Building a core i7-based music workstation
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From: Jim Cochrane on 15 Jan 2010 15:00 I'm planning on building a computer system that will have as its most important use a system for music composition. (Actually, I will pay someone to build it for me, once I've gotten the components.) This will be a Linux system (Fedora 12). My current goal (which might change once I get more data) is a system that meets the following requirements: - 24GB memory capacity, with 12GB installed at first - Total cost not much more than $2000 - Intel CPU [probably core i7] - Good for the targeted real-time apps (MIDI sequencing, playback, recording, etc.) - Reliable [I recently had a computer I bought new die on me after only about 4 years; I'd like this one to last a lot longer.] I've posted to comp.os.linux.hardware and got some good advice with respect to Linux compatibility. My focus here is mainly to get advice on the hardware - what brands/models meet my requirements, how do I make sure that all components I buy will work/fit together? Etc. I've only spent a couple days so far researching the possibilities. But last night I listed the components of an example system that I think will fit my needs. I'll include that at the end of this post. Hopefully it can serve as a starting point for suggestions, advice, etc. I appreciate any advice, relevant info, pointers to good references, etc. that anyone can provide on putting together such a system. Hopefully a lot of the discussion will be general enough to help others, too. Here's my "example" system. I "put" it together fairly quickly, so I'm not completely sure all parts are compatible with each other (especially, I'm not sure if the case is compatible with the motherboard). I think the most important components to get right are the motherboard, CPU, and video card. IMO, the case and power supply are almost as important. Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 - motherboard - ATX - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket: ~$270 [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?sourceid=chrome&q=GA-EX58-UD5&um=1&ie= UTF-8&cid=11611052873720181702&ei=eCBQS5WEIYmqNo79vI8J&sa=X&oi= product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBsQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers] case: Cooler Master HAF 922: ~$110 core i7 950: ~$570 WD Caviar Green 2 TB Internal hard drive: ~$180 [alt: Hitachi Deskstar 2 TB Internal hard drive - about 155 dollars] RAM - Part #: CT3KIT51264BA1339 • DDR3 PC3-10600 12GB (3 x 4GB): ~$750 [http://www.crucial.com/upgrade/compatible-memory-for/Giga-Byte/ GA-EX58-UD5+(rev.+1.0)/list.html] [looks like it's much cheaper to get 6 x 2GB at $171 to $230 times 2 <= $460] video card (brand/model to be determined): ~$100 [estimate - need more research] (Yes, I'm missing a power supply [or does the case include one?] and probably a couple other items, like extra fans. I already have a sound card [echo mia midi].) Thanks! Jim --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news(a)netfront.net ---
From: Dave C. on 15 Jan 2010 02:38 On Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:00:17 +0000 (UTC) Jim Cochrane <allergic-to-spam(a)no-spam-allowed.invalid> wrote: > > I'm planning on building a computer system that will have as its most > important use a system for music composition. (Actually, I will pay > someone to build it for me, once I've gotten the components.) This > will be a Linux system (Fedora 12). My current goal (which might > change once I get more data) is a system that meets the following > requirements: > > - 24GB memory capacity, with 12GB installed at first Your music composition system, even if a professional use machine, will likely never use more than 4GB of RAM. Even if you are multi-tasking apps. manipulating music files, I doubt you'd ever use more than 8GB. I would strongly suggest you start with 6 or 8GB of RAM. I'll be shocked if that's not enough, but you can always upgrade later in the unlikely event that you don't have enough RAM. > > - Total cost not much more than $2000 That's easy, unless you insist on a core i7 processor (there are better processors available for much less money) and three times as much RAM as you actually need. > > - Intel CPU [probably core i7] Why? They are so over-priced, they are ridiculous. Compare a 3.2GHz quad-core AMD Phenom II with a 3.2GHz i7 at the same performance level (exactly) and you'll see what I mean. > > - Good for the targeted real-time apps (MIDI sequencing, playback, > recording, etc.) > > - Reliable [I recently had a computer I bought new die on me after > only about 4 years; I'd like this one to last a lot longer.] > > I've posted to comp.os.linux.hardware and got some good advice with > respect to Linux compatibility. My focus here is mainly to get advice > on the hardware - what brands/models meet my requirements, how do I > make sure that all components I buy will work/fit together? Etc. > > I've only spent a couple days so far researching the possibilities. > But last night I listed the components of an example system that I > think will fit my needs. I'll include that at the end of this post. > Hopefully it can serve as a starting point for suggestions, advice, > etc. > > I appreciate any advice, relevant info, pointers to good references, > etc. that anyone can provide on putting together such a system. > Hopefully a lot of the discussion will be general enough to help > others, too. > > Here's my "example" system. I "put" it together fairly quickly, so > I'm not completely sure all parts are compatible with each other > (especially, I'm not sure if the case is compatible with the > motherboard). I think the most important components to get right are > the motherboard, CPU, and video card. IMO, the case and power supply > are almost as important. > > Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD5 - motherboard - ATX - iX58 - LGA1366 