What's the BEST of the best???

OK... well... this has been a huge waste of your time. :mad:

I should have done this first... but anyway... I went to digidesign's website and checked out their system requirements for Pro Tools.

Get this...

They require single proc's (guess that answers that question.)

They require the 845 or 850 chipset... (guess that rules out the GB)





and here's the kicker...




They require that you disable HT in the P4 or Xeon. :eek: :eek:




*sigh*


Now I have to totally rethink my system.




Well this sucks.



Sorry for wasting your time. I think I may have to end up going with AMD again, since I can't use the latest Intel stuff.



WATYF

Quote:

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Originally posted by Trunks


The 2.8 xeons ALSO have hyperthreading, which really simulates 4 procs. And how would you have better performance on the 3.06??

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the dual xeons rock...
so does the wildcat4..

hey ua.. do have the 4 yet?

O.K... here's an update.

Since everything seemed to be pointing me away from the Intel route, I decided to look back at AMD... Fortunately, they just came out with their Barton cores (which are kinda like a "sucker" to tide us over until the Claw Hammer comes out. :p)

So here's what I'm looking at building now. Let me know if you see any obvious flaws/problems with this.


CPU: XP 3000+ (Barton)
Mobo: Asus A7N8X or A7V8X (haven't decided yet)
RAM: Some kind of CL2 PC2700 (or higher) RAM.
HDD1: (System) IBM GXP180 60GB
HDD2: (Audio Files) Cheetah X15 36LP SCSI
SCSI Controller: Ultra160 LSI
Video: Radeon 9700 Pro
TV Tuner: Winfast TV 2000 XP
DVD: Pioneer 106S
CD-RW: Sony 52X


Still don't know aboot little details like the PSU and Case and what not, but I'm not worried about those yet.


WATYF

Quote:

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Originally posted by Ra\/eN


the dual xeons rock...
so does the wildcat4..

hey ua.. do have the 4 yet?

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Nope, not with the stock market down so far. Maybe when I build my next workstation.

Quote:

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Originally posted by WATYF
O.K... here's an update.

Since everything seemed to be pointing me away from the Intel route, I decided to look back at AMD... Fortunately, they just came out with their Barton cores (which are kinda like a "sucker" to tide us over until the Claw Hammer comes out. :p)

So here's what I'm looking at building now. Let me know if you see any obvious flaws/problems with this.


CPU: XP 3000+ (Barton)
Mobo: Asus A7N8X or A7V8X (haven't decided yet)
RAM: Some kind of CL2 PC2700 (or higher) RAM.
HDD1: (System) IBM GXP180 60GB
HDD2: (Audio Files) Cheetah X15 36LP SCSI
SCSI Controller: Ultra160 LSI
Video: Radeon 9700 Pro
TV Tuner: Winfast TV 2000 XP
DVD: Pioneer 106S
CD-RW: Sony 52X


Still don't know aboot little details like the PSU and Case and what not, but I'm not worried about those yet.


WATYF

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Go for the A7N8X
Get two sticks of Corsair XMS 3200, 512 a piece

OKay, honestly now that you are going for a Desktop board, there is no point in throwing together a SCSI setup unless you are going to have TWO (2) SCSI devices (which I am speculating that you arent) one of the major benefits of SCSI is the bus mastering of devices on the chain, you only have one device no luck (you are however still capped by your PCI bus). You would be better off perhaps going with any variety of 8MB cache HDD you like at whatever capacity you desire.

As for the PSU, all I can say is more is better.

O.K. So, two 8MB cache drives like the GXP180 or WD2000JB would be good.


As for RAM... I have a question. I have no intention of overclocking this system. Do I really need PC3200 XMS memory? I have no problem getting it if I do, but is it a waste to buy that type of memory if I don't do any overclocking? On top of that,... everything I've read about DDR400 shows that it actually lags behind DDR333 in most apps, so why would I go with PC3200 when I can get stable/fast performance on a DDR400 mobo by using DDR333.


WATYF

O.K... sorry for asking yet another stupid question, but you said that unless I get 2 SCSI's then it's not really worth it. Well, if get two 8MB cache IDE drives, I'm looking at spending more money than if I get two SCSI. (because the 8mb cache drives are at least 180GB).

