First Build

[guller]

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=5601285&WishListTitle=DAW+Build

Any known configuration issues with the items in this list?

This will be my first build. I am using it in a home studio for audio recording. I have a RME firewire audio interface that will also be used with this system.

Any tricks of the trade for installation? Anything I'm missing?

 

[guller]

Also will the stock CPU fan be quiet, or should I go for a Zalman?

I want this machine to be as quiet as possible.

 

[CmdPT]

What is you're budget for this build? Because everything you have is pretty much high-end stuff except for the video card. I'm guessing that you're not going to be gaming much.

If you're not going to OC then the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro should do. As for the case I'm not really a big fan of Cooler Master, but that case should be enough since 2 fan is blow up, just that there is no side fans.

 

[zenmaster]

Why so much for the Mobo?
A Good P35 with FireWire should sute you fine and save you quite a bit.

The Q6600 will likely better serve you than the E8400.

That PSU is WAY over priced.
You can get the 610w PCP&C from $119 right from their website.
It's virtually identical to the one you selected. (Both built by Seasonic and on the same platform.)

You could even get the 520w version and save even more and still have plenty of power to spare. You only need that much if you are going to go Crossfire two cards. With that board you will need (2) ATI cards to do that.

 

[CmdPT]

Also you could probably save another $134 if you only get one set 2GB of RAM. If you must have 2GB make sure its a 2x2GB set so that you only use 2 sticks instead of 4.

 

[mlaporta]

Check with buy.com first they usually have better prices with free shipping!

 

[mlaporta]

Samsung SH-S203B SATA

(Get the "Retail" version of the optical drive in order to get software with it. This will include the decoder you'll need to watch movies on it.)

 

[tjhva]

This RAM is a much better deal, plus RAM over 800mhz isn't worth it.

2x2gigs @ 68$ after MIR:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220227


If you are getting a 500gig HDD, you might as well get the newer 7200.11 -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288


I agree on a solid P35 board over the X38.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128083


Power Supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005


I also think that Cooler master case is much too expensive:

The venerable Antec 900:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=Antec%2b900

Antec p182:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025&Tpk=antec%2bp182

 

[guller]

To answer a few questions:

The budget for this build is $1500 - $2000.

There will be no gaming or casual internet on this machine. This will only have audio recording software installed on it (no antivirus or startup anything). This will only be used as a studio recording computer. I selected the video card because it has no fan and is silent. The audio software does some realtime drawing of the waveform but is not video card demanding.

The mobo has to have the TI firewire chip built in. The other firewire chip manufacuturers have big latency problems with audio recording interfaces. I chose the x38 for future upgrading purposes, since it's newer. I will look into the P35. What are the main differences?

I will need 4 gigs of ram. I'll check out that patriot memory.

I selected the cooler master case because it is quiet, has sound dapening side panels, and hard drive isolators. Same for the power supply, it reviewed as very quiet. The antec p182 may be a possibility, I'll have to look into that one.

Ultra quiet is an absolute necesity since I can't have spinning fan noises in the background while tracking in the same room.

Thanks for the help.

 

[tjhva]

X38 offers two PCI Express 2.0 @ x16 - but no performance advantages over the P35 with other marks.

As it has been said many times before, PCI Express 2.0 offers no real advantages right now, since the bandwidth of PCI Express 1.1 isn't being tapped out. Plus, you are choosing a non-gaming silent 8600 card.

Choosing the X38 for future upgrading isn't really valid, since, I'd assume your next upgrade wouldn't be until 2009 - and then new Intel chips will have a different socket.


The PC Power & Cooling PS has gotten excellent reviews all around.

Video cards:

Gigabyte has a few fanless options, cheaper initial price if you didn't want to mess with small MIR's:


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125083 (or the 256mb GDDR3 version)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125075

 

[mlaporta]

ABIT IP35 Pro is a good board.

Antec Sonata III 500 Black ATX Mid Tower Case w/500W Power Supply


The new chipset will be: Nehalem (45 nm)

 

[tjhva]

This RAM looks like an even better deal, bit higher price, but free shipping, lower voltage, right right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

 

[guller]

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=5601285&WishListTitle=DAW+Build

Ok, updated some parts.

Went for the P35 MB.
Backed off the power supply to 520 watts
Cheaper ram Corsair 2X2 GB
Changed to C2Q6600
Retail DVD Burner instead of OEM
Added a Zalman CPU cooler.

This looking better?

 

[lunyone]

Sounds good to me. I think you'll be surprised at how well your setup will be. Check back later after you build it and let us know what you learned.

 

[CmdPT]

Everything looks good now. I hope you come back and let us know how its running and hope you enjoy it.

 

[HamRadio]

silent pc review looked at cases. The number 1 and 2 spot are the Zalman fanless cases which are expensive and look like they might be difficult to set up. If cost is no object they might be of interest to you.

The number 3 spot on the list of top quiet cases was the Antec P182, which was recently on sale at newegg for $59 if you subscribe to their free email newsletter (which is worth doing. sadly, this sale ended 4 days ago and the price is now $149 at newegg):

Here is a review of the P182 case from silent pc. It got high marks for silence, especially if you set the switch on the 3 way case fans to low or medium.

The coolermaster cosmos also seems to have a great reputation for being very quiet. I am not sure why they did not review it. When I was trying to decide on cases I liked the cosmos very much but read a few reviews that said the side panel would vibrate which turned me away.