Replace Dell Precision 690

[s0nguy]

All,

My precision 690 is dead. I'd like another Dell for my HD2 Accel rig. Been looking at the t5500 but i don't think it will accommodate two full length PCI cards.

Does anyone have any suggestions or should i just get another 690?

thanks
s0nguy

[Bob Olhsson]

You can get a loaded 690 on e-bay for considerably less than $500. I was thinking about something new but changed my mind after trying PT11 native.

[s0nguy]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

You can get a loaded 690 on e-bay for considerably less than $500. I was thinking about something new but changed my mind after trying PT11 native.

bob,

thanks for responding... yours is an opinion I certainly respect.

I am a bit confused by your reply... did you upgrade the PC... or go from TDM to native and call that an "upgrade"?

I am a bit hesitant to jump to HD Native since I kind of feel like i already have it.. I have 10HD software and an Mbox3... I use my UA 2192 and outboard pres for everything.. the mbox is basically a dongle / headphone amp.

Am I missing something?

thanks
s0nguy

[Bob Olhsson]

I went from native to native.

[Mattafact]

The Dell T5400 is supported. I got a base model quad core off ebay for $250 last year. $90 to upgrade the single quad 2.0Ghz to dual quad 3.0ghz processors and I'm in business.

It's also supported by Avid for the HD2. To fit 2 cards you have to slightly bend a piece of metal on the CD or HD holders and trim a small piece of plastic from one of the plugs into the motherboard.

If that's too much then the T7400 is a better bet. Larger case so no mods needed.

[Bob Olhsson]

HP and Dell workstations are mostly used by programmers and scientists who frequently dump them for newer, more powerful models that can crunch more numbers in fewer hours. These folks are all perfectly capable of building their own computers so Dell and HP can't afford to cheap out on the parts and power supplies. It's a niche market much like Pro Audio.

They are super-bargains if you go a generation or so back from current models. You often will even qualify for the last year of the service contract when you buy a used workstation.

[s0nguy]

heh... yeah...

I went with the t7500 just because the case is the sme size as the 690.

got dual quad core Xeon 3.33, 48gb ram, two 1 tb hds and a nvidia gtx card... for 1100 bucks. gonna throw my SSDs, my HD2 Accel and rock on.

should last me for the forseeable future..

thx guys.

s0nguy

[s0nguy]

Problem.

I just got the t7500. The PCI slots are non-adjacent. This limits me to an HD1 (PCI) hardly a powerhouse with max voices at 96.

Did Digi ever make a longer interconnect cable or am I sunk?

thanks
s0nguy

[sunburst79]

Originally Posted by s0nguy

Problem.

I just got the t7500. The PCI slots are non-adjacent. This limits me to an HD1 (PCI) hardly a powerhouse with max voices at 96.

Did Digi ever make a longer interconnect cable or am I sunk?

thanks
s0nguy

My friend and neighbor Bob Nagy makes TDM extender cables for this exact purposes. You can reach him at [email protected]. Bob was a programmer at Digidesign for a number of years. By all accounts the extender works well and people are happy with them.

I'm kinda posting this as a user and not a mod as I'm not sure that it would be seen as a conflict of interests. I have no affiliation other than being a buddy with Bob. Feel free to PM me if you need to.


Bruce. if you feel this violates the TOS feel free to edit or delete it. Since there are no commercial postings allowed in the Buy and Sell section and Bob is the only guy making these the only advertising is word of mouth.

[s0nguy]

I would be pissd if he deleted it! The DUC is about helping people.

Thanks so much for the tip.. I emalied him straight away.

s0nguy