Some questions about a new DAW build

[pdlstl]

Hi,

This is my post on the forum. This looks like a great place for someone like me who is about to attempt my first build.

I currently have a DAW consisting of the following:

P4 3Ghz 800FSB
Intel D865P chipset motherboard
1024 Kingston Lifetime DDR 400
40 GB 7200
120 GB 7200
160 GB 7200
Dual head Radeon 7000 64meg video card
Dual Dell Flat Panel Monitors
Plextor 52X24X52
Windows XP

This machine was built for me, I didn't build it.

Here are some of the components I'm considering for the new DAW

Core 2 Duo E6600
Asus P5B Deluxe
2x1GB Corsair DDR800

I haven't listed some components (vid card, HD's, case, PS, etc.) as I am looking for advice on what to get.

Considering I run dual flat panels, what would be a good vid card?

Also, some suggestions for case, PS stc.?

Now for a major question. The 40 GB and 120 GB HD's listed are actually one 160 HD which is partitioned into 40 GB's and 120 GB's. The OS and all of the application software is on the 40 GB partition. I am running out of room on this partition. Some old music files (which I don't care about keeping) are on the 120 GB partition. Is it possible to unpartition the drive so that my application and OS software could have the full 160 GB drive to themselves?

If not, could I Ghost the 40 GB partition onto an external drive then reinstall it to a fresh drive in the DAW?

Whew! I hope this makes sense.

TIA,

EArl

[glc]

With Partition Magic, you can do just about anything you want with those hard drives. However, if you are getting a P5B, you should buy a new SATA hard drive - you can get a 320 gig Seagate 7200.10 for about 100 bucks. Then you could put the IDE drives into USB housings for doing backups and near line storage. A good case/PSU for you would be an Antec Sonata II.

Are your monitors DVI capable or just VGA?

[pdlstl]

Thanks for the info!

Not sure if they are DVI or not.

My current computer has a video card with 2 outputs. One is a regular video plug and the other one is odd looking and I have to use a little plug convertor that I plug the monitor into.

Earl

[nicnmike]

Here's the case I just bought. It isn't really cheap, but it's really nice to work with. Most of the screws are thumb screws, so if you have get in the case and mess around often, like changing out cards, it nice to have. Plus, it has the slide out mother board tray, so installing the mother board, the CPU and fan, memory and all of your PCI cards is a snap. It's all aluminum, which makes it noticeably lighter than the steel cases. It has four fans included.

No PSU, so you'll have to figure out what you need there.


CASE: LIAN LI PC-61
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112025

[glc]

Your monitors do not have the odd looking plug that matches the odd looking plug on the card? That's a DVI connector.

[whubbard]

If it is DVI it will look like this:
http://www.zpluscable.com/images/pro...89-dvi-end.jpg
If it is VGA it will look like this:
http://www.kingsware.com/pictures/img_0370.jpg

[pdlstl]

The monitors are VGA.

What would be a good video card?

Thanks,

Earl

[flanzig1]

An ATI x1600 is a good mid-range card. Double check the back of the monitors to see if they mite have a DVI jack.

X1600Pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131009

[glc]

You only need an entry level card for a DAW.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121538

Reuse your converter for the DVI port, this card has one each VGA and DVI like your old card. It's passively cooled for less noise.

[nickdahl]

Absolutely...noise is a big deal, even if you think it's not. My first DAW was 60dB loud! It has a stock AMD CPU cooler and a 6600GTOC video card that has the noiseist fan I've ever heard.

Here's a website you should explore before you sink any cash:

Silent PC Review

My new DAW, that should POST today, was designed using some of their strategies:

1. Seasonic S-12 SS-550HT PSU
2. Replace 120mm case fans with Nexus D12SL-12 fans
3. Use Thermalright coolers: I'm using an Ultra-90 with a Nexus 80mm fan
4. Use passive-cooled video cards: Quadro 400-series cards are good for DAW

Doing things like the above should reduce noise. But that's only one thing: the other is power. I choked my A64 4400+ that used WD Raptor drives with processing plug-ins. Even when I maxed out my RAM, I still had trouble, which is why I'm building the dual-Opteron system. Yesterday, however, I decided to rehabilitate my old DAW, and bought FX Teleport, so I could use one machine for virtual instruments and processing plugs, and run Pro Tools on the new machine.

Food for thought,

Nick

[pdlstl]

Thanks Nick, et al...

Which case are you using for your new DAW?

While noise is certainly an issue in any recording enviornment, I'm fortunate to have a 1875 sq. ft. facility. This means I am able to have a 288 sq. ft. tracking room, a smaller 157 sq. ft. tracking room and a 36 sq. ft. isolation booth.

The 2 tracking rooms have 11 ft. ceilings and since I have 3 areas which are isolated from the control room (189 sq. ft.), DAW noise isn't quite as big an issue for me.

In the control room my current DAW is in a well ventilated enclosure.

However...Nick, you've got me thinking that since I am building a new system I might as well make it as quiet as possible. On occasion I will have someone track in the control room.

Again Nick, thanks for the ideas!

[nickdahl]

Originally Posted by pdlstl Thanks Nick, et al... Which case are you using for your new DAW? While noise is certainly an issue in any recording enviornment, I'm fortunate to have a 1875 sq. ft. facility. This means I am able to have a 288 sq. ft. tracking room, a smaller 157 sq. ft. tracking room and a 36 sq. ft. isolation booth. The 2 tracking rooms have 11 ft. ceilings and since I have 3 areas which are isolated from the control room (189 sq. ft.), DAW noise isn't quite as big an issue for me. In the control room my current DAW is in a well ventilated enclosure. However...Nick, you've got me thinking that since I am building a new system I might as well make it as quiet as possible. On occasion I will have someone track in the control room. Again Nick, thanks for the ideas!

