I would use the SSD as the main drive for the OS and programs. Put it on an onboard SATA2 connection. Put the audio drives on onboard SATA3 connectors. One drive for recording sessions and one drive for samples and virtual instruments. Incidentally, for recording sessions I use a maximum of 500GB drives because of the better reliability factor as well as speed. I archive the finished audio sessions on larger drives. Use the other headers for blu ray burner and even more drives. You can also get headers to run eSATA connections which is great for long term storage.

TheJackAttack, post: 384826 wrote: I would use the SSD as the main drive for the OS and programs. Put it on an onboard SATA2 connection. Put the audio drives on onboard SATA3 connectors. One drive for recording sessions and one drive for samples and virtual instruments. Incidentally, for recording sessions I use a maximum of 500GB drives because of the better reliability factor as well as speed. I archive the finished audio sessions on larger drives. Use the other headers for blu ray burner and even more drives. You can also get headers to run eSATA connections which is great for long term storage.

What are the marvell and jmicro connections for? The case i bought for my build has a swappable esata bay on top so could i get another storage drive for that and set that one only to mirror my other drives in case of a failure?

Use them for whatever. Currently no hard drive can utlize the full capabilities of SATA2 so SATA3 is just future proofing. If you have an eSATA bay then I would use that for long term archival storage or swapping sessions to other computers.

TheJackAttack, post: 384831 wrote: Use them for whatever. Currently no hard drive can utlize the full capabilities of SATA2 so SATA3 is just future proofing. If you have an eSATA bay then I would use that for long term archival storage or swapping sessions to other computers.

Is it possible to raid the esata to mirror the internal drives? Also what drive should i install my plugins?

I don't advise raid for recording. Buy a couple more drives and set up a raid array for daily automatic backup.

TheJackAttack, post: 384835 wrote: I don't advise raid for recording. Buy a couple more drives and set up a raid array for daily automatic backup.

Thank you very much for your help. Im not sure if this is ok to do on the forum but i have another issue id like to get some info on. I havent assembled my new system yet so i was wondering if there are things i should do before installing the os as far as bios setup goes To optimize my system performance? If it would be better i can post this in a new thread. Thanks again.

BIOS really can't be customized unless you can write the code yourself and then have a way to flash it to the mobo chip. For optimization of the computer OS itself there is a sticky at the top of the computer forum.

I was told at a different forum that the steps to take when assembling your system is:

-set BIOS
-Install Windows
-Install drivers (essential stuff only)
-tweak Windows (check NI and Steinberg sites, can't go wrong following their guidelines)
-create Windows backup, put it on one of the Blacks.

Im not sure what he meant by set bios and also i am going to use windows 7 pro 64bit oem and what does essential stuff mean? I know im asking alot but this is the way i can learn because I dont know anyone that has built their own daw personally and you guys seem to know your stuff. Thank you very much.

You'll need to correctly adjust the date/time. You will also need to change the boot order so the CDR is top of the list. Additionally, some mobo's have a setting to enable virtual machine. If you don't or don't intend to use XP mode then no need to enable it. I would create a backup/ghost image of my finished and configured C: drive but I'm not sure I would waste an audio drive. Get a cheap other drive for OS backup and stick it on one of the other sixty-two SATA headers you have. Many large case fans (3-6 8cm or 12cm) set on low will be far better and quieter than a couple of 8cm fans running on high.

TheJackAttack, post: 384840 wrote: You'll need to correctly adjust the date/time. You will also need to change the boot order so the CDR is top of the list. Additionally, some mobo's have a setting to enable virtual machine. If you don't or don't intend to use XP mode then no need to enable it. I would create a backup/ghost image of my finished and configured C: drive but I'm not sure I would waste an audio drive. Get a cheap other drive for OS backup and stick it on one of the other sixty-two SATA headers you have. Many large case fans (3-6 8cm or 12cm) set on low will be far better and quieter than a couple of 8cm fans running on high.

Thanks for your help. If you have any advice on what i should not install with the os that would be heplful.

Which OS? With XP there are things I might omit or uninstall. With Win7 I pretty much let a basic install ride and just tweak the services per the sticky at the top of the computers forum.

TheJackAttack, post: 384855 wrote: Which OS? With XP there are things I might omit or uninstall. With Win7 I pretty much let a basic install ride and just tweak the services per the sticky at the top of the computers forum.

Ill be using windows 7 pro 64 bit. I also think that there are some things to do with optimizing my motherboard. I heard that using the marvell and jmicron connections are not a good idea unless you run out of intel connections. Anyone have thoughts on that?

You don't have to do much at all to Win7. Follow the optimization guide sticky.

Exactly what are you supposed to optimize on a motherboard?!? Don't let people fill your head with crap. If you are going to overclock the ram and processor maybe, but why? There is no need.

DAW building companies have engineers that write custom BIOS programs and they have facilities to load them onto the BIOS chip. For average joe there isn't anything to be done on a modern motherboard. Back in the day there were sometimes jumpers that controlled ram and bus speeds but those don't exist anymore.