Socket: ~ > $270 You can get a Gigabyte brand AM3 socket board for about half that price. But OK so far. > [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?sourceid=chrome&q=GA-EX58-UD5&um=1&ie= > UTF-8&cid=11611052873720181702&ei=eCBQS5WEIYmqNo79vI8J&sa=X&oi= > product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBsQ8wIwAg#ps-sellers] > > case: Cooler Master HAF 922: ~$110 > > core i7 950: ~$570 If you want better performance in a CPU, you could get a Phenom II X4 965. At a third of the price!!! > > WD Caviar Green 2 TB Internal hard drive: ~$180 > [alt: Hitachi Deskstar 2 TB Internal hard drive - about 155 dollars] OK, I'll forgive you for that blunder. Green hard drives are garbage. But they are quite popular due to their low price. WD is good, but get a blue one (or a black one). Whatever hard drive you get should be NOT GREEN, 7200RPM and have 16MB or 32MB of cache. > > RAM - Part #: CT3KIT51264BA1339 • DDR3 PC3-10600 12GB (3 x 4GB): ~$750 > [http://www.crucial.com/upgrade/compatible-memory-for/Giga-Byte/ > GA-EX58-UD5+(rev.+1.0)/list.html] > [looks like it's much cheaper to get 6 x 2GB at $171 to $230 times 2 > <= $460] It's your money, but I'd get one or two crucial kits of 2 x 2GB to match the motherboard and call it DONE. About $200 total for 8GB...and chances are the second 4GB kit will be redundant. > > video card (brand/model to be determined): ~$100 > [estimate - need more research] Well, since you won't be doing gaming and won't be doing video editing, $100 for a video card sounds about right. Try a XFX HD 4850 1GB. That will be more than enough power, could even run dual high resolution monitors with it. > > (Yes, I'm missing a power supply [or does the case include one?] and > probably a couple other items, like extra fans. I already have a > sound card [echo mia midi].) > > If the case includes one, the power supply is junk. What you want is a BFG ES-800, or an Antec Signature 850. You could also get by with a Corsair 750TX, but it must be the TX series. Note that you don't really need 750W to run your system, but the better quality power supplies are available in sizes larger than 650W. If you are building something to last, you need a high end power supply.
From: shegeek72 on 18 Jan 2010 03:41 On Jan 14, 11:38 pm, "Dave C." <no...(a)nohow.never> wrote: > > - Intel CPU [probably core i7] > > Why? They are so over-priced, they are ridiculous. Compare a 3.2GHz > quad-core AMD Phenom II with a 3.2GHz i7 at the same performance level > (exactly) and you'll see what I mean. That's debatable: http://www.product-reviews.net/2009/01/22/amd-phenom-ii-vs-intel-core-i7-benchmark-tests-revealed/ "So we know that the AMD Phenom II is much better than its predecessor, the bad news is, the Intel Core i7 still beats it in every benchmark test. The cheapest of the Core i7 range is the 2.66GHz 920, which costs about $600. This beats the 3GHz Phenom II 940 Black Edition which sells for $520 by at least 10 percent." http://www.pcauthority.com.au/Review/136509,amd-phenom-ii-vs-intel-core-i7-benchmark-results.aspx "The Phenom II's model numbers cheekily echo those of the Core i7, but its design is nothing like as revolutionary. The biggest material difference between the new CPUs and their quad-core predecessors is a die shrink, making these AMD's first chips to be fabricated with a 45nm process. This explains the higher clock speeds (the old 65nm parts were never sold above 2.6GHz), but it's hardly ground-breaking stuff - more a case of better late than never. Intel has been enjoying the greater efficiency and lower costs of 45nm processors for more than a year now." I put the following system together for around $1800 (not including monitor) about 6 mos. ago. I'm sure it would be cheaper today: Gigabyte EX58-UD3R Intel Core i7 940 3GB OCZ DDR3 Seagate 1T SATA Seagate 500g SATA (backup) Sapphire Radeon 4850 512mb GDDR3 x2 Antec TPQ-850 850w SLI CrossFire ready Antec 900 case
From: shegeek72 on 18 Jan 2010 16:55 On Jan 17, 4:09 pm, "Dave C." <no...(a)nohow.never> wrote: > > I put the following system together for around $1800 (not including > > monitor) about 6 mos. ago. I'm sure it would be cheaper today: > > Gigabyte EX58-UD3R > > Intel Core i7 940 > > 3GB OCZ DDR3 > > Seagate 1T SATA > > Seagate 500g SATA (backup) > > Sapphire Radeon 4850 512mb GDDR3 x2 > > Antec TPQ-850 850w SLI CrossFire ready > > Antec 900 case > > That's not a bad system either...if you've got the money for it. Even > when you built that system though, you could have saved hundreds on the > CPU. And you would have been just as happy with the result. -Dave At the time I put that system together I researched Intel vs. AMD and Intel blew anything AMD had at the time. Don't get me wrong, I'm a diehard AMD fan (my previous two systems - one that's still running XP - were AMD) and I'm pleased they're giving Intel a run for the money. I'm also glad that Intel was fined for anti-trust violations. Competition is good for the market.
From: Dave C. on 18 Jan 2010 07:58
> > At the time I put that system together I researched Intel vs. AMD and > Intel blew anything AMD had at the time. Don't get me wrong, I'm a > diehard AMD fan (my previous two systems - one that's still running XP > - were AMD) and I'm pleased they're giving Intel a run for the money. > I'm also glad that Intel was fined for anti-trust violations. > Competition is good for the market. Yeah, I do build with Intel from time to time. The last time, it was because the cost of CPU plus motherboard worked out in Intel's favor. That is, the CPU was a little more expensive, but I found a high quality motherboard at such a low price that it worked out to be less total cost to build with an Intel chip. So I know what you mean. At any given moment, AMD might be the best value, or Intel might be the best value. Right at this very moment as I'm typing this, anybody building with something other than a Phenom II really REALLY needs their head examined. -Dave |