Looking for hardware recommendations

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:13 am

Hi there,

I've had my Pulsar 2 for almost 6 years now, and I've had very little use out of it thanks to some very bad hardware choices when I last rebuilt my machine

I've been plagued with errors on my current system which has the Gigabytedual p-III 500Mhz motherboard. The errors result in BSOD on Win2Kmentioning scope.sys and happen if I use USB at the same time the Pulsar2 I own.

However, it's finally time to upgrade my studio machine, and
this time I'm gonna ask for recommendations before buying

I have one Pulsar 2.
I'm looking to get one of these:
http://www.9xmedia.com/X-Top/X-Top---3across.html

What motherboard would you people recommend?
What processor?
What hard disk(s)?
(I intend to buy some USB hard disk to use for quick and easy offsite
backup

)
What graphics card?
(although I suspect 9Xmedia will help with that)
What memory and how much of it?

Anything else I should remember?

I'm not looking for the absolute cutting edge, but budget isn't too much of a problem...

Also, what software should I be using nowdays and where is the best discussion forum to participate in the community? The yahoo group seems to have died down a lot and won't currently send me mail...

cheers,

Chris

jabney · Post by **jabney** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:10 pm

hi chris,

This topic will probably be moved to Tech Talk, but I'll reply here.

The next computer I hope to build will use the Pentium M chip which now uses socket 479. Based in part on the P III, the 'Dothan' cpu allows fanless or low-volume-fan operation.

Right now the chip is using a mid-800s Intel chipset on the 2 motherboards available (DFI and AOpen). That is supposed to change soon with low to mid-900 Intel chipsets being introduced for the Pentium M.

The whole Pentium M thing is pretty pricey, so if you don't mind fan noise, a P 4 in an Intel 875 pbz board is still a decent performer.

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:20 pm

I was actually planning to use components from http://www.quietpc.com/ to solve the noise problem, maybe even that massive fancy Zalman case: http://www.quietpc.com/uk/tnn500af.php

I mostly care about getting stable components that are known to be fast AND reliable, rather than bleeding edge stuff which bit me last time.

So, I'm still looking for a motherboard

jabney · Post by **jabney** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:37 pm

Old reliable is an Intel 875 board with lots of the best CAS 2 RAM you can afford. Use 10k RPM Western Digital SATA for primary recording and 7200 RPM drive for your C drive and additional recording. Research Pentium 4 cooling issues and if you need to save somewhere, buy the second or third from the top of cpu speed.

Since the Pentium M is used in lots of notebooks, it's not what I would consider bleeding edge.

If you've had nothing but trouble with your CreamWare set-up maybe you shouldn't be the one to experiment, but this is what I think I'd buy:

http://www.hardwareluxx.de/story.php?id=1879

Just saw this today, and can't say for sure since I don't read German, but this looks as if it addresses my concerns about the 855 Pentium M boards. Unlike the 855 boards, I think you'll be seeing several more similar boards to the new AOpen.

Post by **garyb** » Tue Feb 15, 2005 4:40 pm

a slam dunk performer is still a 3-3.4ghz northwood p4, an intel d865perl and wd hds with 1g of twinx low latency corsair ram, an inexpensive, solid machine.

Post by **hubird** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 12:43 am

and think of it, never buy a mac...

Post by **garyb** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:49 am

of course, running os9 on a mac works wonderfully.

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:16 pm

garyb: Can you recommend anywhere in the UK where I can purchase:

- 3.4ghz northwood p4
- an intel d865perl
- twinx low latency corsair ram

Is there a problem with putting more than 1GB of RAM on that motherboard or is that its limit?

Also, what about a Samsung SpinPoint SP1614C 160GB SATA hard disk?

I know WD are good, but are they quiet?

Post by **garyb** » Wed Feb 16, 2005 6:05 pm

as to sources in the UK, i'm in the USA and get that stuff off the internet. you'll have to check there. these parts are very common. sometimes the northwood core(512k cache) are hard to find these days, sometimes not. you can substitute a prescott(1m cache) if you have to. the northwood is preferred for cooler temps and better performance.

4gb ram max... http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/rl/index.htm

are the wds noisy? not especially....they DO have a 5year warrany....

here is a link to the ram i have been using for that board. it is extremely low latency. there IS, however, a still faster moodel, which i don't recommend as it's a bit to fast for that mobo and you must fiddle with some of the bios settings to make it work properly(which it does admirably when set up right). basically, this stuff is a perfect match, needing no tweaking for high performance.... http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe ... e=80097-16

for the processor, get a boxed set(including cooler) and save yourself a lot of trouble..

some quick google searches... loking for (product) u.k. price

http://computing.kelkoo.co.uk/b/a/sbs/1 ... 92562.html
http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/motherboard/intel-d865perl/
http://www.pcloaded.com/UK_Intel_Pentium_4C_8953.htm
a 3.2 ghz processor will save a lot of money and do about the same work as a 3.4...
http://www.tiscalipc.co.uk/products.asp?recnumber=1156
this looks better... http://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productsDisp ... Socket+478
http://search.dooyoo.co.uk/search/price ... d-0TyPe1-/

as to the sata drive, i'm sure it would work just fine. i have still been using ide drive with no troubles. you could use both ide and sata if you really want to....

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:20 am

Hey Gary, thanks for all the info!

Looks like things are coming together on the hardware front.

Right, software-wise, I'm going to be using Cubase and N-track Studio (http://www.fasoft.com/) at hte end of it all.

What Creamware stuff should I be using? I think I current have Pulsar 3.1 installed, and I have an STS-4000 knocking around somewhere.

What should I be using now?

Also, what OS do you people recommend?
I'm currently on Win2K, should I stick with it even though it's no longer supported by M$, should I go with XP Pro even though is in the devils own faeces in many instances, or should I go for something else?

cheers,

Chris - oh for that day when Cubase and Creamware stuff runs on Debian...

Post by **garyb** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:50 am

use 3.1c or 4.0(hey, you get the 1/2 price shop afterwards with 4.0...) and xp. as to xp, get an oem version(since it IS a new pc) and save $$$.

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:26 am

IS 4.0 SFP?

And yeah, XP OEM sounds good, not like i use manuals anwyay

Now where'd I get that from, damn, this is what happens when you don't buy hardware for 6 years

Chris

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 9:46 am

the folks who sell you the mobo will provide an oem version if you request it.
As a variation of GaryB's great tips I'd rather suggest a non-boxed version of the CPU without cooler.
Even the most humble (Arctic in my case) design is significantly less noisy than the Intel boxed cooler (at least here in germany).
It's not only the noise of the airstream, but also the resonance of the cooler clamp on the alloy...

cheers, Tom

Post by **garyb** » Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:56 pm

that's probably true.
as to where to find the oem version of xp, check with the parts supplier(s) you choose. also, a google search will turn one up.

yes, 4.0 is sfp(scope).

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2005-02-18 17:57 ]</font>

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 3:00 am

How do I go about upgrading from the Pulsar 3.1 software to the Pulsar 4.0 software?

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:01 pm

Hmmm, how much difference does the L2 cache size on the Northwood processor make?

I have an 3.4GHz OEM one with 512Kb sitting here, when I ordered a 3.4GHz Boxed Retail one.

I can either:

- keep it and deman some kind of discount, in which case, how much should I ask for?

- return it and get a new one, in which case, does the L2 cache size make a huige difference if I get 1MB L2 cache instead of 512Kb?

Post by **garyb** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:10 pm

keep it and they owe you a cpu cooler(insist on a good one). cooler suggestions anyone? i know zallman and coolermaster are good brands...

Post by **garyb** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:14 pm

keep it and they owe you a cpu cooler(insist on a good one). cooler suggestions anyone? i know zallman and coolermaster are good brands...

the 512k cache(northwood) is the faster(real world) and cooler(more stable) running choice for your daw. the 1m cache(prescott) would, of course, work. northwood is the preferred chip.

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 1:33 pm

Heh, the cooler they sent with it was an "Akasa" one that looks, by the fact it has thermal paste stains on the bottom, like it's already been used.

I don't care about the cooler though 'cos of the Zalman case I'm getting that I mentioned earlier. The case is pricey, but it means I'm going to have a totally fanless system, so the only thing making any noise will be the hard disk, which is pricelss for me

BUT, I am concerned that the OEM chip doesn't include a warranty from Intel. Should i be worried about this? How much discount should I ask for in return for accepting OEM in place of retail boxed?

cjw1378 · Post by **cjw1378** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 2:05 pm

Checkout the link I posted to the Zalman case at the start of this thread, I don't think it'll be a problem