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01-30-2009, 12:49 PM
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#1 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
Posts: 847
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Music Computer
Hi All,
I haven't been around lately, well for a while, but I'm hoping I can get some advice on a dedicated music PC I am going to build. The main goal here is to have a solid PC that runs smoothly, and outputs sweet sounding digital audio (I use an external DAC). The main problem is that it also needs to run quiet, which means (in general) it needs to be a cool computer. So all suggestions are welcome, but the main thing is if someone can think of a way to put in parts that run cooler, then the fans won't need to spin as fast. I also should add that the two 500GB drives will be in Raid 1 to ensure that if one drive fails, I won't have to re-import all my CDs. I will be using a touchscreen monitor to control all of this from my listening chair, and I sure want the monitor to look nice, so I hope the card I have selected will cut it (I'm pretty sure it will). If anybody has any specific suggestions on the monitor, they would be greatly appreciated. Tiger Direct has a few nice ones. On The CD drive, I figure the Lite-on will do just fine for Ripping CDs, but if not, please let me know. Case: SilverStone ATX GD01B-R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811163110 Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R ATX Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128359 CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017 RAM: Corsair Dominator 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145043 Hard Drive (x2): WD Caviar Black 500GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320 Video Card: HIS 2600XT 512MB ISilence III http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161203 Power Supply: FSP 400W Fanless http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104035 Sound Card: M-Audio 192 PCI http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829121008 CD Drive: Lite-On Black SATA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106100 OS: Vista Home Premium 64-Bit http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116488 Case Fans (x2): SilenX 80mm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835191008 Thanks, West
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01-30-2009, 01:21 PM
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#2 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 443
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Change the RAM to this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184 $26.99 after $30 rebate. You might want to change the case too as a normal tower case is easier to build in. Case like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144218 $39.99 it has fan spaces so should be adequate. Last edited by tomtoon; 01-30-2009 at 01:23 PM. |
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01-30-2009, 01:35 PM
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#3 | |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
Posts: 847
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Quote:
I am going to stick with the RAM I have selected as I have found that RAM can be one of the biggest components in terms of performace for what I will be doing (IMHO). Also, I apologize if this comes off harsh, but the case suggestion is one of the more ridiculous suggestions I have ever received. This is going into a music rack (which I know I neglected to add), but you must have realized there was a reason for picking the case I did. That Apevia is silly with all the blue lights for a music PC.  -West |
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01-30-2009, 02:18 PM
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#4 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 443
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Ok.
Whubbard anyone on here would say MORE RAM is better not the speed. |
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01-30-2009, 02:35 PM
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#6 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
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Yes, I would agree with that. On my Vista Machines I do run 4 GB. TomToon, I looked over that what you had posted was 4GB, and thought I was just 2GB like I had posted, Sorry.
So I guess I will go ahead and put in 4GB. Any other suggestions, especially on keeping the computer quiet. -West |
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01-30-2009, 02:58 PM
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#7 |
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I like me
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Tejas
Posts: 7,332
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If it's just for audio, I would get a asus p5kpl-cm motherboard.
That will eliminate the need for a seperate video card, and give your case room to breathe. Also, get a e8400 instead of the quad. The quad will run hotter.
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01-30-2009, 03:22 PM
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#8 | |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 443
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Quote:
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01-30-2009, 03:50 PM
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#9 |
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Folding at home.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Posts: 2,126
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Why not get a DVD Writer instead, the cost increase is minimal.
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01-30-2009, 04:00 PM
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#10 |
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Wrench Bender
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Plymouth,MN
Posts: 5,961
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May want to look for a better matching motherboard for the CPU. The Q6600 is a 1066 FSB and the board you picked has at mininum FSB 1333.
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"When sliding down the banister of life; look out for splinters pointing up."
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01-30-2009, 04:06 PM
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#11 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 443
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Agreeing with Flanzig, get the e8400 like shadowpr said.
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01-30-2009, 08:16 PM
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#12 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
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The 8400 Makes sense, thanks. I also think that I am going to stick with the board I have. I've never been a huge fan of on board video, and some of the music applications I may use like to have fancy visuals. While they are by no means necessary, I still would prefer the video card to be separate.
On the DVD writer, I know its silly, but I will never burn DVDs, so I may as well take the 52x drive vs. the 48x drive. When I rip my CDs, I know it will never be done at those speeds, but I just see no need to have a DVD-R drive. -West Last edited by whubbard; 01-30-2009 at 08:33 PM. |
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01-31-2009, 04:59 AM
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#13 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 443
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No one has mentioned this but have you though about the ASUS P5Q.
its the standard recommendation here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295 $108.99 |
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01-31-2009, 08:49 AM
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#14 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
Posts: 847
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The P5Q is a solid board, however the Gigabyte board edges it out in a few categories, and after the rebate is cheaper.
