Noob Build: RM Audio Recording PC $1000

diakonos1984 · Nov 24, 2016

I am a musical hobbyist, and I am wanting to get into audio recording in a home studio. This build will be in a case that works as either HTPC or Rack Mount. I want to be future proof as much as possible on the foundational components, but don't mind going bottom end on things that aren't going to make a difference. If there is anything that I am way overkill on, save me some money!

I haven't built a computer in at least 5 years, or bought a computer in at least 3, so I basically know nothing about the current market. I have done some research but would appreciate some feedback on if their are some bad spots in my plan.

Approximate Purchase Date: Sometime between now and Cyber Monday!
Budget Range: $900-1300
System Usage from Most to Least Important: Solely for audio recording/processing. Will be mounted in a portable rack. Will interface with PreSonus 16.0.2 mixer/FireWire interface.
Are you buying a monitor: No
Parts to Upgrade: All new
Do you need to buy OS: Yes
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: I can go anywhere
Location: Russellville, AR. Though I am in the DFW, TX area for a few days if you know of any good store deals.
Parts Preferences: None.
Overclocking: Maybe
SLI or Crossfire: Not sure that this is relevant? I will not be doing anything graphics intensive, though I would like to run multiple monitors eventually.
Your Monitor Resolution: Unknown. I will be using a couple old LCDs that I have lying around for now.
Additional Comments: Guiding principles are quiet operation, speed, and stability. And budget of course.
Software: PreSonus Studio One, and eventually Steinberg Cubase?

Here's the link to the build list on PCPartPicker

Here are the details:
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor $294.99
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-U9B SE2 37.9 CFM CPU Cooler $59.99
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste $6.88
Motherboard: Asus Z170-DELUXE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard $252.98
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory $77.99
OS/Software Drive: ADATA Premier SP550 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive $60.99
Media Drive (RAID 1 configuration): Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (2) $64.99
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case $72.99
Rackmount Ears for Case: SilverStone RA02 Rackmount Handles $20.99
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer MK III 500W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply $92.00
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer $18.88
OS: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit $98.99
Case Fans: Noctua NF-S12A PWM 120mm Fan (2) $17.99
For PreSonus Interface: SIIG NN-E20012-S2 (2-Port FireWire400 PCIe Card) $36.01
Total: $1273.62

I would appreciate feedback on all of this, but especially the power supply...

Thanks!

ScrewySqrl · Nov 26, 2016

overall, its a good build. you can trim some money though... you don't need the cooler, thermal paste, or Z170 motherboard.
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($294.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock B150M-HDS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($59.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: Team Elite Plus 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: ADATA Ultimate SU800 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($62.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Zotac GeForce GTX 1050 2GB Mini Video Card ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case ($72.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($68.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0 DVD/CD Writer ($13.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro OEM 64-bit ($98.99 @ My Choice Software)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A PWM 120mm Fan ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A PWM 120mm Fan ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Other: SIIG NN-E20012-S2 (2-Port FireWire400 PCIe Card) ($49.99)
Other: SilverStone RA02 Rackmount Handles ($20.99)
Total: $1079.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-26 22:25 EST-0500

I did throw in a graphics card but if you leave that out, its $979.

diakonos1984 · Nov 27, 2016

ScrewySqrl :

Great comments! Thanks! I am going to check out the items you mentioned, particularly that power supply.
Can you educate me in particular on why I don't need the CPU cooler or thermal paste?
Thanks!

ScrewySqrl · Nov 27, 2016

the i7-6700 comes with a cooler already that is all you need (and it already has thermal paste).

the Seasonic power supply is as good a power supply as anyone makes, they are top-quality.

jmsellars1 · Nov 27, 2016

This type of software isn't graphics intensive at all, the only reason to get a GPU would be for taking some load off the CPU if using multiple monitors. You only need a basic passively cooled card.

Main things I'd go for are a good CPU, plenty of RAM with more room to upgrade it, some fast storage and as quiet as possible. Obviously some of this depends on the type of recording as well. For example if you're recording mostly with microphones it isn't very heavy on system resources but you will want something extremely quiet. If it is mostly electronic stuff and VST's/software effects then it is very RAM heavy.

