Need suggestions about building a DAW

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:53 pm

Hi everybody,

I'm planning on building a new desktop.

The computer I have now is too old and it´s not handling the amount of tracks and plugins required, plus my girlfriend needsa computer so this is the opportunity to get rid of it and get a new one.

I need it to record and mixdown. I'm working with two laptops with VSTis (both with M-audio 410s), guitar, bass and vocals.
All I need is a computer that can handle several plugins and tracks.

This is going to be a audio dedicated computer only, and I was thinking about:

I already have the screen, and a 002 rack.
3.0 ghz CPU
2 g of ram
2 hard drives one ATA and SAta the other
I don´t need a dual head video card
and a good cooling system.

I haven´t done a lot of reaserach about new mobo models and cpus, so I thought you guys may be able to point me in the right direction.

I've been thinking about going intel for mobo and CPU, what do you guys think about that?

I read the other topics, I just wanted to hear some suggestions about models, brands.

Thanks a lot

ISH

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 4:24 am

hey ISH

Have a look at the ASUS P4C800 Delux motherboard. I plugged in a Prescott 3.2Ghz processor and 2Gb of ram. The system is rock solid, no blue screens, no hangs w/ XP home. I went with the ASUS board becaus of recommendations of compatibility with the INTEL 875 chipset with the greatest no. of known peripheral devices.

One odd feature I did on the recommentation of an assembler guy was to make my CD/DVD burner an outboard unit that plugs into the USB......you're only going to use the optical drive now and then, and this allows you to power it down so the CPU doesn't even know its there or try polling it when its not used.

ATI Radeon 9200 is as cheap as any video card and gives dual head option......nice when you've got crap spead out all over.

cheers!! David

Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 1:14 pm

Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

Im going to do my research about the asus p4c800.

Thanks,

ISH

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 10:19 am

ISH,

if you are going ASUS get the P5P800 with the LGA775 socket.

Higher clock rates
LGH775 P4 Prescott
64-Bit capable

Guy Cefalu
SONICA-X, LLC.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:07 am

SONICA-X wrote:

ISH,

if you are going ASUS get the P5P800 with the LGA775 socket.

Higher clock rates
LGH775 P4 Prescott

Guy Cefalu
SONICA-X, LLC.

Not exactly feature rich that mobo. IMHO the Abit AS-8 is alot better value for a LGA775 board.

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 9:32 pm

What About the Ram?

What brand do you guys recommend?

Do I have to go with 800 FSB to match the MOBO?

Thanks a lot guys

ISH

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 11:52 pm

If you're running ProTools you really should consider going AMD. For the last year or so AMD has been killing Pentiums in performance (with Protools), and they're cheaper. There are some guys over at the digidesign forum that test these things all the time, and they are always finding the best components.

Check out this thread. Go to the beginning to see the latest suggested configurations, and then go to the last few pages to see what's been going on recently.

http://duc.digidesign.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=360675&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1#360675

Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 5:18 pm

Should I buy fsb 800 RAM to match the MOBO fsb?

FSB 800 Ram is really expensive!

thanks

Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 5:19 pm

I'm not sure but I doubt it. Ususally PC2700 or PC3200 will be fine. Make sure you get at least 512mb to 1G, or more.

This topic sponsored by: