My quest: buying new motherboard for AMD X2

Alfapitcher · Post by **Alfapitcher** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:30 pm

Hi there,

I've got a problem. Not too long ago I recieved a computer from Hewlett Packard, and as usual these computers aren't exactly optimized for being used as a DAW. To begin with the noise from the fans is incredibly loud. It is not possible to record anything in the same room as the computer. Even if I use utilities to underclock the processor I feel that the noise from the power adapter is to much. This problem forced me to come up with a solution. And the solution was to put the computer in a closet in the hallway next to my room, with long cables going to my mixer and screen. That solved the noise probmlem for a while. But pretty soon I started to notice clicks in the music while playing ordinary mp3's. I reinstalled SFP. I tried to change place on the CW cards to get rid of any IRQ conflicts. I took away all unecessary cards and even tried to disconnect one of the harddrives. I tried to reinstall windows but the problem was still there. Actually, directly after reinstalling windows the problem was actually worse, but then i found some newer drivers to my chipset on HP's homepage and after that it went back to the clicks that just happens sometimes. At this point I was in a way afraid that what I was experiencing was actually the result of having my computer standing in closet. Even though i set the fans to higher speed some things could have been damaged, maybe the creamware soundcard? But I've also noticed taht the clicks seems to be dependant on what other task the computer is performing. It can, for instance, happen when I plug in my Ipod. And since im running on VIA chipset drivers, and I know VIA is bad for DAW's, and since I want the computer to be quiet, Im thinking of rebuilding the whole thing. New tower, motherboard, fans and poweradapter.

So I guess what Im wondering is:
* does anyone have any idea of what could be wrong now?
* should I rebuild my computer?

* what motherboard should I buy? (Im running one Pulsar 2 and one Luna 2)
* how quiet can you make an AMD 4400 X2?

Detailed specifications of my computer right now:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... =c00669980

Shroomz~> · Post by **Shroomz~>** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:01 pm

On 2006-10-06 13:30, Alfapitcher wrote:
* does anyone have any idea of what could be wrong now?

probably heat (enclosed enviroment)

* should I rebuild my computer?

No, try to fix it. Make it quiet (quiet psu & cpu fan etc) & take it out of the cupboard because dsps like some ventilation.

evdb · Post by **evdb** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:56 am

read my threat (succesfull upgrade AMD X2)

cheers

Post by **garyb** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:03 am

...or ventilate the cupboard or closet.

eventually you'll want to rebuild the computer with better parts. cilcks can be caused by many things, such as a vst plugin, heat, improper system settings, improper software settings and more, but your problem does seem like heat.

the via chipset should work, just at a lower level of performance(pci bus wise) than an intel or nforce3 based motherboard. depending on how you work, via chipsets could make the system unusable, but i think that'd be a pretty heavy use scenario such as a mixdown using say, 30 or more asio channels and a number of reverbs and delays.

a core2 machine or a 478 p4 with an 865 or 875 chipset will certainly be much better, and the core2 seem to be really smokin performers.

if you were to just change the motherboard only, i'd go nforce3, although there are those with the latest n4 revs who have claimed success. possibly the later mobos have an updated bios to fix whatever problem existed. the intel core2s all seem to work properly as usual.

i don't think i'd ever want to mic anything in the room that the computer is in anyway, it's annoying to mix next to as well. moving your daw is not a bad idea even if you make the computer much quiter. it might be worth the effort to make a ventilated isolated space for the computer. in the old days we called them "machine rooms".

i think if you spend time and money making it quiter(the power supply is probably the main culprit), you'll be well on the way to rebulding the thing...btw, you have more than one harddrive(a separate one for "tape") right? and you have a power supply that is big and high enough quality to support all that hardware, right?

Alfapitcher · Post by **Alfapitcher** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:00 am

Hi, thanks for all your answers.

evdb: the problem is that my processor requires socket 939. So I cant use the same board as you.

garyb: yes, you're right, sometime in the future I'll probably want to have the computer somewhere else. But for now I just want glitchfree playback. The only things I'm going to keep from my computer now is the harddrives, the 2 GB DDR SDRAM, the processor and the graphic card. But it has recently come to my attention that i need a motherboard that both supports socket 939, AMD X2 processors and is stable with creamware soundcards. Is this a mission impossible? should I go for a new intel processor also?

Post by **garyb** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:27 am

i think so. you can sell the amd stuff easily enough on ebay so the price won't be too very extreme. the 2.4ghz core2 outperforms a 3ghz p4 so you don't need the fastest of the conroes for it to be useful. you will want to do a reinstall of the os(repartition and format) if you change processors to assure stability.

i think that you can find a mobo for the amd that will be ok, but it's a small step to replace the cpu at the same time. don't forget the power supply!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2006-10-08 12:29 ]</font>

Alfapitcher · Post by **Alfapitcher** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:59 pm

Okay, I actually think Ive solved the problem with my amd computer now. I turned off one core in boot.ini and the computer seems to work better than ever. I guess it's the processor and the motherboard that doesnt go so well together. However the noiseproblem is still there so Ive decided to go for the intel dual-core system. Do you have any recommendations on motherboards there?

Post by **hubird** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:06 pm

mán, that you guys can live with this kind of insureness on essential parts of your computer

Really, I would have continuous nervous breakdowns

Useless post, I admit, but it amazes me all time again.
My feelings switch between pity and admiration, no sarcasm

Post by **garyb** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:12 pm

either an asus p5b or an Intel DG965RYCK or an Intel BOXD975XBX will work extremely well. ditto for the conroe processors. any will be a major jump in performance. get the fastest you can afford so that you won't need to upgrade for a long time.

@ hubird- it's not that bad. we just have choices.

binez0r · Post by **binez0r** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:07 pm

In regards to the core duo processors... does a core have to be disabled in order to get things working with creamware cards?

Post by **garyb** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:29 am

no.
as you would expect, the intel products work properly.

Alfapitcher · Post by **Alfapitcher** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:26 pm

Hey it seems as the asus p5b motherboard allows me to raid my harddrives, is that a good or bad idea on a music computer?

Shayne White · Post by **Shayne White** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:32 pm

On 2006-10-09 14:59, Alfapitcher wrote:
Okay, I actually think Ive solved the problem with my amd computer now. I turned off one core in boot.ini and the computer seems to work better than ever. I guess it's the processor and the motherboard that doesnt go so well together. However the noiseproblem is still there so Ive decided to go for the intel dual-core system. Do you have any recommendations on motherboards there?

At last!!! Someone else who has had the same problem I have had all these months. Yes, I've had clicking problems with AMD x2 as well -- and I've done everything I can possibly think of to fix it. Turning off one core increases performance drastically. It isn't just me!

It isn't VIA, either, because I've got nForce3.

I really think CreamWare is somehow not compatible with AMD x2. I just got a chance to get a faster singlecore AMD chip and I think I'm going to go for it. I guess dualcore Intel would work fine, though, though I haven't tried it.

As for noise problems, all you have to do it get quiet fans and a quiet power supply, which work great. Take a look at: http://www.endpcnoise.com (if you're in the United States). I use quiet fans and everything has worked great.

By the way, what DAW software are you using? I'm using Sonar 5.

Shayne

_________________
Melodious Synth Radio
http://www.melodious-synth.com

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Shayne White on 2006-10-11 14:34 ]</font>

Post by **garyb** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:50 pm

On 2006-10-11 14:26, Alfapitcher wrote:
Hey it seems as the asus p5b motherboard allows me to raid my harddrives, is that a good or bad idea on a music computer?

unnessessary.

arela · Post by **arela** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 2:36 pm

A x2 can be as silent as any pc.
I have a 4200 x2 with the bad MB ASUS A8N-E.
I replaced the chipset fan with a passive cooler. Verry Quiet and all tems low 30C.
The only drawback is, i can't use it as my ScopePC, due to known trouble with the nForce4 chipset.
But for all other purposes its just what i needed, and it extend my DAW via FXTeleport.
At the moment this pc only got onboard soundcard, but it produces all the HALion tracks i ever wanted + Surround plug-ins.
If i was to build a pc today, i might listen to garyb (does he wear a intel t-skirt?

)

Post by **garyb** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:13 pm

no, i hate them.

...well, excepting that their products work properly.

arela · Post by **arela** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:31 pm

hey garyb - i'm diapointed - its getting chilly out here, so i was looking for a RED HOT reaction

Post by **garyb** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 12:17 am

wrong subject.

arela · Post by **arela** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:21 pm

yes it was