So would I be better off setting two Cheetah X15's? Is SCSI only beneficial if I use RAID? (cause I don't plan on using RAID)



WATYF

SCSI is beneficial without using RAID. Cheetah's come with either 4MB cache or 16MB cache depending upon the specific model you select. Visit the Seagate website for particulars.

dang wonder what the performance of a 15K rpm 16mb cache drive is like!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

Quote:

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Originally posted by WATYF
O.K... sorry for asking yet another stupid question, but you said that unless I get 2 SCSI's then it's not really worth it. Well, if get two 8MB cache IDE drives, I'm looking at spending more money than if I get two SCSI. (because the 8mb cache drives are at least 180GB).

So would I be better off setting two Cheetah X15's? Is SCSI only beneficial if I use RAID? (cause I don't plan on using RAID)



WATYF

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8MB IDE hard drives are made in sizes from 80gigs up. Both Western Digital and Maxtor make 80gig 8mb ide drives that retail for $110

Quote:

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Originally posted by AverageJoe


8MB IDE hard drives are made in sizes from 80gigs up. Both Western Digital and Maxtor make 80gig 8mb ide drives that retail for $110

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Could you give me some models for those please. I can't seem to find any newer models with 8MB cache in anything less than 180GB. (The 180GXP is supposed to have 8MB available in their 120GB model, but I can't find any of those.)

I really am considering SCSI. I mean... for the same exact price as getting 2 180GB 8MB cache IDE's I can get two 36GB Cheetahs. I mean... can somebody explain to me the downside of that? I know SCSI won't be a noticeable difference when browsing the net or anything, but I'm talking about large file transfers and digital audio multi-tracking.


WATYF

Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM Hard Drive 8MB Model # 6Y080P0
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Seek time: 12ms
RPM:7200
Data Transfer: 133MB/sec
Cache:8MB
OEM(Drive alone) 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty: Model#: 6Y080P0 -OEM Special Free FedEx Saver Shipping
$110



WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY
Specifications:
Size: 80 Gigabytes
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Seek time: 8.9ms
RPM:7200
Cache 8MB
OEM(Drive alone) 3 Year Manufacturer Warranty --* Works With PC & Mac *-- Model#: WD800JB *** Need ROUND cables? Click here *** -OEM Special Free FedEx Saver Shipping
$109

thanks man.


WATYF

Quote:

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Originally posted by WATYF
Could you give me some models for those please. I can't seem to find any newer models with 8MB cache in anything less than 180GB. (The 180GXP is supposed to have 8MB available in their 120GB model, but I can't find any of those.)

I really am considering SCSI. I mean... for the same exact price as getting 2 180GB 8MB cache IDE's I can get two 36GB Cheetahs. I mean... can somebody explain to me the downside of that? I know SCSI won't be a noticeable difference when browsing the net or anything, but I'm talking about large file transfers and digital audio multi-tracking.


WATYF

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Ill answer your RAM question first.

The nForce2 chipset in general was released to be compatable with the new 333MHz FSB Tbreds and Bartons. But they (the chipset) is showing that it can run at 400MHZ fsb (200x2) fairly well, this coupled with the potential for the nForce boards to be able to support the 400Mhz FSB Bartons when they come out means that if you grab the 3200 (and assuming that the board can be made to have those Bartons) you are just a CPU upgrade away from a beastlier setup.

As for SCSI, if you want it go for it. I am just saying that unless you are moving data between SCSI devices on the same chain the benefits of having SCSI are largely bragging rights only. Because ultimately you are going to be capped by your PCI bus.

O.K. Thanks for all the input guys... This has been a huge help.


This is how my setup is looking now.

I've re-evaluated a couple things. I'm gonna end up buying some recording gear as well as a computer, so I'm not trying to get "as much" as I was previously looking to do, but this is still, from my assessment, a pretty fast set-up.


CPU: XP 3000+ (Barton)
Mobo: Asus A7N8X
RAM: (2) 256MB CorsairXMS PC3200
HDD1: WD 800JB 80GB
HDD2: WD 800JB 80GB
Video: Radeon 9700 Pro
DVD: Pioneer 106S
CD-RW: Sony 52X24X52X
Case: Koolance PC2-601BLW
PSU: Quiet PC Ultra-Quiet 400


All told, I'm a couple hundred under the $2000 mark, so I'm pretty happy with it so far. I just can't wait to start ordering it and building it. :p (Too bad I have to wait a couple weeks just to get the CPU.)


WATYF