Best Core 2 Series Desktops-Results and Specs

[sunburst79]

Awesome. (By the way, some of the posted prices have changed.) I'd like to step-up to a Quad as economically as possible. If I use my current video card (ATI Radeon 9550), SIIG (Digi-approved) firewire card, case, power supply, SATA drives, and DVD+DL burner - it seems I only need:

1) Asus P5B ($110 at newegg)
2) Intel Q6600 ($280 at newegg)
3) Corsair 2x1GB DDR2-800 memory ($64 after newegg rebate)

for a total of $454. Seem okay? I bet a lot of us would be interseted in this. Thanx!!!

Thats what I'm talkin about and that should give you right around 250+ Dverbs

FWIW I spent about 4 hours updating the Specs list last sunday only to close the tab by accident and lose it all. I quess the old adage about saving often applies to posts too

You really want to get the DDR2 800 memory that will run at the timing of 4-4-4-12 but if it gets you in the Quad game its Good memory!

[EGS]

...Thats what I'm talkin about and that should give you right around 250+ Dverbs

Wow - talk about bang-for-the buck...thanx!!!

[MrJoshua]

Hey, Sunburst, not to complain, but you have me listed as using the 003 Factory on the results list back on page 1. I'm actually using an 002 Rack Factory. I hate to nitpick, but I figured you'd want to know.

Awesome job on this thread, man. I can't tell you how many people I've pointed toward this forum when I hear them asking questions about putting together a ProTools rig, and threads like this are the exact reason why. A list of the exact components you should buy? A thread detailing steps you should take to maximize performance? Valuable information on potential problems and the know-how to solve them? Check, check, and check. This is a GREAT place for anyone that wants to get into ProTools. A few minutes of time spent reading here can save you money and a LOT of time spent troubleshooting later.

[EGS]

Awesome job on this thread

It's time to make it a "Stickie". Hey DUC admin...

[mykhal c]

Awesome. (By the way, some of the posted prices have changed.) I'd like to step-up to a Quad as economically as possible. If I use my current video card (ATI Radeon 9550), SIIG (Digi-approved) firewire card, case, power supply, SATA drives, and DVD+DL burner - it seems I only need:

1) Asus P5B ($110 at newegg)
2) Intel Q6600 ($280 at newegg)
3) Corsair 2x1GB DDR2-800 memory ($64 after newegg rebate)

for a total of $454. Seem okay? I bet a lot of us would be interseted in this. Thanx!!!

FWIW, step up to the P5K mobo (P35 chipset)($134 and up at NEWEGG) and be forward thinkin' when it comes to PENRYN. that way you'll be ready to run at 1333 FSB with the new technology if you choose. but bro, either way you are GOOD!!!!

[sunburst79]

Hey, Sunburst, not to complain, but you have me listed as using the 003 Factory on the results list back on page 1. I'm actually using an 002 Rack Factory. I hate to nitpick, but I figured you'd want to know.

Awesome job on this thread, man. I can't tell you how many people I've pointed toward this forum when I hear them asking questions about putting together a ProTools rig, and threads like this are the exact reason why. A list of the exact components you should buy? A thread detailing steps you should take to maximize performance? Valuable information on potential problems and the know-how to solve them? Check, check, and check. This is a GREAT place for anyone that wants to get into ProTools. A few minutes of time spent reading here can save you money and a LOT of time spent troubleshooting later.

I fixed it! I'm glad you like it and I'm pleased that people have found it useful. The next set of updates I have planned should make it a bit more useful.

[sunburst79]

Awesome. (By the way, some of the posted prices have changed.) I'd like to step-up to a Quad as economically as possible. If I use my current video card (ATI Radeon 9550), SIIG (Digi-approved) firewire card, case, power supply, SATA drives, and DVD+DL burner - it seems I only need:

1) Asus P5B ($110 at newegg)
2) Intel Q6600 ($280 at newegg)
3) Corsair 2x1GB DDR2-800 memory ($64 after newegg rebate)

for a total of $454. Seem okay? I bet a lot of us would be interseted in this. Thanx!!!

Just noticed the Radeon 9550 video card, you will need a new PCIe Video card. There are lots of choices under 70.00. PTs video card requirements are pretty modest.

[ANP57]

Hi all and thanks for all the great work you have been doing with Core 2´s! Results are totally mindblowing! Thanks for sharing this with us all.

