Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[Allen Hallada]

I don't think a different motherboard is going to give you better performance anyways. we are limited by the speed of the processor right now, which is actually pretty good if you are running XP2500+ or higher.

Allen

[progress88]

Allen, I know the processor and mobo you recommend, but just as I am about to order the stuff, I'm hit with another question. My local computer expert is telling me that the a7v333x and XP2500 + Barton FSB333, although good, is not the latest technology. He is recommending a P4 running at 3k, a chipset with a 800MHZ frontside bus supporting 2 serial ata's and dual channel DDR 400 memory . (I know the new AMD processor may be out soon.) Isn't it a safe bet that if you have a proccessor, mobo and ram designed to work together at this higher speed that your programs (included PTLE) will run faster? Is their special considerations that must be taken into account for PT? Or is your system recommended because it's already proven, or the best bang for the buck?

There are so many decisions to make.........I'm getting dizzy. Maybe I'll just pull out the old Atari based, Pro 24 system and my Tascam Studio 8............


Damn...........................did I just show my age?

[Allen Hallada]

Tell him to assemble the P4 system and then the AMD system. Run the Davec and you tell me which one is better. I already know the answer. It is printed on the first post. LOL
Don't buy into the hype!

Allen

[AK65]

Hi Allen & DUC'ers

Angus,
I would definitely go with the Gigabyte over the DFI board. On the KT333 chipset, I agree with you. But that is what runs the economy is upgrades even though the performance isn't as good. It is just a number. Will be interesting to see how the KT600 and KT800 chipset boards perform. We also have the new Clawhammer's arriving from AMD this month. They will require a new motherboard.

Some progress: I went for the DFI board since the supplier let me try it on appro and take it back if it isn't compatible (How many vendors will do that!!). It aint Gigabyte, but I have always had good results with DFI. BTW, the Gigabyte is a lot more expensive, and I would have to buy it on risk...

Anyhow, results so far are very encouraging compared to the horrendous time I had with a P4 1.7GHz w/845 chipset and Windows 98.

I'm using a cheapo Trident 64 Blade Video card temporarily until the Matrox G550 arrives.

Everything went very smoothly. ProTools seems very happy and has an air of stability about it...
Need to flash the BIOS to get Barton support - the processor is only running at 1.8GHz, and DaveC gives me 32+8. I'm hoping to get much better results once we're running at 2.08GHz.

My benchmark was: record 18 of the 32 channels at once with the plugs all in on Non Low Latency mode at CPU limit 85%. A word about this though, nobody in their right mind would actually want to run ProTools so loaded!

The DFI board allows you to overclock by increasing the bus frequency (stock 166MHz) by 1 MHz increments from 166 - 200 MHz. Any idea where the limits are and whether the RAM bus speed is also affected?

I'll Keep you posted about my progress.....

[agent fu]

I don't think a different motherboard is going to give you better performance anyways. we are limited by the speed of the processor right now, which is actually pretty good if you are running XP2500+ or higher.

Allen

Would that apply to non PT related things aswell? such as 3D render times...
Don't the kt600 based mobos have a new memory feature that increases performance quite a bit? not to mention that a native 400fsb should be useful?

I know there's propaganda flying around as usual, but it'd be a sad day for for via if there was no practical difference between the A7V333-X and the new KT600 series.

As a side note: I've been reccomended an kt600 Asus mobo (forgotten the exact model number) which has a fair bit on board - 6 channel audio, modem (I think), ethernet...
Should this be avoided at all costs? or it be fine just to disable it all in bios?

Thanks.

[newhall]

How I did it I don't know but I got the wrong fan. I got a Panaflo 24v instead of the 12v. I have a couple of other fans around that might fit. Would it be ok to use another fan till I get a new
panaflow? I don't plan on overclocking right away anyways.
Jesse

[cmcquistion]

How I did it I don't know but I got the wrong fan. I got a Panaflo 24v instead of the 12v. I have a couple of other fans around that might fit. Would it be ok to use another fan till I get a new
panaflow? I don't plan on overclocking right away anyways.
Jesse

Don't worry about it. Just run it at 12V and it will probably be fine.

Panasonic makes two versions of the L1A. One is designed for 24V, and the other is designed for 12V. When run at 12V, they are the identical fan. The only difference is the part # stamped on them. As long as your part # ends with an "L", then you are fine. That is an L1A.

[newhall]

Theoretically I shouldn't worry about frying my processor running the fan at 12v then?
Jesse

[cmcquistion]

Theoretically I shouldn't worry about frying my processor running the fan at 12v then?
Jesse

Nope. It should be fine.

Run it at 12V and see if you can feel a decent amount of air. If you can, then its fine. If it won't start, or something, then you know it won't do.

I'm 99.99% sure that you will be fine, because the 24V "L" is the same fan as the 12V "L", except it is capable of running at higher wattage/speed.

[newhall]

Thanks! I will give it a go. I hooked a generic fan of the same size 12v and the panaflo 24v up to a 12 supply. The panaflo seems to push about half the air as the 12v generic.
Jesse