i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[DonaldM]

Originally Posted by EGS

Just google "12th gen audio PC build" and YouTube search "12th gen audio PC build". Not that hard.

I did, thank you.

[ValkRider]

Hello,
I am considering a new computer build. My system is very old at this point.
I want to start with finding if Thunderbolt 3 should be a desired part of the build.

I haven't seen TB3 mentioned with folks that are building with the new
Intel i9-12900k cpu's and DDR5 memory.

Should it be a high priority when considering a new build?
I have built many systems myself in the past but it has been a while.
Also I am considering purchasing a new interface so thought maybe TB3 would be the way to go.
I am a hobbyist so don't have a business studio or anything like that.

My other concern is about getting a new maybe 32" or so monitor.
I have two old 24" DVI type connector monitors and I thought I would upgrade that.
My old tired eyes aren't what they used to be. Any suggestions regarding monitors now a days.

I would appreciate your thoughts on it.


Edit: I did find this with a very fast search, I didn't know TB4 was even out there. This example has a header on MB but not inline connector built in.
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards...690-PLUS-WIFI/
This will be DAW only no games.


Edit2: I looked at this motherboard also which has header connection on the MB for TB4
so I will guess having Thunder Bolt will require a addon card.
This Gigabyte board also has MB header pins for TB4
https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard...STER-rev-1x#kf


This MB also only has two PCIE4 expansion slots and one gets disabled if you use all the M.2 connectors on the MB.

I'll keep researching.

Thanks for any guidance.

[EGS]

Here's a 12th gen MB with Thunderbolt4: https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E1681314...quicklink=true

and a Thunderbolt 3 audio interface: https://www.presonus.com/products/quantum-2626

[ValkRider]

Originally Posted by EGS

Here's a 12th gen MB with Thunderbolt4: https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E1681314...quicklink=true

and a Thunderbolt 3 audio interface: https://www.presonus.com/products/quantum-2626

Thank you very much. I had not seen that Gigabyte MB.



I was wondering if air cooling like a Noctua unit is sufficient with the 125watt CPU's.

I would prefer air cooling over water. I guess I have a inherent mistrust of having liquid inside a computer.
I like the Fractal Design cases and have looked at the Define 7XL and their Meshify 2.

Lots of internal fan possibilities for a good push pull air flow setup. A lot more to research yet.

[Skwaidu]

Originally Posted by ValkRider

Thank you very much. I had not seen that Gigabyte MB.



I was wondering if air cooling like a Noctua unit is sufficient with the 125watt CPU's.

I would prefer air cooling over water. I guess I have a inherent mistrust of having liquid inside a computer.
I like the Fractal Design cases and have looked at the Define 7XL and their Meshify 2.

Lots of internal fan possibilities for a good push pull air flow setup. A lot more to research yet.

I'm doing acceptably with a Noctua NH-D15 in a Define R6 with the basic 2 in 1 out confg (front usually open).

Even have a 300MHz all core OC going with some undervolting on the i9 - it can thermal throttle slightly on synthetic loads (like Prime95) but extremely rarely in PT use. The only example would be a long all-core demanding offline bounce, but it's not a significant issue, the one-core boost I get from x52 all P-cores in PT is more than worth it.

[zedhed]

Originally Posted by zedhed

Hi @EGS

I'm in the process of looking at a new build and yours looks similar to what I'm thinking about.

So far I've narrowed it down to the following;
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 AERO D
CPU: Intel i9 12900K
RAM: (Haven't decided on Brand ) 64gb DDR5

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, Extra Fans.

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.

[Skwaidu]

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)
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 cannot say enough about the Fractal computer case, running 5 fans (7 mounts) and is extremely quiet. Solidly built and contains EMI very well too.

Congrats! Nearly identical system to mine, except I built my system with DDR4 due to launch availability. Curious though why you are not on PT 2021.12?

[zedhed]

Originally Posted by Skwaidu

Curious though why you are not on PT 2021.12?

I couldn't bring myself to go the subscription route and 11 does everything I need. It's been incredibly stable and is as much so on Win11.

One day I might move up but the money I've saved by sticking with what I've got, has gone part way to enabling this build.

Edit: Thinking about it, it's probably completely paid for it.

[Skwaidu]

Originally Posted by zedhed

I couldn't bring myself to go the subscription route and 11 does everything I need. It's been incredibly stable and is as much so on Win11.

One day I might move up but the money I've saved by sticking with what I've got, has gone part way to enabling this build.

Edit: Thinking about it, it's probably completely paid for it.

Ok. The software has moved forward massively since though (and also native performance on low buffers seems to have improved massively just between 2020.3 and 2021.12!).

FWIW I'm still with a perpetual license and pay the upgrade tax. Reinstatement is still possible I think, at least through 3rd parties (to keep the perpetual and get back to the upgrades).

[EGS]

Originally Posted by ValkRider

Thank you very much. I had not seen that Gigabyte MB.



I was wondering if air cooling like a Noctua unit is sufficient with the 125watt CPU's.

I would prefer air cooling over water. I guess I have a inherent mistrust of having liquid inside a computer.
I like the Fractal Design cases and have looked at the Define 7XL and their Meshify 2.

Lots of internal fan possibilities for a good push pull air flow setup. A lot more to research yet.

I'm using a Zalman air cooler with two 120mm push/pull fans. Plus case intake and exhaust fans. Noctura lowest db/lowest rpm fans for all. I'm using a 4RU case, and it's almost inaudible.