I don't come around here much anymore, but as you can see by my member number, I've been around here for quite some time, having worn several "hats".
I'm a tech and builder, and I generally prefer AMD peecee systems. Basically, a typical home user can have a more powerful, less expensive AMD system compared to a Pentium, with equal stability and compatibility. Obviously, I want to give my customers the most bang for the buck.
When it comes to DAWs, however, the issue isn't as much about the power-to-cost ratio as it is compatibility and stability. Those who have been around DAWs for a long time and have seen a lot of users' experiences know that Pentium systems are better suited for DAWs. This is not about opinion or the AMD-vs-Pentium flame crap, this is plain fact, written in forums all over the internet for many years.
If you really want to build an AMD DAW, DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING!!! DO NOT use a VIA, Ali, or SIS chipset mobo. DO NOT use dual processors. DO NOT think that you can automatically use most of the components out of a different computer just because they will fit in the appropriate spaces in your new DAW tower.
The best chipset for an AMD DAW is nForce2. The best nForce2 mobo is Abit, followed by ASUS. I will warn you though ... if you have a prob with an ASUS product, their customer service SUCKS. Also, if you buy an ASUS nForce2 board, remove the northbridge heatsink and replace it with a Thermaltake Crystal Orb. Now take that heatsink, bend and break the retaining tabs off of it, and stick it to the southbridge with "frag tape". Yes, the south bridge gets VERY hot. If you go with the ABIT board, I suggest you put a heatsink on it's southbridge, too.
ALL nForce2 mobos are EXTREMELY particular about power supplies and memory. Each brand and each model works best with it's own peculiar brand and model of power supply and memory. What works fantastic on one nForce2 mobo will throw a different nForce2 mobo into fits and seizures (literally). So, decide which mobo you are going to buy, then do your homework on forums, and find out which PARTICULAR power supply and which PARTICULAR memory it works best with (and I mean PARTICULAR MODEL, not just the brand). I cannot stress this enough. If you do not heed this advice, YOU WILL BE SORRY.
I highly suggest that you buy two 512Mb sticks of RAM right from the start. If you buy two 256Mb sticks, you've shot yourelf in the foot for future upgrade. If you buy one 512Mb stick, you are crippling the nForce2's performance.
The best bang for the buck processor (right now) is the AMD Athlon XP 3000+ "Barton", 400 FSB, 512K Cache - OEM ($207 right now at Newegg). To cool it, use a Zalman CNPS6000-Cu Pure Copper CPU Cooler ($35 right now at Newegg). It will not only keep the CPU plenty cool, and be relatively quiet, but the separate fan on it's bracket keeps the fan vibration from the CPU! Attach the heatsink with a high-quality thermal paste (not that white, pasty crap). I use Arctic Silver 3, although there are other good ones on the market. When considering your case, make sure that it will allow enough room between the top of the mobo and the power supply to accomodate the Zalman heatsink.
Use a Matrox G550 video card. Ummm, I'm not even going to waste my time explaining this. One word sums it up ... compatibility.
Harddrives ... Seagate, Western Digital, or Maxtor. 7200rpm, and make sure you get the 8Mb cache. SATA is okay, but you won't notice a difference between that and a UATA 133 drive.
ALPS are the best floppy drives around. They work well and reliably, and they're very quiet.
Plextor CDRWs are the best. Don't skimp here!
This is good solid advice for your AMD DAW. If you are tempted to cut a few corners to save a couple hundred bucks on your tower, STOP, slap yourself upside your head, and resign yourself to the fact that your tower is the heart of your DAW, and to cut corners would be akin to pissing in the wind. A good metaphor for this situation would be that of building your house on a good, solid foundation.
:c:
