PC hardware forum: Building a system, I am majorly stuck on a motherboard etc

are considerably more expensive than Socket 775 systems. Not sure the extra $$ gives proportionate increase in performance for most. Core i7 MBs start at $200 and go to $400 and the CPUs start about $275 unless you live near a MicroCenter where they're sometimes on sale for $200.

Here's a socket 775 MB with decent rating from buyers.and it's $115 after rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

VAPCMD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811160026

VAPCMD

PS...If you go i7....then expect to spend more than projected. Your i7 MB is going $200-$300 .... $250-$275 for the CPU.....$100 for the RAM and then there's the video card.

Re Win7...what are planning to use 'til it becomes avialable ?

VAPCMD

OK, so a quick Google search on ProTools and FL Studio show that they are multi-threaded, but, to be perfectly honest, they don't go into a lot of detail. It was literally one line in FL Studios feature list and a few forum posting describing multi-threaded-ness on ProTools. So, I would definitely get a quad, but I think you knew that already. The part I'm debating is AMD/Intel quad. From my research, ProTools seems to work rather nicely with i7's, with a certain bench (Dverbs, if you've heard of it) it gets twice the score than a Q6600.

If I were you, I would go i7. But, realize, you'll need DDR3. Core i7 can ONLY take DDR3, no DDR2 here. For the best performance with i7, we do want triple-channel memory. I'm not fully versed on the performance benefits from double to triple-channel, but the prices are close enough and i7 has a memory controller built for triple-channel, so why go slower? And, like I said, prices are close.

Do you plan to overclock? If so, I would go for one of those cases. But if you aren't, you don't *NEED* the cooling that those cases give and a cheaper case will suffice.

But, here's the rub. The cheapest i7 is $280. An i7 motherboard will run you $200 or more, a few dipping into the high 100's. Memory (6GB, triple channel) will be another $100. If you're counting right, we're at $580 and we haven't even bought the sound card, which sounds pretty important considering the tools you're using.

We can dip down into Intel quad's or AMD's quads, but the i7 may be a bit out of your price range. Both AMD/Intel quads are great. AMD has cheaper motherboards and are a little more overclocking friendly, but Intel's quads are faster per-clock than AMDs. A 3.2GHz AMD (Phenom II 955) is a bit slower than the Q9650 (3.0GHz).

Research your tools a bit, see what other people are using them with. Some tools, unfortunately, are highly biased to one architecture or another. See if there are any anomalies there.

Good luck!

~Ibrahim~

Thanks for the links, Ramarc. Now only a bit more so I don't feel bad about buying one for me, lol!

I just built an AMD Phenom system last week, though it was the dual-core version: Phenom II X2 550, 3.1GHz. Thing absolutely roared; and for the price? Heck yes.

Build looks great, though I might make a few changes:

The 955 is the fastest Phenom available,true, but you're definitely paying quite a premium for it. If it were up to me, I would go for the 940. It's at 3.0GHz instead of the 955's 3.2GHz. But, it is still a Black Edition CPU, meaning it has an unlocked multiplier. That means it is DEAD-simple to overclock. I would get the Phenom II 940, save $56, go into your BIOS and change the multiplier from 15 to 16. BAM: you get a 955 for free. I highly doubt you'll have to do any voltage tweaks at all. No need to fuss with memory multipliers or HTT multipliers: change one number and you're golden.

I would personally change the RAM to this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148261

What do you get for an extra $5? Tighter timings (CAS6 versus CAS8) and cool lights! Check out the video review in it's review section. CAS latency isn't a big performance gain, but it can help, especially in memory-intensive applications. Not sure if yours falls under that. But, darn, those lights are too cool. Now we HAVE to get a case with a window, lol!

The links you posted are truncated; they've been cut short. Can you try pasting them again?

