Hello...first post here but looking forward to exploring the forums. I work in IT but rarely build systems other than my own so it also surprises me how quickly the tehnology passes me by. Every couple years when i do my research for building a new PC, I feel like a noob again.

Because of that, I'm looking for some final advice before purchasing my next setup.


I'm looking to build a new DAW (digital audio workstation) to replace my current P4 system (lol). I initially figured why not use the specs from the DAWs that sweetwater is selling and everybody is loving so I started with this http://www.sweetwater.com/creation_station/chart.php.

Then I saw on Sonar's (my main audio app) forum that people were using the quad-core almost exclusively. That lead me to this THG article http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] index.html to determine that the quad core is the best option for me (using the graphics apps as substitutes for my audio benchmarking). After seeing the components that THG was using I decided to change some of the parts from the sweetwater setup and come up with this system.



1 Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129024 $119.95 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129024

1 GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model GX22GB6400UDCA= - Retail
Item #: N82E16820144062 $51.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820144062

1 ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131196 149.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131196

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115017 $249.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115017

1 ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118019 $53.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118019

Subtotal: $625.91


So my questions are the following


1) I'm not going to have any issues overclocking this memory with this motherboard am I? I plan on OCing it up to 3.3Ghz as described in the THG article. Also is there a problem with the fact that the board is DDR2 1066 and my memory is DDR-800?

2) I couldn't find the GEIL memory that THG was recommending so I went with this...comparable? any feedback on this memory in general? I've always been a kingston guy so I'm trusting THG on this one.

3) Any feedback on this chasis? I wanted to stick with an Antec PS and this case came with one and seems to have everything I need.

Any advice is certainly appreciated.

Sean

Looks good so far... I think you can get the Q6600 for cheaper. I would probably go with new gen Q9300. Also get more memory. Workstations use a lot so get more like 4gb and up to 8gb if you get 64bit OS.

You shouldnt have a problem getting up to 3.6ghz with low latency DDR2800.

The CPU cooler is OK, but I think a case with more/better fans would be nice for overclocking. I had a Q6600 overclocked to 3.0 GHz and it ran great. The maximum standard FSB is 1066, which corresponds to 533 memory. When my Q6600 was at 3.0 GHz the memory was running at 333(X2) MHZ, or 666. The FSB runs at 4 times the clock while the memory runs at 2 times the clock.

thanks for the replies guys...

as far as memory goes, i would love to have more memory but aren't i limited to 3GB in XP 32bit? So do I buy 4GB and waste 1GB?

hmmm..interesting about the Q9300...maybe i'll get the OEM model and save some bucks since I'm getting a HS anyway.

I'm gonna look for a new case and probably buy the PS seperately.

For the memory it will depend on the video card and other PCI devices. I had a system with 2x2GB and it showed 3.5GB with a 8800GTS-640. 4GB is pretty cheap, so if the budget isn't really tight go for it.

The Q9300 requires a higher FSB to get the same overclock as the Q6600, which is harder on the motherboard and generates more heat. I think the motherboard you selected should be OK for that.

yeah after researching a bit more, i'm gonna stick with the q6600.

I think I've settled on the following:

1 Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129024 $119.95 Case

2 GeIL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model GX22GB6400UDCA= - Retail
Item #: N82E16820144062 $51.99


1 GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128059

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail cpu

1 ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118019 $53.99

SYBA PCI to Firewire 1394a 3+1 ports controller card Model SD-NEC-4F - Retail
Item #: N82E16815124003


Basically I switched out the ASUS MB for the Gigabyte one used in that THG article, added a firewire card, doubled the memory, and after reading nearly every review for that case...decided to stick with it.

If anybody has any other feedback before I purchase, I'd appreciate it.

So I ended up ordering all this thinking I had a PCI-E video card only to realize it was AGP....DOH!

any suggestions for a cheap graphics card for this setup keeping in mind that I would like to overclock to at least 3.0Ghz and I do not play ANY games. I'm using this for mostly audio recording and some graphics editing but not much.

I guess I should also mention i have a dell 24in digital FP.


any help is greatly appreciated.

Go with the 2600XT. YOu can get one for under $100