PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

Hi guys!

Just came across brand new (yup! the boxes was really layered with dust!) Pulsar II and Pulsar II XTC cards to expand my existing Luna II setup.
My problem is that my setup is based on the ASUS P5B Dlx/Wifi-AP motherboard, and the PCI layout on that MB isn't the best.
My GFX card cooler is in the way for the upper PCI slot, as well as being only about 1-2 mm from the Luna card when inserted into PCI slot 2.
The Reason why I want to keep my Luna II is that I have the Luna Z-Link 8 I/O box, and tons of software registered to it.

So what mb should I replace this with?
I can still get an ASUS P5Q SE2 from local dealer here at a bargain, and it's based on the Intel P45 chipset (my current mb is based on the intel 945 chipset which is one generation older)
I've also found this one, ASUS P5Q-VM DO Q45. Anyone with some experience on any of these MB's?
The machine will be more or less dedicated for music production.

Any other MB with 3 PCI slots and socket 775 with DDR2 RAM that work fine in a Creamware / SonicCore 3 card layout that I should rather look for?

Regards
Mikael

FWIW,
The Intel P35 I used ran 3 x Pros flawlessley, and then I used the XITE-1 on there for a year before switching over to the i5.
I thought I had an edge in doing that but actually its size due to the built in Video/GPU is the only advantage.
I saw an ABIT P35 running low latency DDR2-800/CL5 and an SSD ( SandForce ) recently that had as much poly as my fast DDR3 RAM.
It seems the SSD can be a helluva an upgrade and can make an older DDR2 DAW snappy as hell.
I would also consider using WIndows 7 32bit for the sake of increased RAM footprint w/o having to go to 64bit...
i7's are bad mofos no doubt, but guys I know using MacPro's and i7's rarely use their total power.
It seems our software is behind the hardware these days.
Once you realise that VSTi's cannot span Core's and are strapped to a single core, unless you are scoring movies and need a giant template, the old C2D Wolfdales w/ low latency RAM are tough customers.
I recently built a fast DDR3 1U i5 DAW, and my buddys' P45 w/ an SSD gets the same damn poly I get with all the extra bells and whistles I paid for.
I could have kept my P35 for 2 more year probably. The only benefit I see from the i5 is the built in GPU that allows me to use a 1U for the XITE-1.
Enjoy your extra DSP power, and if you want to see some great options for low DSP mixers check out SpaceF's new Modular Mixers. There are too many to list, but they can be tailored to your needs while adding more routings than the stock STM mixers, and while using less DSP.

Ciao

Well, I just made some switches here, and I just moved my Luna II over to this machine (Asus P5B with Intel C2D) from an older AMD 3200+ (NForce3 chipset!) which I'm getting rid of.
And then I'll get a new I7 machine for other uses than arranging music later this fall.

Was calculating on building an I5 machine for the Scope setup as well, but it's not enough bang for the buck so this C2D machine will be my studio machine for some years now (if I can only get a good mobo with 3 PCI slots that'll work fine!).

/Mikael

I went with the ASUS P5Q-VM DO Q45, and so far so good.

Had some issues with how to connect the three cards with the S/TDM cables, the manuals are so so in that area.
How ever, one S/TDM cable seemed to be enough, even though the manual states otherwise.

Pretty much disabled every onboard feature, except for NIC and GFX.
Now I only have to learn the new mixers that I've never been able to use before(!) now that I have a plethora of DSP's!

Yeah, yeah... you're all saying "That's where we were eons ago, and is why we all now run XITE-1!"

Maybe I'll get there soon, or sooner than this upgrade atleast!