I'm the wrong guy to ask about sound cards: I use onboard and can't tell the difference since the day I threw out my Creative card. I will tell you this, though: the X-Fi chipset is mainly targeted toward gamers and the like. E-MU and M-Audio are targeted for professionals. I'd just go with the one that fits your budget AND (more importantly) has all the connections you'll need. And then some.

You realize these are full-towers, right? I have a Coolermaster Stacker 830 (big boy, trust me) and it's huge. Like, no mid-tower compares. Just trust me. Think big. Then go two more steps. That's a full tower. In my opinion, I'd go with the AZZA. Never heard of them, but it has good reviews. You get a bigger side fan and it's a whole lot cheaper. And who doesn't love 230mm fans?!

Good luck!

~Ibrahim~

I was actually referring to the RAM you linked me, but I still like the one's I linked, unless you need a lower price?

Oh, yeah. Newegg has a fantastic RMA program. I'd much rather deal with Newegg than a company.

I looked through the case choices again and I really like the AZZA. The others are too expensive, IMO, for what you get, but I'm not one to talk with a $220 case. But the AZZA looks like it has the good stuff: removable mobo tray, good fans, nice exterior design. It isn't tool-less, but I find the trusting reassurance of a tightened screw a bit more satisfying than the promise of wimpy plastic.

~Ibrahim~

It looks good. RAM, actually, isn't "for" a certain brand. RAM will work as long as it has the same subsystem (DDR2, DDR3, etc) in any system. Speeds don't even matter because they have built-in specs that work with any mobo (SPD) but may have to be adjusted to get to the actual specs.

Looks nice from my end.

~Ibrahim~

It's in the BIOS, memory options.

It looks like I will need to upgrade my operating system from XP Professsional to a 64 bit Operating System, so I can take full advantage of the memory.

Which one should I consider

Windows XP Professional 64 bit
Windows Vista Pro 64 bit
Windows 7 RC 64 bit

Thank you.

After 7 ships then you can ask the makers for drivers. For now I've found in many cases the Vista driver works (if there is one.)

And if you preorder the WIN7 upgrade now, it will only cost $99.

VAPCMD

I think I will order the discounted Windows 7 and download the Windows 7 64bit RC for free. I won't do it until I check with my software specs to see if it can. I havn't had time to do it yet.

I won't count out the Windows Vista either. I have to think about it further.

What GPU are you using ??

VAPCMD

I know we talked about this, but I want to finalize my decision. Sorry if I am repeating here. Which Vista would you recommend I go for and why?

http://promotions.newegg.com/Microsoft/Windows7/TG_OEM/index.html?cm_sp=Brandstore_Microsoft-_-Microsoft/Windows7/TG_OEM-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fMicrosoft%2fWindows7%2fTG_OEM%2f478x88.jpg

Vista Home Premium 64bit $109.99
Vista Business 64bit $149.99
Vista Ultimate 64bit $189.99

Not easy to pick RAM when you don't know which MB, RAM quantity or RAM speed. That said ...if the MB has 6 DIMM slots supportng triple channel, you might add the one below to your list. You definitely want to purchase and install the total RAM you plan to use upfront, not some now and some later.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145224

As far as Socket 1366 MBs are concerned ... I don't see any at any price that are obvious, no-brainer choices ergo the reason I initially suggested the Socket 775 MBs.

Good Luck,

VAPCMD

Another update. I bought the Window7 Prof upgrade from Amazon.com because I happened to get the promotion price at $99 upgrade of win 7.

Since I decided to late, I wasn't able to get the deal thru Newegg.com. I happended to put it in the shopping cart before it expired and happened to go back to amazon.com and I realized it was still there. So, done deal. I will go with the RC Version and once I get the retail version of Win 7 I will upgrade from there.

One thing I am not sure about is, which it doesn't state on the website that if it is 64 bit or not. Does Win 7 come in both 32 or 64 bit? I will probably have to send an email to Amazon.com to find out.

So, once again I am going to go with the Windows 7 RC version. I have heard enough good stuff about it that I am willing to go this route. Unless, somebody has a different suggestion.

Thank you again.