Your place sounds great. I do most of my tracking in my control room, because it's just for me, and I didn't even think about the noise until I did a bunch of acoustical measurments and treatments.

Here's my case:

NORCO RPC-810D Black Steel 4U Rackmount Chassis

I just received my last piece of equipment needed to finish the new DAW. I hope it's up and running soon!

Nick

[pdlstl]

Seeing that you're going with a rackmount case (and this being my first build), how much room will you have to work with inside the case, i.e. to do the build?

I was looking at a Lian mid tower with a removeable mobo tray for the obvious ease of the build.

I really like the idea of a rackmount case however.

Earl

[nickdahl]

Originally Posted by pdlstl Seeing that you're going with a rackmount case (and this being my first build), how much room will you have to work with inside the case, i.e. to do the build? I was looking at a Lian mid tower with a removeable mobo tray for the obvious ease of the build. I really like the idea of a rackmount case however. Earl

I used this case for my first DAW:

LIAN LI PC-V880B Black Aluminum ATX Desktop Computer Case

The Lian Li case is nice, but the rackmount case I'm using for my new build is far more appropriate for a DAW, I think. Inside, it's like a warehouse, and racking the DAW is the only way to go.

Nick

[pdlstl]

You're saying the NORCO is roomy inside?

[nickdahl]

It really is. I'm using a Tyan K8WE mainboard and that Thermalright Utra-90 CPU cooler. When installed in the rackmount case, the cooler goes right up to the "roof." But, it fits. Unfortunately, I could only fit one cooler in the space provided by the mainboard, so I'm using more-traditional fan cooling for the other processor.

I've got lots of room for cards and wires.

Nick

[pdlstl]

Okay...here's what I'm considering.

ASUS P5B Deluxe
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe
NORCO RPC-810D Black Steel
ASUS EAX300SE-X/TD/128 Radeon X300SE 128MB 64-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card
SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2
2 X Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB
PLEXTOR Black Dual-layer DVD/CD Burner

Any idea if the PSU will fit in the NORCO with no problems?

Also, should I consider a different CPU cooling solution other than the stock heatsink and fan?

Also, I have a UAD-1 PCI card.

What else will need besides what's listed above?

Thanks for letting me pick your brain!

[nickdahl]

Originally Posted by pdlstl Okay...here's what I'm considering. ASUS P5B Deluxe Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe NORCO RPC-810D Black Steel ASUS EAX300SE-X/TD/128 Radeon X300SE 128MB 64-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V/ EPS12V 550W Power Supply CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 2 X Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache LITE-ON Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM IDE Burner Any idea if the PSU will fit in the NORCO with no problems? Also, should I consider a different CPU cooling solution other than the stock heatsink and fan? Also, I have a UAD-1 PCI card. What else will need besides what's listed above? Thanks for letting me pick your brain!

I'm looking, right now, at the exact same PSU fitting into the exact same rackmount case without any problem. Everything lined up beautifully. The way my mainboard is set up, an 80mm Nexus fan attached to the Thermalright Ultra-90 cooler directs air to the PSU's fan, which sucks the hot stuff right out the back.

Nick

[flanzig1]

Yes, that case will take a standard ATX PSU. If you tip the case on it's side it looks the same as a mid-tower.
Well, try the Intel HSU first. That way you don't void the warranty on the CPU right away.
How about a CD/DVD drive and an OS.

[pdlstl]

flanzig,

I was adding the DVD as you were responding.

Also, I'll be using XP Home.

Nick,

Thanks for the info on the PSU!

This all prices out at $1331.92 excluding OS. Less than the cost of one mic!

Now all I need are the coconuts to try and put it all together...!

[whubbard]

Coconuts? Huh?

[pdlstl]

Er...um...guts.

[flanzig1]

If you have changed out parts and installed software in a computer; building one isn't much more. Read through all of the manuals that come with the parts and read through the PCMECH howto build guide: http://www.pcmech.com/show/build/282/

[pdlstl]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 If you have changed out parts and installed software in a computer; building one isn't much more. Read through all of the manuals that come with the parts and read through the PCMECH howto build guide: http://www.pcmech.com/show/build/282/

Yes, I had already bookmarked the build guide in my favorites and plan to use it as a bible for this undertaking!

Here is another question.

My current DAW has 2 drives. One is a 160 GB which is partitioned 40GB/120GB. My OS and all of my program files reside on the 40 GB partition. This partition is almost full. I know I can increase the size of this partition using something like Partition Magic.

My question, is there software available which would copy all of the files on this partition then let me me put them on to a new drive in the new DAW? Or, if I increase the size of this partition, could I install this existing drive in the new machine?

I'm not sure I can locate all of the software CD's for the programs I currently have in place in the 40 GB partition and I'm looking for an easy way to keep from having to install everything even if I could find all of the CD's.

[flanzig1]

Partion Magic is one option. Most of the hard drives come with a copy/clone untility on their CD or I believe Acronis is a program that glc recommends.
Since you want to reuse XP on that drive, in the old machine uninstall the IDE drivers in Device Manger and go through Update drivers and select "standard dual channel IDE". Also, would need to uninstall drivers for the video card.
You may still need to do a repair install of XP or at least new drivers for new parts.