i7 Builds - Specs and Results

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by arhall

Not any more. Had some -9128 but I think I've solved most of the problem now. But I found this link and got curious.

Generally, if there was a problem that required such action, everyone running a USB device on Windows 7 would have the same issue. I would stay clear. Could get you into more trouble than what it is worth.

[Sawllkwa]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I am running that very combo with solid performance here. While its considered "old" in computer lingo, its a well proven package with either 6 or 12GB of triple-channel RAM. Dropping the cpu into the socket is simple(if its NOT simple, you're doing it wrong). Newegg.com has tutorial videos on building a rig, or youtube is another great source of help. The cpu has a marking on one corner, as does the socket. Go slow, be careful, pay attention and all should be fine(I've built about 16 machines over the last 6 years and have not screwed one up yet). I bet you hear me knocking on wood

Yeah lots of good vids on newegg and youtube. I was super nervous too (my first cpu drop) and I think I watched every video I found :)

On my friends suggestion, I even removed the 'factory installed' cpu heat paste, and used another he gave me. He builds computers to run nuclear reactors, so I trusted his word :P

[ANP57]

After going through this great thread during past couple of weeks I´ve decided to upgrade my 2007 Core2Quad system. I´d like to to build it around the very common Gigabyte board. The tricky part is that GA-X58A-UD3R seems to be nowadays unavailable in Europe - at least in most places. Therefore I guess I´m safe with GA-X58A-UD5 rev 2.0 am I?

Here my proposal. Feel free to comment and give feedback. I´m kinda looking for the best bang for the buck and also trying to avoid the sleepless nights trying to stabilize the system

• Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 rev 2.0

• Intel Core i7-960 - 3.2 GHz - Cache L3 8 Mt - Socket LGA 1366 (box)

• Cooler Coolermaster Hyper TX3 EVO

• Video Card ASUS GeForce 210 SILENT - 1 Gt GDDR3 - PCI-Express 2.0 (EN210 SILENT/DI/1GD3/V2(LP))

• Memory Corsair Vengeance 12 GB Kit PC3-12800, 1600MHz, 3x240 DIMM 12 GB Kit(3x4096 MB)

• System HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB Serial-ATA-II 16MB cache (recycled)

• Sample HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 - 1T - SATA 6 Gt/S - 7200 T/M - 64 Mt CACHE

• Audio HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 - 1T - SATA 6 Gt/S - 7200 T/M - 64 Mt CACHE

I´m hoping the be able to use my old case and psu. This would be Antec Sonata 2 450W, ATX12V v2.01. Do you see problems with the power supplly not being powerfull enough? I´m not going to overclock the pc at least in first place.

Is there huge benefit from doubling the memory up to 24 Gb? I´m typically not using a lot of VI´s in sessions. Some occasional Strike or BFD2 every now and then.

Other facts:
Interface 002R
Command 8
WIN7 Ultimate 64bit
Pro Tools 10

What should I except the Dverb result be with the specs above?

Thanks a lot!

[mano111]

Originally Posted by ANP57

After going through this great thread during past couple of weeks I´ve decided to upgrade my 2007 Core2Quad system. I´d like to to build it around the very common Gigabyte board. The tricky part is that GA-X58A-UD3R seems to be nowadays unavailable in Europe - at least in most places. Therefore I guess I´m safe with GA-X58A-UD5 rev 2.0 am I?

Here my proposal. Feel free to comment and give feedback. I´m kinda looking for the best bang for the buck and also trying to avoid the sleepless nights trying to stabilize the system

• Motherboard GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD5 rev 2.0

The UD5 had known issues in the past with noises in DAW. I'd stay away. If you can't get your hands on a UD3R then you can try the Asus P6T.

• • Intel Core i7-960 - 3.2 GHz - Cache L3 8 Mt - Socket LGA 1366 (box)

  • Cooler Coolermaster Hyper TX3 EVO

That cooler is not a good choice IMO. Try the Cooler Master Hyper 212, or a better Noctua or similar tower with a quiet 12cm fan

• Video Card ASUS GeForce 210 SILENT - 1 Gt GDDR3 - PCI-Express 2.0 (EN210 SILENT/DI/1GD3/V2(LP))
• Memory Corsair Vengeance 12 GB Kit PC3-12800, 1600MHz, 3x240 DIMM 12 GB Kit(3x4096 MB)
• System HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB Serial-ATA-II 16MB cache (recycled)
• Sample HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 - 1T - SATA 6 Gt/S - 7200 T/M - 64 Mt CACHE
• Audio HD Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 - 1T - SATA 6 Gt/S - 7200 T/M - 64 Mt CACHE

I´m hoping the be able to use my old case and psu. This would be Antec Sonata 2 450W, ATX12V v2.01. Do you see problems with the power supplly not being powerfull enough? I´m not going to overclock the pc at least in first place.

The 450W Antec PSU that comes with the Sonata II is borderline for this system. My bet is it will work as it is fairly efficient and your video card power draw is low. Since you are only reusing the case + PSU and a single HDD I strongly recommend you get a new Case + ~600W PSU + a system HDD. That way you get to keep your quad core system for other uses.

Is there huge benefit from doubling the memory up to 24 Gb? I´m typically not using a lot of VI´s in sessions. Some occasional Strike or BFD2 every now and then.

Only reason I can think of for getting more RAM is if your using RAM intensive VIs. I'd keep it at 12GB.

Other facts:
Interface 002R
Command 8
WIN7 Ultimate 64bit
Pro Tools 10

What should I except the Dverb result be with the specs above?

Thanks a lot!

Good luck with your build. I'd expect ~300-350 dverbs based on similar systems scores.

[albee1952]

Good advice^^^^re. the power supply. I have an i7 950 on the UD3R(works great) and the cpu can pull 18 amps by itself, then add the drives and fans. Take a look at the +12V spec on your old PSU as I expect the 960 can pull the same or a little more. Since I am not overclocking, I ran the stock cooler here with no issues. In the name of "quiet", I went with a Corsair h60 liquid cooler.

[mykhal c]

i7 3820...they're here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115229


Intel® Core™ i7 Desktop Processor Family

and this looks very interestin'...first time seein' it but looks it could be a super time saver when changin' to a new build...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832300022

[jello]

[QUOTE=jello;1899385]
Intel® Core i7-3930K Processor
ASUS P9X79 WS, Socket-2011
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz 16GB CL9 (2x 32gig total)
Corsair H80 Hydro Series
ASUS Radeon HD 6450 512MB DDR3 Silent
Corsair AX 850W PSU
Corsair Obsidian 800D Big Tower
WD caviar black 500 gig system 32mb cache
WD caviar black 1000 gig audio 64mb cache

Protools 10, digi 002.




I have put my Corsair rig together, got my siig FW card today and did some tests. For now I am using an old WD caviar black 32mb cache drive from the old system, I think the performance will be even higher when I get a new hardrive for my system, any ssd drives that will get the job done?


On my i7 970/gigabyte rig I got 400 dverbs 1024 buffer which was good.

On my i7 3930K/asus rig I got:

1024 buffer: 660 dverbs which is HIGH. CPU meter at 95%. I used 11cores 99% instead of 12cores 90% (the highest setting), plugin streaming buffer at default.

64 buffer: 484 dverbs which also is very high. CPU meter at 83%. I used 12cores at 90%, plugin streaming buffer at default.

My corsair H100 cpu fan was making alot of noise at 100%, it is silent at low fan setting, cpu at 70 degrees.

With 32gig of ram I think its time to buy CPTK and get some disk cache.


I also tried the TPU overclocking feature and got the pc clocked to 4.9gigI used that insane clocking on the dverb tests. Great build!

Big thanks to Sawllkwa for the idea that something like this is possible.

[ANP57]

Thanks mano and albee!

Asus P6T seems to be hard to find as well. How about the P6T WS Professional or P6TD Deluxe? The Deluxe model seems have the different VIA FW controller than P6T. And WS professional comes with LSI FW controller...

P6TS WS Professional
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Int..._Professional/

P6TD Deluxe
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Int...6/P6TD_Deluxe/

Which one do you guys recommend?

[albee1952]

I'm not the final word on this, but I think the Deluxe would work fine, while the other model looks to have stuff you don't need(or do you need SAS or PCI-X?). As for the firewire, a $50 SIIG card is always an option if the onboard FW doesn't work Remember that you may need to "do a little dance" with firewire drivers(IOW, try the 3 drivers that are available on your system).

[filosofem]

Originally Posted by ANP57

P6TS WS Professional
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Int..._Professional/

Workstation for any DAW. Higher quality components, higher levels of Qualified vendors. Higher level of testing. Pro Tools, amongst others are high end digital audio workstation applications that require the best quality.