(First Post) Building DAW computer, advice on parts?

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Member Since: Dec 02, 2005

Hey guys, (first post here)

Im going to be purchasing a new computer within the next few days, and it will be strictly for recording. It is also going to be a beast of a system since i want to be able to run Drumkit From Hell Superior (35gb multisampled drumest) with all of the mics activated and a shiteload of various plugins in real-time without taxing my processor in the least.

I am going to get the parts off of newegg and get my friend to build it for me, here is the list of parts: (if you care, please take a look, and make sure everything will work together and feel free to give better suggestions if you have any!)

Motherboard:
(not in stock yet, but definitely the best i could find)
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16813131568

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 x2 4400 (i was told to go for a 1mb cache on the processor, and im definitely not going to go for the 4800, so i will get this one instead!)
www.newegg.com/product/Pr...N82E16819103546

RAM: 2GB(2x1GB) OCZ Dual Channel Platinum RAM:
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16820227210

Case: Antec P180 (very soundproof and durable, and was strongly reccomended)
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16811129154

Soundcard (the only part i am not getting off of newegg, would you reccomend something else in that price range?): Presonus Firepod
presonus.com/firepod.html

HDD1: 80gb sata 150 drive: www.newegg.com/product/Pr...N82E16822135106
(for the OS, Drumkit From Hell Superior, and all my programs)

HDD2: 300gb sata 150 drive: (for the music)
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16822148064

Video Card: Asus radeon x800 w/dual dvi: (not great but not terrible, keep in mind its just for the dual dvi's since i will eventually have two screens, and it only costs $190)
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16814121529

Power Supply: Antec 550W power supply
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16817103931

CPU Cooling:
Thermalright Heatsink:
www.newegg.com/product/Pr...N82E16835109118

Cpu fan: masscool 120mm fan
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16835150052

Case Fans: (2) Aspire 120mm fans
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16811998127

Dvd burner:
www.newegg.com/product/Pr...N82E16827106988

Dvd Drive:
www.newegg.com/Product/Pr...N82E16827131410

As for the keyboard, i dont know if i should go wired or wireless, what do you guys think? And i am aware that the computer will not be silent or quiet, but right now im recoridng on a computer that has THE NOISIEST fans ever, and it never really got in the way while micing since i do it in a little closet anyways hehe.

So what do you guys think?
Are all of those parts compatible or did i miss something and will some of those parts not work? Are there any parts you disagree with and/or have better suggestions for? Please let me know if you can!
Either way if you made it this far, i really appreciate the help!

Thanks guys!

t

EDIT: oh and is it true that 4gb of ram will be useless for me since windows cant make use of all of it and nuendo (which is the multitracker of choice) hasnt been well optimized for it either?

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Dec 02, 2005 02:03 pm

Welcome to HRC.

I am not going to click thru all those parts, but the first thing that comes to mind to me is wondering how long you have been recording on your present setup? I dunno why but I am just curious.

The only thing I see that I would personally change is getting a rack mount case (assuming you have a rack with outboard gear, that may be a wrong assumption) as I have found solidly built rack cases to be quieter than towers...and more out of the way too.

Member
Since: Dec 02, 2005


Dec 02, 2005 02:12 pm

I have been recording on my current computer for the last 3-4 years. it did undergo a memory and proessor upgrade about a year ago, but this is so i can have a computer that is strictly for recording and leave this comupter im on for interenet and whatnot.
i never found the noise from my current computer (which is pretty damn loud) to really get in the way of things, so i think it will be fine in the antec case.

Sound Gal - Michelle
Member
Since: Jul 11, 2005


Dec 02, 2005 04:11 pm

looks nice, like something similar to what I'm gonna get soon (hopefuly), but I'm going at an intel 2.8 GHz dual CPU...
In AMD better than Intel? or is that opening a can of worms.

The Eternal Student
Member
Since: Oct 08, 2005


Dec 02, 2005 04:17 pm

Those Aspire case fans are hella noisy. I'd look for something a little quieter. Do a search for "quiet case fans" and you'll have a few 120mm options. Should be able to find something rated closer to 20db and still have decent airflow.

Member
Since: Dec 02, 2005


Dec 02, 2005 06:02 pm

from everything i have heard and been told, the amd's are wayy better in the dual core market. they use less power, run cooler, are faster and more efficient and cheaper too. So that is why im going amd.

thanks kenneth, ill do a search for something else (didnt have my heart set on those fans or anythign hehe)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 03, 2005 12:55 am

For a quiet case, unless you go the route dB has gone with a Rack mount which I can say in his case is very quiet. I suggest looking at the Antec Sonata, www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15138

I have used them in s few install's and they are super quiet for a regular tower case.

As far as the can of worm's that is the debate wetween AMD and Intel. Most game sites prefer the AMD for its smoother speed. As well many peep's in a news group I am in who are all using their PC's for recording lean toward the AMD as well. Several of them are running dual and very happy with the dual AMD verses the dual Intel's. And some of the first 64 bit recording software that is out in beta now was built toward running on Intel but seemed to run better once running on AMD chipped machine's.

I have honestly had luck with both, my old box is still running a PIII 667 Coppermine and is a real workhorse for what it is.

Several benchmark article's I have read as well comparing the Intel against the AMD running softsynth's seemed to get faster performance out of lower rated AMD chip's.

Long story short AMD was originally loved by the gamer's for its ability to run over clocked to greater extreme's then the Intel's so they gained a huge reputation just for that. Statistically the AMD verse the Intel has gone both ways pending on the version of the chip.

I know I will probably stick with AMD since I have had nothing but good luck with them. And they have been very stable under some heavy work loads.

Bottom line is value for the dollar spent and AMD has been the lower cost for performance in my case.

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