I´m going to jump in and start my bulding Core2Quad project soon. I just wanted to get your opinion on a memory availability issue before sending in the order.

Corsair XMS DDR2 1066 Memory isn´t available where I live and I was going to replace it with Kingston HyperX 2GB 1066MHZ DDR2 CL5 (5-5-5-15) (2x1GB actually). The exact type is KHX8500D2K2/2G and more specs can be found here:

http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX8500D2K2_2G.pdf

Does it look ok to use? I did a search and one fellow protooler from Sweden did have some issues with ´em but he got the bad ones replaced and so far it´s been ok. Am I right?

The other thing. There seems to be performance boost from PT 7.1 to PT 7.3.1 so it seems to be necessary to update to get the goodies?

Otherwise I´m following the same path as most of you so on my cart there will be

Asus P5K
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
ASUS Radeon X1600 Pro 256 Mt PCI-E
ASUS X1650 SILENT PCIE 512M DDR2 DVI-I
Seagate Barracuda Sata II 3Gb 16MB Cache 7200 RPM 250MB 7200.10
Seagate Barracuda Sata II 3Gb 16MB Cache 7200 RPM 320MB 7200.10
+ the rest of the stuff

I´m running 002rack+Command8 and MPT.

Thanks a lot

PA

[rossi68]

Well, as I said in the other thread I got 317 dverbs today. This could be due to the temperature in my studio. Freezing my butt of
I had before the test defragmentated all drives. I got stock cooling but removed the thermal pad and used arctic silver instead, and really, the temp goes down day by day.
My list:
Arctic Cooling Silentium T2 Pro
Miditower Case Silver/Black w/500W

Gainward GeForce 8400GS 256MB DDR2,
PCI-Express, DVI/Tv-Out, SilentFX

Asus P5K, P35, Socket-775, DDR2,
ATX, GbLAN, PCI-Ex16

Corsair Dominator TWIN2X8500C5D 2048MB,
DDR2,2x1GB(KIT),DHX,E.P.P, CL5-5-5-15-2T

Samsung DVD-brenner SH-S183A SATA

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 x 2

Intel Q6600 (of course)

Digi003 factory

Pro tools 7.3.cs4 MPT


I even got the digidesign protools keyboard. Really neat


I have done the windows and bios optimation, but no overclocking.
I had to set the RAM timing manually to pc8500 5-5-5-15

I dont know why I got so high dverb count, but I`m happy with the performance.


Rossi

[sunburst79]

Hi all and thanks for all the great work you have been doing with Core 2´s! Results are totally mindblowing! Thanks for sharing this with us all.

I´m going to jump in and start my bulding Core2Quad project soon. I just wanted to get your opinion on a memory availability issue before sending in the order.

Corsair XMS DDR2 1066 Memory isn´t available where I live and I was going to replace it with Kingston HyperX 2GB 1066MHZ DDR2 CL5 (5-5-5-15) (2x1GB actually). The exact type is KHX8500D2K2/2G and more specs can be found here:

http://www.valueram.com/datasheets/KHX8500D2K2_2G.pdf

Does it look ok to use? I did a search and one fellow protooler from Sweden did have some issues with ´em but he got the bad ones replaced and so far it´s been ok. Am I right?

The other thing. There seems to be performance boost from PT 7.1 to PT 7.3.1 so it seems to be necessary to update to get the goodies?

Otherwise I´m following the same path as most of you so on my cart there will be

Asus P5K
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
ASUS Radeon X1600 Pro 256 Mt PCI-E
ASUS X1650 SILENT PCIE 512M DDR2 DVI-I
Seagate Barracuda Sata II 3Gb 16MB Cache 7200 RPM 250MB 7200.10
Seagate Barracuda Sata II 3Gb 16MB Cache 7200 RPM 320MB 7200.10
+ the rest of the stuff

I´m running 002rack+Command8 and MPT.

Thanks a lot

PA

I think your talking about Jamtime, His memery was simply mislabled and once it was replaced with the correct stuff he had smooth sailing from that point on. As long as it will run a @ 1066 with timings of 5-5-5-15 your fine. Why 2 videocards?

Supoosedly Digi fined tuned the RTAS engine a bit more for 7.3 I would upgrade to 7.3 because it has some good features.