THe Xeon E3-1230 v5 would be a good choice, it is basically the i7-6700 without the integrated graphics. Apparently Xeons are more reliable as well, not sure how true that part is but it is $40 cheaper as well.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V5 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($251.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D9L 46.4 CFM CPU Cooler ($52.88 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-X150-PLUS WS ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($120.00 @ Amazon)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($64.60 @ Newegg)
Storage: Intel 600p Series 256GB M.2-2280 Solid State Drive ($85.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GT 730 1GB Video Card ($52.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Silverstone GD09B HTPC Case ($72.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($78.89 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($18.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-F12 PWM 55.0 CFM 120mm Fan ($18.88 @ OutletPC)
Case Fan: Noctua NF-S12A PWM 120mm Fan ($17.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Silverstone RA02 Rackmount Ear Kit for SilverStone Desktop Cases ($20.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Copper Ramsinks ($27.98)
Total: $885.05
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-11-27 06:39 EST-0500

Mount the NF-F12 fans as intakes and the S12 as an exhaust (with the included low noise adapters) and set up some nice quiet fan curves and that would be absolutely silent. With the optical drive and hard drives if it was me I'd either avoid them altogether or consider external ones if you won't be using them all the time. Means you can easily disconnect them when you're not using them and it keeps the system quieter.

The ramsinks are to put on the M.2. drive, they perform a lot better with some kind of cooling solution. You can probably find them cheaper elsewhere, $28 is a bit steep.

EDIT: It is true the i7 comes with a cooler but it isn't quiet by any means.

EDIT: Forgot to mention as well, that PSU is top notch and has a 140mm fan which stops under low loads so great for this type of build.

ScrewySqrl · Nov 27, 2016

the Xeon + X150 is more expensive than the 6700 + B150

jmsellars1 · Nov 27, 2016

That's a good point. C232 / (X150) boards tend to have better features as well though. Just depends whether they would see any use. (4 RAM slots, M.2., more USB 3.0's etc.)

ScrewySqrl · Nov 27, 2016

the X150 is identical t a B150 as far as PCIe lanes go

both have 6 SATA ports, 10 USB 2.0, 6 USB 3.0, 1 16x, 2 4x, 3 1x PCIe slots

diakonos1984 · Nov 27, 2016

jmsellars1 :

Thanks for the great feedback! I actually ordered the Z170 motherboard before you or ScrewySqrl posted (NewEgg was running a great deal!), so I am kind of stuck there. I don't think I will regret it in the long run, but I can definitely see that it was one of the big expenses that probably could have been trimmed. I had selected it because I was riffing off of Sweetwater's audio workstations.

I haven't ordered most of the other parts yet, so I am going to look at the other recommendations you had. Especially the PSU (I'll look for the dB specs). I like your ramsinks idea and especially your fan layout, and I will need to further research the stock CPU cooler.

Is PCPartPicker's watt estimate reliable? It seems to think my build would require less than 250W PSU, and that just feels awfully low.

ScrewySqrl · Nov 28, 2016

sounds about right for a no-gpu build,

If you g that route, the Antec Earthwatts 380W is a great PSU

jmsellars1 · Nov 29, 2016

ScrewySqrl :

Yeah the chipsets are pretty much the same, RAID support is the only real difference but the boards themselves tend to have more features. If those extra features would see any use, the Xeon is a good way to go. If not, the i7 would be better.

Yeah that watt estimate is pretty reliable, I'd add at least 100W for some headroom.

The Antec Earthwatts 380W is excellent in terms of price/performance. Awesome performance for a relatively low price. Surprisingly quiet considering bronze efficiency and an 80mm fan as well. If you have the budget and quietness is important though I'd go for something gold rated with a bigger fan like an EVGA G2, EVGA P2, Corsair RMi, Corsair RMx or be quiet Straight power 10. Quality overall is slightly better and you get nice features like fans which stop (or go extremely slow) under low load and modular cables etc.

ScrewySqrl · Nov 29, 2016

I have a Xeon 1230 v5 and gigabite X150. I bought it right after skylake came out (this past Feb) when teh 6700 was still $320, and teh X150 board was only $83. the $20 more expensive board over aB150 was orth it, given the $80 cheaper cpu.

now, the Mobo is up around 130, vs $40-65 for a H110 or B150, so they end up being about the same price. fir this build, where the GPU isn't needed, the i7 is the better option

diakonos1984 · Jan 4, 2017

Thanks all for the help! I went with the SeaSonic power supply that ScrewSqrl recommended. I have everything purchased and nearly all assembled. Hopefully I can fire it up over the weekend!

Here's the final parts list on PCPartPicker. Total price was $1159. I could have done better if I had actually pulled the trigger on everything during Cyber Week. I waited around hoping to find something better, and a lot of parts ended up going up in price.

I will let you know how it all turns out! I know I am about to post a question in a new thread about low profile cables....

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