Subject:new AP means new DAW

Posted by: guitacid

Date:11/4/2008 8:15:52 PM

Got my hard copy of AP7 via Fed Ex International. Thanks Sony. That was quick work.

Now, with AP7 I was thinking of putting together a new PC. I've been all over the WWW researching the bits I should get. From that I've made this list. Can anyone see a problem with this? Does AP7 even make use of multicore CPU's?

1 x Intel Core2Quad Q6600 CPU 2.4G
1 x Asus P5K-E mobo (with Wi-Fi disabled)
1 x cheap video card
1 x Kingston DDR2 800 Kit (2 x 1GB)
1 x Seagate 250G SATA2 16M HD for OS and programs
1 x Seagate 500G SATA2 32M HD for audio files
1 x ASUS 18 X Dual Layer Light Scribe DVDRW
1 x 22” LCD monitor
1 x CoolerMaster 430W case

The mobo seems to be the item that is causing alot of disagreement on the Web.

Sorry to put this post in amongst all the bug reporting but i have no choice and i really need to get my new DAW right.

thanks!

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: Phiktion

Date:11/4/2008 9:36:00 PM

Just a few opinions on your list, hope it helps.

Corsair Memory instead of kingston, 2 - 19" monitors instead of 1 22", at least a 500 watt PSU.

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: ATP

Date:11/5/2008 9:19:35 AM

the Asus P5K mobo is not bad (i have no bad experiences with Asus mobos), but it does have an "old" chipset, the P35. i think if you're going to spend money on a new setup now you might consider a mobo with the new P45 chipset, for example the Asus P5Q. not that you'll notice a big difference now, but in a year from now the P45 will at least still be supported.

also, with the prices of memory being as low as they are now, i'd get at least 4 Gb of ram. if you're going to run Vista it will definitely help if you've got more ram.

i also agree with the above poster, dual monitors rock, especially with software like Acid. not sure if you're going to need at least 500W psu, but if you're planning on adding stuff (like extra hd's) in the future it might be wise to spend a little more now and be sure that you have enough power available.

the rest of your list looks fine. good luck :)

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: barleycorn

Date:11/5/2008 2:31:03 PM

We built a couple of P5K-based machines and have had no problems (running Vegas rather than ACID). It was also the motherboard of choice for some commercial audio and video system builders though I notice they're now moving on to the P5Q.

I would suggest that, even if you're intending to begin with only a single monitor, you should make sure you get a video board with two DVI ports. This won't make much difference to the price (nor would getting a board without a fan - something else worth considering) and you'd have the option to add a second monitor at a later date. I now find working with a single display irritating and time wasting (I usually have two 22" screens) though this is often more to do with ease when running several programs than having lots of space for a single application.

We've generally used Corsair RAM but you shouldn't have any trouble as long as you choose something from the Asus QVL (Qualified Vendors List - see the product pages on their web site).

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything smaller than a 500GB hard drive nowadays (unless I felt I absolutely had to have a VelociRaptor!). We've bought ten Samsung 500GB or 1TB drives since December (six of which are in a Windows Home Server running day and night) and have no complaints (the 1TB drive is now not that much more expensive than the 500GB here in the UK). I'm currently using a machine with three Seagate 500GB drives which have withstood a real flogging over the last eighteen months...

The commercial builders often use Pioneer optical drives; again, we've bought mostly Samsung (and have had no problems).

430W should be fine (see eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite). Some of the Antec case/power supply combinations are good value and I can recommend them.
 

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: jumbuk

Date:11/5/2008 8:08:05 PM

U might consider the Antec Sonata case and power supply. For recording, the quieter case makes a big diff.

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:11/6/2008 4:03:15 AM

> U might consider the Antec Sonata case and power supply. For recording, the quieter case makes a big diff.

Yup, it makes a huge difference. I used an Antec Sonata case and it is whisper quiet. I selected a graphics card that had no fan (it uses a heat pipe) and I used a Zalman heat sink and I have my PC on my desktop (not under it) and you can barely hear it. If it was under the desk you wouldn't be able to hear it at all.

My specs are on the PC Equipment page of my web site.

~jr

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:11/6/2008 9:55:07 AM

Since video can account for a majority of computer issues, make sure not to get too cheap a video card. ;)

Iacobus

Subject:RE: new AP means new DAW

Reply by: guitacid

Date:11/6/2008 6:11:33 PM

Thanks for the advice! I may have to change things.

Possibly I was being a bit too cheap re the graphics card. I may in future find myself composing for a few video productions. That functionality in AP7 is going to be important for me. So i should choose carefully.

Can someone please tell me what video files AP7 can open? Sorry but I couldn't see that info in the manual.

Thanks!