Component list for new computer - please review

[Mark Warren]

Putting together a new system and have put the components below. I've been trying to stay around $3K so I may go with two 19" monitors instead of the giant Dell one. Please let me know if I've missed anything, or if you've had any experiences with any of these components, etc.

-Motherboard
Asus MB P5WD2 $206

Processor
Intel Pentium D 840 Smithfield $540

Case + power
Mid-Tower Case with side window and 500W Power Supply $159

Memory
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 800 (PC2 6400) $335

Hard drive
2x Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive $300

Dvd-drive
pioneer dvr-108 /and/ plextor 32-52-32 cd-rw $100

Video card
Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI $579

Monitor
Dell 2405fpw $1100

Windows XP
Pro x64 $152

(TOTAL: $3,500 or $3,000 with two 19" monitors)

Only other thing I would need (I think) would be some more serious hard drive space, and perhaps a simple second video card if I'm going to run two monitors.

-Mark

[DaveH]

ASUS motherboards, for myself I won’t buy any others, these are solid.

I also only run Corsair match pair memory.

I notice your case and you don’t mention any “quiet fans” or special
noise reduction stuff. Depending on where you plan on placing the system.
, in separate room, in noise reduction box, etc, you may not be happy with standard fan noise in the studio.


(If running drives in raid mode)
I have 4 systems with Raptor drives running (two system using dual raptors in raid mode). Be sure you get latest drivers. Also be aware that some system still
require that you have a “floppy drive” to install the raid drivers if you
need to update them. I had a bit of a go around with BIOS/DRIVER/XP PRO
conflicts between XP, raid on board chip and intel raid driver software.
(I see you mention Pro X64, which may not have the same problem).

Also are these 2 drives in raid mode, or is one for system programs and one
for audio files which I would highly recommend. In any case I have
found much better results running programs files on one drive. And the
audio stuff off of another drive (or raid pair).

Another comment: I’m not aware of any “studio” software that needs
a video card with 256MB of video ram. I may be missing something
but 128MB should be good and save some bucks. (If you want to also play
everquest and other games on the same system go for 256MB) But I don’t
play video games on my studio computers, too much chance for driver conflicts or
other problems. By the way both windows xp and the video card you mention will already drive two monitors.

Also what about disk/project backup. External USB, or what?. For me I would not run
a system without a way of backing up stuff. Make it fast or if you’re like
me you’ll find yourself skipping backups cause they take too long.

Don’t forget a good UPS.

Hope this helps in some fashion.

[George Necola]

Only other thing I would need (I think) would be some more serious hard drive space, and perhaps a simple second video card if I'm going to run two monitors.

no.. buy external drives for backup.. cheap..

no, you need a dualheadsupportcard.. like a matrox Parhelia oder a G550..


cheers George

[AngeloClematide]

G550 and video display: doesn't generate overlay on monitor 2. On monitor 1 only at resolution 1152x864 or below. Of course inlay is no problem.
G550 is a out dated card, buy a newer one!

For video go for the model who is approved by the video program you are gona use.

[George Necola]

I got my G550 for 5$... great cost/Value-ratio;) not?

works perfect.. no problems so far..;)

[bernieL0max]

The raptors might be overkill.... think of the outright GBs you could have for the same $s

So your DAW boots and loads apps a smidgeon faster... it's space you'll need to store all those projects :)

[AngeloClematide]

nice value schwiizer, yes!

but video work with a graphic card without OVERLAY is useless! With matrox cards you need at least a card with power desk. Mark said "video" on the lower end of his post.

[manning1]

mark....just my 2 cents.
i wouldnt buy anything before going to a retailer and running some tests.
if your app is detailed video work.....by doing heavy video rendering on different classes of processors will reveal the fastest and most powerfull for your application.....thus...i would run tests on the single and dual amd 64 approach
as well as possibly the amd sempron which is a dirt cheap processor and which in my recent exhaustive tests beat out some more expensive processors....but this was audio processing....not video.
in summary.....pick a difficult time intensive process or activity .....and this will tell you the best processor for your needs.

[bernieL0max]

I would be very surprised if the Geforce 7800GTX wasnt a dual-head card!?

In fact the couple of cards i just looked at have S-Video/Composite IN and OUT, in addition to 2xDVI Connectors (Dual-Head)...

I wouldnt imagine the video-in would be very high quality at all... so I hope you're not planning on using it for anything :P


So anyway, you will not need a second video card for 2 displays.


