Best Desktops for Pro Tools LE

[drummerjock]

ok --- we've been trying to do our homework and think we have found someone to build us a version of the Allenstein computer. Would you mind if I ran the specs by you experts to see if this machine will actually work with our MBox and ProTools 6.7?

Here are the specs:
Aspire X-Alien ATXA1A-BK/420 (420W Power Supply)
LITE-ON SOHW 1653S OEM Black IDE DVD Burner
2- Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80 G 7200 RPM Serial ATA 150 Hard Drives
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512MB) 184 Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
ASUS A8V Deluxe Socket 939 K8T800 Pro ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3200BIBOX
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS 70SB035000000 8
Sapphire 100562L Radeon 9600PRO 256MB DDR AGP 4x/8x Video Card

Also....we assume that we need to purchase Windows operating system --- is there a preference for the Home edition vs the Professional edition?

Thank you all so very much for the help. We are hopeful to be up and running soon.

Brian and Mom

[LDJ]

Dear All and Allen,

I am looking at upgrading my system to an Allenstein-ish one (hopefully keeping my current Lite-on 48X CD-RW, Seagate Baraccuda IDE 7200rpm 200GB as system drive, Western Dig IDE 7200rpm 250GB audio drive, GeForce4 MX 440 video card, floppy, generic ATX case with Duro 400W power supply and running XP Home with everything as clean installs).

I am looking at the pros/cons of the combination of:
1. Asus K8V SE Deluxe MOBO with Athlon64 3400+ (to save about $100 from the recommended 3700+)
or
2. DFI LanParty nF3 MOBO with Athlon64 3400+ mobile

(I an attracted to the 3400+ mobile, thinking that it will run cooler. But I do need a firewire connection and wonder about the "optional" notation.)

I am new to Pro Tools and DAWs, so system stabiliy is more important than having the ultimate in performance (and I'd still like the most bang for my buck).

If the knowledgable among you would enlighten me as to how these two stack up against each other or pros/cons, I'd be grateful.

Thanks,
Laurence

[glu]

This is the system I am considering getting put together. It is basically what Allen had suggested he would put together if he was upgrading his Allenstein. For me, just wondering if there are any Nays before I take the dive?

CASE: Dreamer X II black or blue (w/450 watt power supply)
or other very quiet case (other suggestions welcomed)

CASE FAN: NEXUS 120 mm case fan

MOTHERBOARD: DFI nF3 Lan Party 250Gb

PROCESSOR: 3400+ clawhammer (mobile processor)

CPU FAN:
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink

RAM: 1024mb DDR3200 400mhz Corsair or Crucial (1 stick possible without lowering buffer speed?)

HARD DRIVES: (quantity-2) 80Gb Western Digital 8mb ATA, 7200 RPM (no SATA okay?)
I also have a spare 120Gb WD 7200 8mb waiting to be the archive drive on this new beast!

DVD-RW: LiteOn 16X DVDRW dual layer

GRAPHICS CARD: Radeon 9600 256Mb AGP (other suggestions welcomed for Dual monitor support)

Any other suggestions or modifications before I send this in for a quote and shop prices?

[oudplayer]

This is the system I am considering getting put together. It is basically what Allen had suggested he would put together if he was upgrading his Allenstein. For me, just wondering if there are any Nays before I take the dive?

CPU FAN:
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink

RAM: 1024mb DDR3200 400mhz Corsair or Crucial (1 stick possible without lowering buffer speed?)

HARD DRIVES: (quantity-2) 80Gb Western Digital 8mb ATA, 7200 RPM (no SATA okay?)
I also have a spare 120Gb WD 7200 8mb waiting to be the archive drive on this new beast!

GRAPHICS CARD: Radeon 9600 256Mb AGP (other suggestions welcomed for Dual monitor support)

Any other suggestions or modifications before I send this in for a quote and shop prices?

The zalman 7000b-cu is quite a bit heavier than the 7000b-alcu. I'd go for the aluminum-copper hybrid, since it cools just as much while lessening the risk of cracking the motherboard if you need to move the computer.

You might also want to check out the Matrox P650 - it's a great dual-head card for around the same price (or less).

Noone seems to like the 1gb sticks of RAM - perhaps you should go the tried and true way with the 2 512 mb sticks?

[glu]

Thanks oudplayer. My auntie plays the oud. Awesome instrument.

Is there any other Matrox dual head video card for around $100.00 that works well with PTLE?
I will go with at least 2 modules of the proven 512 DDR RAM, anyone using 1.5GB on the LAN PARTY MOBO? I will ammend the Zalman 7000b-alcu to the list.

Anything else?

[rclayton21]

[QUOTE]

GRAPHICS CARD: Radeon 9600 256Mb AGP (other suggestions welcomed for Dual monitor support)

You might also want to check out the Matrox P650 - it's a great dual-head card for around the same price (or less).

Noone seems to like the 1gb sticks of RAM - perhaps you should go the tried and true way with the 2 512 mb sticks?

I was looking at this Videocard because I don't need it for 3dgames and it's super cheap.
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16814121185

You were saying that 1gb stick isn't so good. What if i get 2 sticks of 1gb? That's fine right?

[oudplayer]

512 mb sticks are the best with Athlon XP series processors. 2 sticks is ideal - when you go to three sticks, you drop from DDR 400 to a lower memory speed. Likewise, 1gb sticks are slower than the 512mb ones (due to the memory controller on the Athlon chip)...

[Allen Hallada]

Anyone want to start a 'el~cheap~oh' Allenstein Thread?

The cheapest PC to run ProTools LE would make for a good contest.
The configuration must pass DaveC 24+0 as~built/loaded default.
Must qualify with MBox and OO2(R)

Believe it or not, my Digi Qualified MusicXPC 2.8/512 can't hit 24+0 w/PTLE6.4.

And before you start! This PC is dedicated and 100% virgin clean. Tweaks did nothing!

I think it would be hard to beat the 350.00 machine I already have listed without compromising quality and compatibility.

Allen

[Allen Hallada]

This is the system I am considering getting put together. It is basically what Allen had suggested he would put together if he was upgrading his Allenstein. For me, just wondering if there are any Nays before I take the dive?

CASE: Dreamer X II black or blue (w/450 watt power supply)
or other very quiet case (other suggestions welcomed)

CASE FAN: NEXUS 120 mm case fan

MOTHERBOARD: DFI nF3 Lan Party 250Gb

PROCESSOR: 3400+ clawhammer (mobile processor)

CPU FAN:
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-CU 92mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink

RAM: 1024mb DDR3200 400mhz Corsair or Crucial (1 stick possible without lowering buffer speed?)

HARD DRIVES: (quantity-2) 80Gb Western Digital 8mb ATA, 7200 RPM (no SATA okay?)
I also have a spare 120Gb WD 7200 8mb waiting to be the archive drive on this new beast!

DVD-RW: LiteOn 16X DVDRW dual layer

GRAPHICS CARD: Radeon 9600 256Mb AGP (other suggestions welcomed for Dual monitor support)

Any other suggestions or modifications before I send this in for a quote and shop prices?

Looks good. You may consider adding the Enermax 350W FMA PSU later if you run into any problems.

Allen

[doylemusic]

Hey Allen

Can I expect much gain going from my current setup (Allenstein Bargain Machine) to the K8V SE Deluxe with an Athlon 64 3400? I'm currently running at 2.2ghz and I noticed this chip runs at 2.2ghz as well. I wasn't sure if there gains simply from being on the 64 bit platform.

Also, is there much difference between the 3400 and the 3700? Thanks for your help, it's always appreciated.