i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[EGS]

Originally Posted by SUPER_STEVE

...do you guys recommend doing all of the Pro Tools optimizations that the Avid website recommends? ...

yes

[Dantesjuice]

Im looking to do a new build very soon but my dilemma is between AMD or Intel...960, 2600k quad cores, or the 8150 fx eight core. Iv been a big supporter of both chips and was going to go intel but i can get twice the processing and more ram for cheaper if i go AMD. (not to mention the AMD chip comes unlocked for overclocking) My biggest concern is compatibility with pro tools 8LE though with the AMD or the Sandy Bridge.

Intel Build No.1

Intel 960 3.2 quad core
Asus Rampage III Formula or Gigabyte UD3R
Corsair Vengance 12gb DDR3 2000 triple channel
~$1700

Intel Build No.2

Intel 2600k quad core (Turbo Boost)
Asus P8P67 Delux
G.Skill Sniper 16gb DDR3 2133 quad channel
~$1650

AMD Build

AMD 8150 FX 3.6 eight core
Asus Crosshair V Formula
G.Skill Sniper 16gb DDR3 2133 quad channel
~$1600

All the other parts are identical, drives, video card etc...

Anyone have any advise... or more helpful would be if anyone is currently running protools on an AMD or Sandy Bridge system?

Thanks =)

[guitardom]

Originally Posted by SUPER_STEVE

Will do! Parts are ordered and should ship soon! What version of Windows 7 is preferrable? I think I read home premium somewhere... Also, do you guys recommend doing all of the Pro Tools optimizations that the Avid website recommends? I think one of them might be part of the reason why my laptop is fried now, so I was wondering...

what optimization do you think could have caused that??
home premium is fine. all flavors of it are used with success. i use ultimate.

[Sawllkwa]

Hi Guys,

I’m upgrading to ‘PT9+’ and I’m at a stage where have to build a new computer. Over the past years I’ve ran PTLE on ‘off the shelf’ machines that I’ve bought, and spent hours/days making them work. My pockets have bottoms so I kinda have to get it right the first time with this build.

I’m at the stage were I’m reading and researching this forum and other builder websites. I’ve read a few posts warning to (if possible) stay away from the P67: Intel Core i7-2600 builds, and lean towards the X58 and possibly next gen X79. I’m now considering one of two options:

Option 1 – old and safe

ASUS P6T6 WS Revolution, Socket-1366;
Intel Core i7-970 Processor; and
Corsair Dominator DHX DDR3 1600MHz, 2 x (12GB)

Option 2 – possible trail blazer

ASUS P9X79 WS, Socket-2011;
Intel Core i7-3930K Processor;
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz, 2 x (16GB) CL8

Option 1 is cheaper than 2, and from what I understand more proven. I haven’t seen too many builds on the newer X79 - i7 3xxx generation. I’d love to be a ‘trail blazer’ but like I said ‘my pockets have bottoms’ :P Does anyone have any new insight on the X79, or should a lean towards the safer X58 generation?

I started by looking at the MB and CPU first, still undecided with the RAM. The rest will follow (HDs, Graphics, Case, etc.).

Thanks for your time,

Roger

[filosofem]

Hey Roger, what's apparent reading through your post is that you have your sh*t together and there is not a lot any one can add to what you have said as the choice is solely yours to make. Personally, since you are really looking for opinion, if you can afford Core i7-3930K then Core i7 3930K is the smart money. Core i7-39xx is newer and offers more punch for your buck given that it blends the best of Core i7-9xx and Core i7-2600. The Core i7-39xx architecture is more suited for Digital Audio Workstations and Non-Linear Editors. Plus the added bonus too is that LGA 2011 Socket is going to be compatible with Ivy Bridge Extreme processes in the future.

[TOM@METRO]

Originally Posted by filosofem

if you can afford Core i7-3930K then Core i7 3930K is the smart money.

I fully agree.

[bigfryman]

Hey guys,

Has anybody been successful with Z68 chipsets and Pro Tools 9??
I have googled the duc a bit, but haven't found much information.

I am in Australia and usually buy my computer parts through Mwave and they don't keep so many of the older motherboards any more, hence z68.
I need a motherboard, ram, CPU and a couple of hard drives for $1k or less.

This is my current purchasing plan:

Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD5-B3
i7 2600K
G.Skill Ripjaws-X 16GB(4x 4GB) Memory Kit - 240pin DIMM - PC3-12800 / DDR3-1600 - CL9 - 1.5v - Unbuffered - Non-Ecc
2x Western Digital Caviar Green WD20EARS 2TB as a RAID pair for audio

I also have already bought a 120GB OCZ SSD drive for the system drive and own a decent antec case, power supply and decent fans. I have a NVIDIA GeForce 7100 GS for a video card.

I have built a few pro tools machine and been quite successful with stable builds. About to retire my quad pentium 4, it's getting tired.

Can anybody spot any issues there?? The motherboard doesn't have onboard video support, so i'm assuming all should be well.

Appreciate all your expertise!

Thanks

[filosofem]

Hey bigfryman, any reason why Core i7-2600K and Z68 Chipset? There has been a few and only a few success stories on the DUC. The problem is that 2600K supports on-die graphic processing and little is known about the Z68 chipset. Users that have opted for 2600K have done so with P67 chipset. Have you considered Core i7-3930K and X79 chipset?

Also Pro Tools 9 does not support RAID. And Avid do not recommend SSD for system nor audio drives.

[bigfryman]

Thanks for the reply filosfem,

The reason I didn't go for P67 chipset was that they seem a little harder to get, mwave don't stock any. I haven't considered the 3930K and X79 as it's outside my price range unfortunately and also don't know how much success people have had.

I had heard Pro Tools doesn't 'support' RAID, but I haven't heard any of the issues people have had. Do you know what they are?? I was going to set up RAID 1, as I am only interested in RAID for data redundancy, not performance. I would have thought that pro tools would not even see it as a RAID drive, but just a drive.

Also, are people having issues with SSD's?? I had heard that pro tools don't recommend them, but haven't seen any of the issues. Have read a few success stories with them though.

Thanks for you expertise!

[filosofem]

RAID, SSD, Z68 and 2600K I'll tell you what, you're a gambling man. None of this is recommended nor qualified with Pro Tools 9. Pro Tools 10 supports RAID. You are going to do what you want to do. Yes, some users have had success, there are also those that have not. I guess you will be flipping a coin. Your build from the outset looks okay, just make sure that that RAM is listed on the motherboards qualified vendor list. And good luck.