BIOS=basic input output system

The processor is an i(=india)7 not a 17 like you have listed in your profile BTW.

TheJackAttack, post: 384879 wrote: The processor is an i(=india)7 not a 17 like you have listed in your profile BTW.

I appreciate your keen eye. Obviously that was a typo not ignorance. Im not talking about physically modding anything. Im saying disabling ports I wont use so when I run my system im not wasting recorces on it trying to recognize controller ports that are not used. This is a complete ground up build not a tweak an existing system situation. Thanks for your input but like I said before Im here to learn how to optimize my system so it runs as efficiently as possible. It seems pointing out something like a typo could make someone look pretentious. I really just hope I didn't order the 17 instead of the I7 because I don't think i can overclock on the 17.

There is no 17 processor. I figured it was typo but you never know.

Most BIOS (99%) do not have the ability to turn ports on and off. That is why I keep telling you unless you can custom write bios then there isn't much to customize. As to overclocking, we are a recording site and so if you want specific overclocking info you'd be better looking at the gaming websites. Overclocking is not necessary at all for recording audio or or video processing. In fact for our profession stability and efficiency are way more important than overclocking any current generation of processor.

For years the real bottleneck of motherboards has not been the processors or the ram but the memory controllers and mobo routing. This last bit has finally been starting to clean up a bit and the latest generations of memory controllers have really opened things up.

It would seem you have read some bits and pieces from hither and yon. Some of these things may have always been bogus, some of them may have had practical application in past generations of hardware. Some of the things you keep trying to get non existent answers for are only applicable for someone writing code and/or creating specific hardware application pieces which you are not.

TheJackAttack, post: 384888 wrote: There is no 17 processor. I figured it was typo but you never know.

Most BIOS (99%) do not have the ability to turn ports on and off. That is why I keep telling you unless you can custom write bios then there isn't much to customize. As to overclocking, we are a recording site and so if you want specific overclocking info you'd be better looking at the gaming websites. Overclocking is not necessary at all for recording audio or or video processing. In fact for our profession stability and efficiency are way more important than overclocking any current generation of processor.

For years the real bottleneck of motherboards has not been the processors or the ram but the memory controllers and mobo routing. This last bit has finally been starting to clean up a bit and the latest generations of memory controllers have really opened things up.

It would seem you have read some bits and pieces from hither and yon. Some of these things may have always been bogus, some of them may have had practical application in past generations of hardware. Some of the things you keep trying to get non existent answers for are only applicable for someone writing code and/or creating specific hardware application pieces which you are not.

I appreciate what you have informed me on. I really think that the overclocking discussion ends at who has and who hasn't. Ive had numerous people who build custom DAWs say that overclocking is not just for gaming and it will improve your audio applications. If an overclocked system was unstable I dont think that reputable companies would sell overclocked systems dedicated for audio like ADK audio. I mean why not speed up your 2500k as fast or faster than the 2700? But anyway this is turning into a debate and I hate when that happens. Thanks for your help and if there isnt a way to do what ive talked about then I must have been misinformed.

I'm glad I was able to help a little. The very minor overclocking done by ADK (who indeed is reputable) and some others is quite minor compared to what most folks think of as overclocking. Since the bottlenecks aren't at the processor anymore I just don't see much point in it although I used to OC years ago. It's kind of like with hard drives. There are none that can currently utilize all of the SATA 2 bandwidth let alone the SATA 3 bandwidth. The day may come though when we can use all of that information highway so research is good. ADK, Rain, PC Audio Labs, et alia do spend time and resources to write their own BIOS and to push the limits of the hardware (including what overclocking they can get away with and maintain stability). They find the correct balance of ram timing with the actual cpu overclock.

The real info on overclocking is still in the gaming realm but the big problem is that there is more myth from gamers than reality. Sorting through it all is like finding the nuggets of wisdom over at gearslutz. They are there but you wade through the muck to get them and you feel a little dirty when you're done.

Good luck on your quest.

TheJackAttack, post: 384892 wrote: I'm glad I was able to help a little. The very minor overclocking done by ADK (who indeed is reputable) and some others is quite minor compared to what most folks think of as overclocking. Since the bottlenecks aren't at the processor anymore I just don't see much point in it although I used to OC years ago. It's kind of like with hard drives. There are none that can currently utilize all of the SATA 2 bandwidth let alone the SATA 3 bandwidth. The day may come though when we can use all of that information highway so research is good. ADK, Rain, PC Audio Labs, et alia do spend time and resources to write their own BIOS and to push the limits of the hardware (including what overclocking they can get away with and maintain stability). They find the correct balance of ram timing with the actual cpu overclock.

The real info on overclocking is still in the gaming realm but the big problem is that there is more myth from gamers than reality. Sorting through it all is like finding the nuggets of wisdom over at gearslutz. They are there but you wade through the muck to get them and you feel a little dirty when you're done.

Good luck on your quest.

