Cubase 7 | HP Z series workstation

[muziksculp]

I wonder if the HP Z820's BIOS has been optimized for Audio Application such as Cubase ?

I was told that their BIOS settings can not be modified (It's locked). So, there is no way to improve/optimize the HP Z820's performance for DAWs.

Any clue if this is the case at this time ?

Thanks,
Muziksculp

[Bill@WelcomeHome]

Originally Posted by muziksculp

I wonder if the HP Z820's BIOS has been optimized for Audio Application such as Cubase ?

I was told that their BIOS settings can not be modified (It's locked). So, there is no way to improve/optimize the HP Z820's performance for DAWs.

Any clue if this is the case at this time ?

Thanks,
Muziksculp

I can't tell you about the Z-820. My Z-210 is not locked, but it is also not like the Asus motherboard BIOSes that seemed to be aimed at over-clockers and other tweakers. I don't know what you need to optimize in the BIOS for Cubase. I don't recall having to change anything for Samplitude/Sequoia. Even the OS tweaks were minimal.

[Roger Starr]

Who says they are really optimized? Probably a combi deal. Marketing etc.

RGH

[muziksculp]

Originally Posted by Roger Starr

Who says they are really optimized? Probably a combi deal. Marketing etc.

RGH

It would be great if Steinberg would strike a special deal with HP to offer audio-optimized versions of the HP Z830 workstations. (Bios tweaked for audio performance, very low latency, and over-clocked to offer faster processing).

I don't think the Z830 is specially optimized for audio production by HP. Since they are also used for other applications such as video/Post/graphic design/animation/....etc.

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by muziksculp

It would be great if Steinberg would strike a special deal with HP to offer audio-optimized versions of the HP Z830 workstations. (Bios tweaked for audio performance, very low latency, and over-clocked to offer faster processing).

I don't think the Z830 is specially optimized for audio production by HP. Since they are also used for other applications such as video/Post/graphic design/animation/....etc.

There really isn't that much to optimize. If there are no DPC latency peaks, it should be fine. I've worked on quite a few PT rigs running on the HP Z series. They work well.

As for over-clocking, HP won't go down that route . It doesn't make any sense in their world.

Alistair

[submarin]

One question guys,

I´m thinking of a new build, got a i7 920 at the moment.

Are the XEON´s still so much faster than the newest Sandy-E´s ?

[jcschild]

Originally Posted by submarin

One question guys,

I´m thinking of a new build, got a i7 920 at the moment.

Are the XEON´s still so much faster than the newest Sandy-E´s ?

nope never have been, the Xeons are sandy E same exact processors.
unless you buy 2 x 3.1GHz a single 6 core will beat it.

Scott
ADK

[submarin]

Originally Posted by jcschild

nope never have been, the Xeons are sandy E same exact processors.
unless you buy 2 x 3.1GHz a single 6 core will beat it.

Scott
ADK

Thanks Scott, good to know!!

I was wondering, why HP still puts them into their machines and why they are more expensive than Sandy´s..

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by submarin

I was wondering, why HP still puts them into their machines and why they are more expensive than Sandy´s..

Well for one the Xeons can be used in multi-processor setups (and thus have the QPI links enabled). Regular Sandy Bridge-E's like the Core i7 38/39XX can't. (Sandy Bridge-E is the architecture name, not the processor name).

Alistair

[DAW PLUS]

Originally Posted by submarin

Thanks Scott, good to know!!

I was wondering, why HP still puts them into their machines and why they are more expensive than Sandy´s..

Many professional workstation boards do not support consumer CPU's, one of the reasons we build with Xeons.
However, that can't be an argument for HP.

[TS-12]

HP?? Wth!! Worst computers. My friend works at a computer store, hps get returned, repaired most than any computer. And i had bad experience with hp pavilion and laptops. Why in the world would steinberg support HP???

[TS-12]

Originally Posted by muziksculp

It would be great if Steinberg would strike a special deal with HP to offer audio-optimized versions of the HP Z830 workstations.

Nooooo, please nooooo. not HorrorPc

[muziksculp]

Originally Posted by TS-12

Nooooo, please nooooo. not HorrorPc

I was not aware that HP stands for Horror PC !

Are they really ?

Don't HP cater their top of the line Workstations to Professionals ? How bad can they be ?

I'm kind of surprised by your comment. Is your friend that works at a music store referring to HP-Workstations, or economy grade commercial/consumer general purpose HP laptops ?

They are two very different type of products , and Yes, HP makes both high and low end machines, they are very different product lines.

[TS-12]

Originally Posted by muziksculp

I was not aware that HP stands for Horror PC !

Are they really ?

Don't HP cater their top of the line Workstations to Professionals ? How bad can they be ?

I'm kind of surprised by your comment. Is your friend that works at a music store referring to HP-Workstations, or economy grade commercial/consumer general purpose HP laptops ?

They are two very different type of products , and Yes, HP makes both high and low end machines, they are very different product lines.

not so sure about "high end" HP. but definitely on the consumer HPs and All Laptops

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by TS-12

My friend works at a computer store, hps get returned, repaired most than any computer.

Not surprising as they have the largest PC market share.

Alistair

[Dappolito]

Am I correct that Xeons can't be overclocked ? Anyone know ?

[jcschild]

NOPE they are locked down plus no board that has the tweak options for that
however i did see EVGA did release a board and they were the only ones last time that you could OC Xeons with.
but with the chips locked hmm wont get much out of it