New computer...

[RockstarStudios]

Thinking of getting a new computer and thought you all would like to offer input as to whether the specs are "worthy" of my 003...

Operating Systems: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

Platform: PC

Orientations Allowed: Vertical

Form Factor: Minitower

PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 2

PCI Express X4 Slots (Available): 1

PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 1

PS/2 Connectors: 1 - Mouse
1 - Keyboard

USB Ports (Total): 10

FireWire Ports: 1

eSATA Ports: 2

Audio Out Jacks: 2

Microphone Jacks: 2

VGA Ports: 1

HDMI Ports: 1

S/PDIF Connectors: 1 - Optical

Processor Brand: Intel

Processor Class: Core i3

Processor Number: 530

Processor Speed: 2.93GHz

Processors Supported: 1

Processors Onboard: 1

Memory Type: DDR3

Total Memory: 6.0GB

Memory Speed: DDR3 1333 (PC-10600)

Maximum Memory Supported: 8.0GB

Hard Drives Included: 1

Hard Drive Types: Hard Disk Drive

Interface: SATA

Capacity: 1TB

Speed: Variable

Optical Drives Included: 1

Optical Drive Type: 16X DVD+/-R/RW SuperMulti Drive

Optical Drive Class: DVD±RW

Supplemental Media Type: Media Reader

Capacity: Multi-in-one

Media Types: SD, Micro SD, MMC, MS, MS Pro, CF, XD

Audio Description: Integrated Audio

Audio Chipset: High Definition Audio

Channels: 7.1

Graphics Description: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator

LAN Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000Mbps

LAN Description: Integrated

LAN Interface Type: RJ-45

LAN Ports: 1

Power: 300 Watt

Mouse Type: Optical

Keyboard Type: Standard

Height: 15.98"

Width: 7.09"

Depth: 16.26"

[RockstarStudios]

ALSO....Instead of using an external Hard Drive, which if i'm reading threads correctly is advised, can't I just partition a 1TB drive???

[pezguy]

Originally Posted by RockstarStudios

ALSO....Instead of using an external Hard Drive, which if i'm reading threads correctly is advised, can't I just partition a 1TB drive???

No, you cannot partition, you need a separate physical 7200 RPM drive for recording. SATA and Firewire drives both work well.

BTW the variable speed hard drive in your spec wont work.... get a WD Black series...
What brand of motherboard is being used? There is a lot of info being left out.... The firewire connection should use a TI chipset.

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by pezguy

No, you cannot partition, you need a separate physical 7200 RPM drive for recording. SATA and Firewire drives both work well.

Firewire is fine if you have a qualified firewire drive and qualified TI controller. Another internal SATA is best.

Please give us the brand names and models on all components and motherboard.

[mano111]

i3 is far from the best CPU for protools.

The integrated graphics might cause issues as well, so even if you go i3 you'll want a dedicated graphics card.

6GB RAM is a probable number for i7 9xx but unlikely for an i3.

A few other things don't make sense but I think you should do some digging first. Please read some of the recent threads regarding new builds, as well as the first page (and possibly a few more) of the best i7 sticky

oh yeah and like the others said we need brand names and model numbers.

[RockstarStudios]

ok...how bout this? i know it's not the greatest, but a budget is a budget...here goes:

Motherboard: EVGA P55 SLI LGA1156 ATX
Processor: Intel Core i5-750 lynnfield 2.66 ghz lga 1156 95 watts quadcore
Memory: OCZ Obsidian 4GB (2x2gb) 240-pin ddr3 1600
Video: EVGA Geforce GT 240 superclocked 512 MB gddr5
HD: 2x WD Caviar Black 640 gig 7200rpm SATA
LG 22x DVD Burner
Antec Sonata III with 500 watt power supply

Minor suggestions appreciated. Will this be ok with the Digi003? I know it's not SUPA-DEE-DUPA...but, in your opinion...working yes?

[tcbetka]

More power! We...need...more...power!

As I mentioned in the other thread, 500 watts for a PSU may be alright today, but it won't be long before you'll find yourself a little shy in the power supply department, IMHO.

TB

[Chuck1073]

Amen to the PSU issue. Minimum 750 for peace of mind and stability.

You can do it with less....but a stressed PSU is not the best way.

[mano111]

Originally Posted by tcbetka

More power! We...need...more...power!

As I mentioned in the other thread, 500 watts for a PSU may be alright today, but it won't be long before you'll find yourself a little shy in the power supply department, IMHO.

TB

Totally disagree with this. This system needs ~200W at load.
This 500 PSU gives you roughly 420 max load. so you will be fine.

If anything the power requirements in the future will go down, not up. Unless you decide to build a dual display card SLI gaming system... and if you do then swap your PSU with that.

Otherwise all seems fine except for the motherboard. I would go with a gigabyte motherboard.

P55M UD2 for a budget

or

P55 UD4P if you can afford it.

[tcbetka]

Well that assumes that you can use *that* new hardware, doesn't it?

If in 6-9 months he upgrades the system he builds TODAY, then he'll essentially need to buy hardware to match what he installs in the new system today, because that's what the system is rated for. So unless you're going to chuck the existing hardware and replace it with new higher-efficiency components to reduce power consumption, I simply don't think 500-watts is enough. And then where is the cost savings to simply spending a bit more on a PSU with a higher rating up front? But this advice is based on my personal experience only, and may only be worth the price he paid for it. The other two things I'll point out are that PSU's don't necessarily maintain their efficiency as they age, especially the cheaper ones; and you never want to load a PSU to near capacity. I believe the general rule-of-thumb I've been taught, is to add up the power requirements you are installing, and then double that. Then choose a PSU that suits those needs. Add another video card, another PCI card of some sort, and some additional RAM to the system he's talking about, and you'll need more than 200 watts. So if it's pushing 300 watts or higher, a 750w PSU is the logical choice...which is exactly why I went that way. But even at that, I continue to find things to install into the machine--so that's why I said I wish I'd gone with the 1kw supply from the start.

So for the few dollars more it would cost to buy a 750w PSU, I wouldn't hesitate to go that way up front--even on a budget. How valuable is time when you start getting these strange 'Windows bugs' that probably aren't caused by Windows at all...but rather by a system without enough power.

But to each their own I suppose.

TB