I have to say since you put the Gearslutz comment in Im more inclined to lean this way. I have noticed a lot of conflicting information there and other forums. I have had a few debates because everyone knows everything and you cant tell who really does know their stuff. Although some of the guys do. That was the point of me forum jumping so I can use some deductive reasoning against the stupidity Ive read. I am not going to attempt overclocking unless for some reason id ever need to. Since you have helped me quite a bit thus far could you tell me about the 2600k turbo boost feature? I have been told not to use it. Is it possible to turn it off or should i just leave it the way it comes? Thank you again.

I do believe the turbo can be turned off. I don't have your mobo or cpu but as I understand Intel's data sheet, the turbo acts in a similar fashion to what hyperthreading did on the old single core and duo core cpu's. Hyperthreading was initially unstable in recording applications. For video gaming and certain vid editing it worked well enough. Now Hyperthreading is a worked out and common method of utilizing multiple cores within a cpu chip. The turbo feature should be actuated through the bios of the mobo. You should be able to just toggle it on and off at will via the bios. During your OS optimization there will be options to set your task priorities to computer controlled, background etc. Some of this is not as crucial with such powerful components but it still good information to know and evaluate. The BlackViper guides are usually my starting point but places like the Cubase forums etc all have specific guides within their user forums. Short answer-I would leave it as it comes initially and if I had problems I would turn it off.

I do still dig for info at GS once in a while but I don't do it often because I don't like the bs in the atmosphere. And that is knowing and liking several of the contributors over there.

When I do a build for someone or myself I generally start by looking at what is "common" amongst the major players like the aforementioned ADK, Rain, PAL. They are getting to where they don't list all their components but the items like cpu can be figured out by declared speed and mobos in similar fashion. I cannot replicate their bios as I'm not a code guy. That is why they work better than any home built machine though some come quite close. You've got some great components so you are on the track. When you get it all put together you will love it. Save an image and then play around with settings etc to your heart's content knowing all you have to do is reinstall the backup image. Same with the bios. You can always get back in and reset to defaults. Do not ever flash bios to a mobo that aren't not specifically written for that mobo.

Minor overclocking should work just fine. On occasion you can get better performance from a cheaper cpu that way. Usually this is true if the same cpu "chassis" is available in multiple configurations of speed/timings. Just remember that faster equates to hotter so do not skimp on your cpu cooler.

I should say also that if you don't really want to play around too much or you have jobs in the queue that are paying customers, it is probably better to go safe.

TheJackAttack, post: 384899 wrote: I should say also that if you don't really want to play around too much or you have jobs in the queue that are paying customers, it is probably better to go safe.

That seems like sound advice. One thing I am not out for is the meanest dog on the block computer. I want to be able to have a stable but versatile system. On some projects Ill do all live tracking but still may have to do a large amount of post work with plugins, on others I will use mostly virtual instruments, which are extremely hard on my very out of date system that I run now. I will be installing the Noctua nh-d14 and the case i ordered has 1 120mm fan and 2 140mm fans with room for 8-9 more. Its basically fans with a little metal holding them in place. It has speed control for the fans so I figured that could help with the noise. I wont have the computer in the live room but Im sure that there could still be some kind of noise that gets through. That should keep the PC cool right? The Noctua seems to be a favorite for DAW builders although it is huge.

after further investigation on this mobo you can turn off certain ports and optimize a lot through the advanced bios settings. Fan speed, power settings and so much more. It seems everything is unlocked to tweak. The one thing that i need to know now is what slot should i install my raydat in. if you could help on that id appreciate it. Maybe you could understand which would benifit my objectives and reply with your advice since you seem to be pretty knowledgeable about these subjects. Thank you.

I don't think it matters what slot you put the RME into. It DID matter a decade ago but with current controller chips and voltage rails in the PSU's and PCIe bus, this is no longer a concern generally. I would try to space things to allow air movement around each card but especially around the video card/chip (GPU). The only concern after cooling then becomes acces from the outside for cables. Put it in a slot that won't inherently bend the cables being plugged into the RayDat.

I think this was already covered in another thread but could you tell me the best sites to optimize windows 7 for audio? I think that the black viper site was mentioned but another i cant recall. And since I wont be running my daw pc on the net i can download all the updates from my laptop and transfer them via external hdd right? Is it recommended to get the latest drivers for all the components in my build that i can?

It is possible to get Windows Updates in a distribution package and transfer them via USB or removable hard drive. If you don't go to any site other than Windows Update and the manufacturer of your audio devices then I wouldn't fret about it too much. One of my audio machines is connected at all times unless recording without antivirus and it is alive and well. I make sure that no email at all remotely suspicious is opened on that machine however. It only visits gmail and RME and Reaper websites as well the occasional RO visit. Also, once you get your machine all spiffed up updates aren't particularly necessary unless something is jacked up which is usually a driver issue. And yes, get the latest drivers for your hardware on installation but again it isn't necessary to update those unless a new driver adds 1) functionality or 2) stability.