%
buffer 1028=47%
i.e. low buffer means less CPU headroom. I'm curious how 2021.12 would handle the same session @ 64 & 1028.

[zedhed]

Originally Posted by ValkRider

This is great. Looks like what I am going to be building also.
I was wondering how you set your case up with cooling fans.

Here is how it comes out of the box (Scroll down to 'cooling system').

Originally Posted by ValkRider

Did you swap out the Fractal case fans?

No they come with good quality quiet fans, just added two extra.

Originally Posted by ValkRider

I searched on that model case but didn't find any for sale in U.S.A. at the major places.

I'm in New Zealand, and they aren't your everyday run of the mill cases here either. I got mine here in NZ from here. They are NZD$218.00 so USD exchange rate would give you a reasonable price with shipping included IMHO. The box it comes in is solid for shipping. I'll say it again...this is an Excellent case!

Originally Posted by ValkRider

Congrats on the build. I hope it is stable for you.
Edit: Just realized you are running 5 case fans. Which positions for the extra 2?

I added two top fans.

Originally Posted by EGS

Great job!

Thanks EGS, your input to this thread was very helpful in making my decisions.

[Skwaidu]

Originally Posted by EGS

I made a stress-test with tons of tracks & plugs on PT2020.5. The session will all-track record & playback, at both buffer 64 & 1028. However, note usage differences:
Windows Task Manager CPU Utilization:
buffer 64=70%
buffer 1028=46%
Pro Tools System Usage CPU Total:
buffer 64=80%
buffer 1028=47%
i.e. low buffer means less CPU headroom. I'm curious how 2021.12 would handle the same session @ 64 & 1028.

You cannot really say anything about real performance with the CPU % numbers, especially the PT System Usage one. The only working way is adding plugins until you hit the limit, as CPU spiking or single thread limits are not shown on the %'s.

[ValkRider]

A couple of questions regarding the newer high horsepower I9-12900K builds.
Do you bother over clocking your computers ?
Do you do custom over clocks and push hard or just use the built in XMP memory profile boosts? Maybe no O.C. at all.

With Windows 11 do you still do the same computer optimization procedures
that Avid always recommended? With the very fast M.2 pcie 4 or 5 drives
available now and the newer heavy duty motherboard construction is there still potential for the clicks, pops and noise issues?
I can see turning off the power schemes, hibernate and all that just wondering what you still fine tune.


Thanks for your info. I do appreciate the input that you share here it sure makes the decision process easier.