Also, and this must be taken with a grain of salt, but the NewEgg reviewers appear to have a had a bit better time with the Gigabyte board. I personally have only used Asus for all of my builds, but I think I'm going to switch on this one, and we'll see how it goes. -West |
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01-31-2009, 09:47 AM
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#15 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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I would also suggest the asus p5kpl-cm motherboard w/ the onboard video. Those small cases get very hot inside.
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01-31-2009, 12:06 PM
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#16 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
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Will the onboard video really help with the heat vs. the HIS card designed to be passively cooled?
-West |
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01-31-2009, 06:45 PM
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#17 |
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Member (12 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,557
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A card with a fan will be cooler than a passively cooled card and the fan also helps to circulate the air inside the case. Onboard video gives off no heat.
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01-31-2009, 11:35 PM
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#18 | ||
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
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Quote:
Quote:
I would personally assume that the onboard card gives off less heat, but HIS also designed that card to run cool, so I'm very unsure. -West |
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02-06-2009, 05:34 PM
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#19 |
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Forum Administrator
Staff
Premium Member
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Joplin MO
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You can put a video card in a P5KPL-CM. The micro board will be easier to deal with in a small case.
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02-16-2009, 01:08 PM
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#20 |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 13
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Couple thoughts…if bits are bits and your letting an external DAC do the processing anyway, why the need for some fancy studio grade audio card when your MB already has an optical out…seems a little overkill to me… are you running compressed or uncompressed music files? If it the former, you’ve already done far more damage to that sweet sounding digital audio than running out an on-board S/PDIF...
Second, I might re-think the whole Raid thing…extra drive, less air flow, extra heat…this is a single propose machine that you want to be as quiet and cool as possible and to that end I’d keep it as lean as possible…both hardware and program-wise…regular external backups (which should be done even if you Raid) should keep your files just as safe and minimize any re-ripping you might need to do as the result of a HD failure… You also mentioned ripping CDs on this machine, personally I’d do that on your desktop and then transfer the ripped, tagged, edited files to you music server...but that’s just me… |
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02-17-2009, 01:43 AM
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#21 | |
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Member (8 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Long Island
Posts: 181
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Quote:
can you elaborate on that for me/us, i'm not trying to hyjack this thread butt i am very interested in what you've said.
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02-17-2009, 06:20 AM
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#22 | |
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Member (4 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Edit: In my earlier post, I said compressed or uncompressed music file…I meant lossless and lossy…I can’t figure out how to edit that post, sorry for any confusion… |
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02-18-2009, 05:04 PM
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#23 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 288
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I like my motherboard, Intel DG35EC It has integrated HD Audio and HD video. Uses the Intel integrated G35 Chipset. For a CPU I used an Inel E7200, however, it can take a quad. Only uses 800Mhz DDR2. If you dont like integrated just go with something else. I was really surprised with the speed of the processor. With Vista SP2 and 2 gigs of RAM, I found it to have no problems running Vista Home Premium.
Also try a Lite-On DVD+/- SATA Dual Layer Lightscribe. Only use SATA parts. MB does not like IDE. Purchased at "www.Directron.com". I decided to try a different Internet Reseller than New Egg. They were good and about the same price. Last edited by ceh4702; 02-18-2009 at 05:08 PM. Reason: Use other stores than www.newegg.com |
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02-18-2009, 08:27 PM
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#24 |
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Member (10 bit)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New York City, New York // Greeniwch, Connecticut
Posts: 847
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Hi Guys,
Thanks for the suggestions. I did wind up dropping the sound card...bits are bits, but some sound cards can 'lose' some, however I don't think the Realtec will have a problem. It should be fine. Not yet worth the $100+. I also already have much of my music ripped, so it not going to be a huge deal. I just want to be able to rip a few more onto this machine as time goes on, so it won't be that hard with a touchscreen. Thats also a good point about doing the external backups, I'll have to think on that. My only reason for doing in machine Raid is that the backups are essentially done realtime. If the PC goes up in flames, I won't be happy, but I'm yet to have that happen to me...I'll really have to contemplate this. Also, All of my parts are already SATA, and I'm not going to get lightscribe. I already have 2 lightscribe drives, but I would never use it on this computer. I also swapped out my video card for one that was a little less powerful, as it should use less heat, but I'm still sticking to a PCI card. Video Card 9500 GT I should order this sometime in the coming future, so I'll let you know how it goes. I might just make this a summer project, and order it in may, so I'll see if anything changes by then. Thanks. -West |
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