Evaluate $1300-1500 DAW PC build please

[brianlin]

-$110.00 OS: Windows Vista upgraded to Windows 7 (64 bit- so i can run more than 4 gigs RAM): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677 (comes with free windows 7 upgrade, which is gonna be worth around 190.00 when it comes out.)

-$234.00 Case(with aftermarket Noctua fans): Antec 182 case: http://www.techonweb.com/products/productdetail.aspx?id=E00561&src=PG (replace 3 stock fans with 3 Noctua quiet fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608009 - $81.00) i'm gonna be buying this for 30 dollars cheaper at the local microcenter.

-$100.00 PSU: Corsair 650 Watt: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

-$200.00 Motherboard: Gigabyte UD3R: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128375

-$280.00 CPU: i7 920 intel nehalem: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202
i'm gonna buy this for 80 dollars cheaper at the local microcenter.

-$100.00 RAM: OCZ 6gb ddr3 1600mhz: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

-$150.00 for 2 Hard Drives: 2 640gb Western Digital Caviar Black, one for OS/system/apps, and one for samples, recordings, etc: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=western%20digital%20caviar%20black%20640gb

-$32.00 Optical Drive: Sony DVD/CD burner and reader: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

-CPU cooler: ??? not sure what to get :/. i need it fit in the p182 and has to be quiet!

-$6.00 Thermal Paste (used with cooler's heatsink): OCZ Freeze (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202006)

-Video Card: ??? not sure what to get :/. going to run dual monitors for audio work and single monitor Counterstrike: Source with around 60 fps, but it needs to run QUIET.

-Sound Card: ??? not sure what to get :[[[[. i plan to use this for recording live instruments, running reaper, cubase, etc. No pro tools.

ALSO. is the power supply enough...? Any incompatibility issues between the parts? Last thing i want to do is realize something doesn't fit when i'm building it haha....

In conclusion, please feel free to rate/comment/correct any things on this DAW PC build! i still need help with vid and sound cards as well as the CPU cooler. The power supply = sufficient? Compatibility issues?

 

[brianlin]

bump

 

[brianlin]

bump

 

[brianlin]

bump anybody?

 

[Yoosty]

$234.00 Case(with aftermarket Noctua fans): Antec 182 case: http://www.techonweb.com/products/ [...] 561&src=PG (replace 3 stock fans with 3 Noctua quiet fans http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835608009 - $81.00) i'm gonna be buying this for 30 dollars cheaper at the local microcenter.

Here are 2 other cases you should look at, which you probally will not have to buy replacement fans for.

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $171.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case $138.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119160

Combo Deal > Case/PSU saves an additional $10.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.212377

100.00 PSU: Corsair 650 Watt: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

Would suggest the Corsair 750w PSU.

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $109.99 ($99.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

You also should get this PSU to Mobo Power extension cable, needed for bottom mounted PSU cases.

1ST PC CORP. 12" 8-pin EPS extension cable Model CB-8M-8F $7.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812706004

$200.00 Motherboard: Gigabyte UD3R: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128375

Here are 2 mobo's which would be better. Also remember to check out the COMBO deals that come with the mobo's. specially the ram where you can save $20 plus dollars.

EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE Intel Motherboard $234.99 ($214.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188049

ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard $239.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359

$280.00 CPU: i7 920 intel nehalem: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202
i'm gonna buy this for 80 dollars cheaper at the local microcenter.

See if Microcenter has the DO Stepping for the Core i7 920 CPU, if so get that one @ store.

CPU cooler: ??? not sure what to get

Choose one of these 2 CPU HSF Cooler, they are really good.

Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler $36.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185093

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler $44.98 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029

Video Card: ??? not sure what to get :/. going to run dual monitors for audio work and single monitor Counterstrike: Source with around 60 fps, but it needs to run QUIET.

Not sure which brand you like so will give you these 3 to pick from. The XFX has Double Lifetime Warranty, the EVGA and BFG both have Lifetime Warranty and Step-up program.

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card $194.99 Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

EVGA 896-P3-1170-AR GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $234.99 ($214.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130475

BFG Tech BFGEGTX275896OCE GeForce GTX 275 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $229.99 ($199.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate Card)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143183

Sound Card: ??? not sure what to get :[[[[. i plan to use this for recording live instruments, running reaper, cubase, etc. No pro tools.

Now the hard one to make a suggestion for, all for sale @ NewEgg.

These 2 are probally the top in there fields. The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty, either the Pro or Champion series (both pci express).
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=208&product=17813
http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=872&product=17791&listby=

Then there is Auzentech, the INFRASONIC QUARTET 4 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Multi Purpose Pro-Audio Interface w/ MIDI (pci slot) and the AuzenTech AZT-FORTE X-Fi Forte 7.1 Low Profile PCI Express Sound Card. http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/infra_quartet.php
http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/x-fi_forte.php

Hope this helps you out some. Good Luck on your upcoming build.

 

[PCKid777]

I'm not a CounterStrike fan, but that does not require a lot of horsepower, am I right?

If the case has sufficient cooling, you may consider these:

Gigabyte 4850 1Gb Silent Video Card

Gigabyte 9800GT 1Gb Silent Video Card

 

[photonboy]

WARNING:
I don't believe that free upgrade. They did the same thing with XP and Vista and it was NOT true. It did NOT apply to the average person building a machine. You can ONLY get a free upgrade when you buy a prebuilt system that offers it and gives you a number.

I'd bet my car that you couldn't get this upgrade.

Get Windows 7 RC x64 and then OEM when it's released. There's no pricing yet so I don't know what your quoting. It should not be much different.

Sound:
I just bought the Auzentech Forte X-Fi. It's an awesome card though pairing it with cheap speakers (sub $50) is a waste.

*I reread your audio needs. You should also investigate ASUS. I'd go with either ASUS or Auzentech depending on your needs. Read up on the offered cards.

Graphics card:
Hard to say. Your needs seem minimal so maybe look for a fanless HD4xxx card or newer NVidia that's fanless at around $60. Most newer cards support dual monitors. Your probably want dual DVI-I outputs. 512MB for sure.

NOISE:
It's the overall noise you care about:
1) PSU-> Any good PSU has fan speed control. Make sure to buy a case and put the PSU so the air flows from OUTSIDE the case to OUTSIDE the case rather than blowing hot air across the PSU's insides (which just causes the fan to run faster and can cause heat issues).

2) CPU-> You should get a large heatsink and 120mm fan combo. Read reviews. Spend about $40.

3) Graphics card-> Fanless or one that blows out the rear of the case. Don't get ones that leave the heat in the case. It just means other fans have to work harder and noise level will be overall higher.

4) Case fans-> In your case get one or two very low-flow, low-noise 120mm case fans. You do not want variable speed. Just get the lowest you can find to help move the heat out without adding much noise.

 

[WSheehey]

Any suggestions for rackmount cases? I'm building a system that is really very similar to what the op is building, but it will be in a live rig.