New PC components - any comments?

[Naren]

Hello, everybody...

I am moving to a DAW setup (have you heard that one before?), and would appreciate any comments on a system I have been planning to buy. The relevant components are:

Processor : AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (2.2 GHz) 1MB + 1MB cache 939-pin

Motherboard : ASUS A8N-E (nVidia® nForce® 4 Ultra chipset )

Power Supply : 560 Watt ATX 12V Power Supply (24-pin)

CPU Cooling : Thermaltake CL-P0092 Silent 775 CPU Fan

I guess the motherboard and the chipset are where things could go terribly wrong when building a DAW. I am aware that the mobo has only 3 available PCI slots but I can live with that.

Anyhoo.... thanks for reading.

-Naren

[manning1]

naren......
the only SURE WAY to know if a config will work is to run tests.
with the sound device(s )you wish to use. just because a particular config works for lots of people it might not in your case due to many variables.
motherboards can be revised as can chip sets and many other variables in many subtle ways by manufacturers. (ive worked for computer manufacturers).
also let me say its not just the processor. much as i love AMD .....memory can play a part as can disk drives. for example recently i came across someone running a dual amd with just one drive. a totally misconfigged system someone had built.
read some of my back posts on other tips.
also a very good test i use is...in the software i use is a pitch shift dsp function.
its very usefull for cutting through the BS of "my dads bmw is faster than your dads". if your looking for a powerfull amd system you should try running this
pitch shift test on various configs with different memory brands and hard drive brands.
with for example 8mb and 16mb cache drives ....7200 rpm and faster rpm rotation drives ....and time useing a stop watch the amount of time it takes to do various dsp functions like pitch shift on each. and write down the different timings tween different drive configs and technologies...for example....record 3 minutes of audio on 3 distinct tracks THEN useing a stopwatch time how long it takes a particular amd config to pitch shift all three at once. this type of test REALLY sorts out (the men from the boys) configurations as its unbiased. for example try it with 7200 rpm drives and 10k drives. in summary....if you want the BEST config in depth testing of this nature is the answer. this is how i found out that the very inexpensive amd sempron loaded up with ram and fast hard drives blew away a lot of much much pricier single processor competition. but not a dual core amd of course.....however ...it DID...much to my surprise beat a intel dual core.
in summary look not just at the processor but also the memory and drives your going to use.
on the net if you google you can also get info on performance of different brands of memory. memory can play a significant part in speed as well...one poster on here whose dual core amd impressed me is alex lakis.
very fast. hope this helps a tad.
ps...another test you can try ....eg with different memory brands and hard drive technologies is the mixdown test.....ie...record 20 tracks for example with a 10k drive and a 7200 rpm drive. mixdown to stereo useing each and stopwatch time
each. peace.

[George Necola]

dont forget to use a superquiet PSU.. be quiet is one..

560watt is enough.. you can use it as a heater in winter

cheers

[mxeryus]

Depending on the DAW application you are using, check the different forums from the manufacturers. The Nuendites (?, www.nuendo.com) are quite fond of Tyan motherboards and AMD processors.

Buy a silent and stabile powersupply, powerful enough to deliver enough juice to your system. Take a look at www.vantecusa.com.

I use Asus myself, in combination with Zalman stuff (processor cooler, power supply) with Nuendo.

[jcschild]

HI,

if you intend to use a UAD card you cant use an Nforce 4 motherboard

Scott
ADK