System thoughts...

[mrockas]

Hi!

I'm going to purchase Digi001 and a new pc for my projects. I know you guys and digi001 professionals [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] there can tell me if my setup will work and give me some recommendations. The main point here is that the system will really WORK, and another thing that I want good power for tracks and plugins.

So this is what I've planned in short:
-Athlon Thunderbird 1.3Ghz
-Asus A7V133 VIA KT133A UDMA/100 Motherboard
-512MB PC-133 SDRAM
-IBM Deskstar 60GXP 20GB 7200RPM ULTRA ATA/100 (System drive)
-IBM Deskstar 60GXP 40GB 7200RPM ULTRA ATA/100 (Audio drive)
-Matrox G450 32MB DDR
-WIN98SE
...and of course Digi plugged into it! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

I'm going to also setup LAN between this and my old P3/450 machine, so I could do my office/internet/misc jobs and get audio files from the new machine to the old one and burn cds with it. That way I could dedicate my new pc only for audio, and install only necessary things.

I hope this 'lite' networking thing won't make any harm to audiosystem and performance. The network cards in both systems are 3Com adapters.

What do you think about this!?

-Mr-

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: mrockas ]

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: mrockas ]

[Timothy Antonius]

Hi,

I'm running my ProTools LE system in a network too and i noticed that you do get a small decrease of performance when running a Ethernet-connection. The solution is simple and practical. Whenever you're recording/mixxing or whatever you do with ProTools turn off your Ethernet-card in th systemsdialog and turn it back on when you;re transferring files to the other computer.

Bye,

[mrockas]

Yep! thanks... that's the way I already thought of running it, if network would cause performance problems.

[staylor]

Sounds like a winner. My system is identical except with 256Mb Ram and running Windows Me. My system runs very stable. The only suggestion I have would be investing in a good heatsink/fan for your 1.33ghz chip. Mine is running a little hot for me.(Max at 60 deg. C) The CoolerMaster(EP5-6I11) AMD approved up to 1.4ghz isn't cutting it. I am not having any problems with PT LE, but I want to get that temperature down to at least 50C, for the processor's sake.

Perhaps others with a 1.2ghz or 1.33ghz Athlons will give their advice on what brand/model of heatsink and fan works for them. I would be interested as well.

Hope that helps
Shawn

[martin-28]

Those specs sound great except for the 512mb of RAM. It has been a common issue with Pro Tools LE that RAM over 256mb will either decrease performance or will not make any difference at all. I have not heard of anyone benefiting from more than 256mb of RAM. The main reason is that LE doesn't seem to need more than that and with excess RAM it's just got more needless space to search through which seems to noticeably lower plug-in counts. I hope that makes sense. I've not had personal experience with this issue but I hear about it all the time. I personally would go with 256mb of quality kingston pc150 RAM to give yourself a little headroom with the bus speed.

I use an alpha pal 6035 heatsink with a delta fan on my 1.3ghz t-bird. It runs idle at about 49 C and max at about 54 C. The delta fan is a little loud so that's a bit of a trade off.

Barre

[ July 25, 2001: Message edited by: martin-28 ]

[8mmOverdose]

I have 512 mb of Micron PC 2100 Ram. I have never used anything else so I have nothing to compare it to, but it works great. I have a Vantec FCE-62540D heat sink and 7200rpm fan. It also runs idle at about 49 C and max at about 54 C and its also a little loud. I also have a Enermax 350 watt 2 fan power supply AND 2 extra fans inside the case. The system temp averages about 30 c. before i added all these extra fans in the case i simply took off the side of it and had a small house fan blowing on the system. it was quieter, but just a quick fix. i believe ALL the 7200 rpm fans are loud, so unless you get a water cooled case its a trade off you live with.

[Allen Hallada]

I like the A7V133. I purchased a Koolance water cooled case for my 1.33Ghz and I love it. Very quiet and keeps the CPU temp below 100F. Comes with 300 Watt Sparkle power supply and is tested for the 1.33Ghz AMD. I would get just the chipset and CPU cooler setup. I can run mine without a case fan and keep the motherboard temp. around 34C. The only thing I hear is the powersupply fan. This was the second Digi setup using this case and it is working great. As far as the SDRAM, at these prices 512MB is a good choice. www.crucial.com has Micron ram at great prices and no shipping charges.
Good luck.
Allen [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ July 31, 2001: Message edited by: Allen Hallada ]

[Allen Hallada]

This is a repost from another thread. These are the most current prices I could find.

Something to bite on:

Asus A7v133 w/Raid 0 98.00
512 MB PC133 SDRAM (one stick) 37.00
1.33Ghz AMD 266 FSB 123.00
2-IBM 40GB ATA100 7200rpm 218.00
ATI Expert 2000 32MB 37.00
Koolance watercooled case w/300 Watt Sparkle Power Supply 225.00
Yamaha CDRW 16X write, 40X audio ripping 175.00
Klipsch 3Way 200W Speaker System 179.00
Total: 913.00

You could switch the Koolance case for the following:
Future Power Case w/400W power supply for 30.00
volcano II fan/heatsink 6.00
Total System: 724.00

And replace the CDRW and Speakers with:

Phillips CDRW 8x4x32 52.00
Polar Bear 200W SelfPowered Speakers 4.00
Total System: 612.00

That gives you one more hard drive to play with on a RAID 0 setup and a CD to rip to.

Check out www.newegg.com for hard drive, processors, motherboards, and speakers and www.cdrexpress.com for cdrw drives.

Good luck my friend and have fun!
Allen [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[zedhed]

What will you do with all that 'space' that's gonna be left after you have your operating system and PTLE installed on a 60GB drive. I think you would be better off getting a more modest capacity hard drive for your operating system then have multiple mega capacity drives to record to, since that is where the 'space 'is required the most.
An analogy; BILL GATES USING HIS 50,000 SQ FOOT HOUSE TO 'LIVE IN' BUT USING 100 SQ FEET TO STORE HIS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT IN.

[zedhed]

Yes........flame me if you want. I read your post wrong.Sorry about that. A 20/40 ratio sounds way better than 60/60. (I think I need glasses)