Matt

[bernieL0max]

my other advice would be to consider a genuine intel motherboard for stability, reliabilty and support... :)

[Mark Warren]

You guys really rock, thanks for all the great comments.

On the video card I was thinking if I was building such a powerful machine it might be fun to play a game or two now and then, otherwise definitely don't need that much video card power. Good to know I could probably run two monitors off of it though.

I do some work with video but it's more audio for video than actual video work like NLE stuff.

Great to mention the UPS, I had left that off the list. I would be running the computer in a separate room, so fan noise shouldn't be a problem.

For backup I have a couple of 250GB external USB 2.0 drives I use for backup that seem to work really well so I'll continue using those.

Good advice to keep the program files on one drive and the audio on the other, that is my usual setup, and I was considering going for more GB for the dollar with a 7,500RPM drive setup, and still may go that route if 10,000RPM isn't going to produce any real noticeable performance increases.

Thanks again!
-Mark

[RyanR]

The Mobo, CPU, and RAM look alright. We could debate AMD vs. Intel, single vs. dual core, etc., but what you have looks fine. Although I have never used that specific mobo model, I have built numerous systems with Asus mobos and they have never failed me once.

The 74GB Raptor is a good idea for the OS drive, and a good idea for your sample streaming drive if you're going to be using a lot of soft sampler instruments, but you're still gonna need a lot of storage for projects, samples, etc. I'd recommend adding another HD with a lot of space (~400 GB). I would also forget about a RAID array as IME it's not worth the trouble. So, you would have an OS drive (74GB), an audio drive (74GB Raptor where projects get recorded to, and possibly some sample are streamed from), and a storage drive (~400 GB for project, sample, music, etc. storage). You could probably make those 36GB Raptors as well.

It looks like the PSU is a generic one that comes with the case. I would recommend investing in a high quality PSU, especially if you are considering adding DAW cards (i.e. UAD-1, Powercore) and will have multiple HDs and DVDROMs in your computer. Look for PSUs that have constant and high amperage rails (i.e. 30A+ on the 12V rail). Since most high quality PSUs don't come with a case, this means you'll have to look for another case too.

Unless you're going to be playing demanding games on your computer (games like Quake 4 or Half Life 2), that video card is complete overkill for a DAW - and I mean COMPLETE overkill. Get a Matrox P650 or P750 and you'll have what you need to run dual DVI monitors.

The Dell 2405W is a great monitor, I have one myself. I waited for one of Dells deals and got mine for ~$850. My Dad wanted to check it out, and after I showed it to him, the next day he called up Dell to get one - this was after their "deal" had expired. Well . . . he got his for ~$810 (he just had to show me up, the bastid ). Anyway, that monitor does not cost $1100 - call up Dell directly and negotiate with whoever is on the other end. If they don't go low enough, just say "no thanks", then call them right back - you'll get a different person everytime, and you just have to find one that will give you the best deal. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get it for below $800 . . .

Lastly, what about HSF and thermal paste? Might want to think about a non-stock cooling solution.

Anyway, with the money you save on the monitor and video card, I would pick up a storage HD, high quality PSU, non-stock cooling solution, and probably some components to make it all a little more quiet (like silent fans, or an acoustipak).

Good luck!

[bernieL0max]

Ryan, I'll challenge one thing you said;

Originally Posted by RyanR

I would also forget about a RAID array as IME it's not worth the trouble.

What trouble would that be? first time you boot the computer you go into the RAID BIOS, tell it you want to make a RAID 0 Array, chose your 2 HDDs, and click OK... all done.

And from that point on you've instantly doubled your HDD throughput (in theory), and in practice it is close to double the performance with the Intel ICHxR having the RAID controller integrated in the chipset, instead of hanging off a slow PCI bus.

I cant imagine anything else quite so simple that would make a DAW run more smoothly than doubling your HDD throughput! since reading and writing wavs is what it is doing *most* of the time...


*personally* I would get 2x 300GB drives for less than 50% of the price of what you are recomending, put them in a RAID 0 array and have considerably more space, with considerably higher throughput. if it tickles your fancy you can even partition it to 74GB, 74GB and the rest...

not pulling "less than 50%" out of my bum either, these are ex tax AU$ off a suppliers list (i dont supply them, so dont ask)


74GB raptor, $225 (x2) = $450
+400GB, $329.50

TOTAL $779.50

OR

300GB, $189 (x2) = $378


Matt