New Daw build. Need help finishing

[ghostofsparta]

Ok, I'm getting ready to start my new build for my music computer and I need some advice on finishing it up. I'll mostly be running protools m-powered to do music mix downs and maybe reason 4 on this computer. I will occasionally be doing some recording on this system. I also might do some light gaming and light video editing as well as just a general use computer.

So far I've purchased
2 500gb f3 spinpoint hardrives
i7-860 cpu
Antec 300 Illusion case
dvd burner

I still need a video card, psu, mobo and some memory.

As far as a motherboard I'm probably going to order a GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H. I only need 4gb's of ram since I will be running windows xp on this machine.

The video card doesn't need to be anything great. I won't be doing much gaming. Maybe playing the sims 3 or l4d2 here and there. The quieter the better on the vc. Also the possibility to run dual monitors would be nice. I was looking at the hd4670 but I don't know if something else would be better at that price point.

I'm guessing I'm going to need around 650w on the psu. I'll always have a fast track pro plugged in for an audio interface and a maudio keyboard running most of the time through usb power. I could also be running a few more things in the usb regularly. I might even have my firewire 1814 running at times on the system. Plus I will be adding another 1tb hard drive and maybe a ssd at some point.

I'm looking to stay around 350 for the mobo, ram, psu and videocard. Maybe more if needed. I have a microcenter near me and ordering from any website is fine. Also I won't be overclocking this system. I'm going to try and get this build done within the next two weeks at the most. Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

[Lmeow]

Well, $350 is kinda bit of a stretch for a mobo, RAM, graphics card and PSU, but I'll try...

From newegg:

ASUS P7P55D-E LX - $139.99, $1.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131634

A-DATA 2x2GB DDR3 1333MHz CL9 - $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211364

PowerColour Radeon HD 5570 - $69.99, $5.99 shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131343

Corsair CX400W 400W PSU - $49.99 ($15 rebate available)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008&Tpk=corsair%20cx400w

Total = $362.94 after shipping and rebates.

The 400W PSU might seem a bit small, but it's made by a very reliable brand, and the Core i7 860 and HD 5570 don't really use that much power, and you're not going to overclock either so it should be fine. I doubt external devices draw much power at all either, so you should be fine.

I'm not sure if the P7P55D-E LX has FireWire support however.

 

[ghostofsparta]

First off:

What is your budget?
What do you expect out of the most?
Are you willing to accept any other components than what you have?

Answer ALL these questions and I will be of service!

What is your budget?

I would like to stay around 350 but am willing to go up around 400-450 if it's really worth it

What do you expect out of the most?

Well like I said I just want a graphics card that can run dual monitors via dvi and would be able to play games like the sims 3 or left 4 dead 2. I don't do much pc gaming so having the best card isn't really a concern. Those would probably be the only newer games I would play. I also will do some video encoding and maybe some light video editing.

As far as ram, I just want some stable 4gbs of it. Like I said, since I'm running xp on this system that's all it will be able to handle.

The power supply, I need a decent one that will be able to everything I have plus the stuff I mentioned I might add later.

And the motherboard, I just want something decent that has a firewire port on it.

I'm just trying to build a computer to mess around with my recording hobby.


Are you willing to accept any other components than what you have?

I would like to stay with what I have. The case, hard drives and burner I got a couple of months back but I just purchased the 860 from microcenter. I'm not sure if I can return it or not but I would like to keep it unless there's something else that might be better. I was looking at the i5-750 originally but decided to go with the 860 since it was only $20 more.

What about this combo?

Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 - $104.99 ($89.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150369&Tpk=hd-477a-ydfc

GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H - $105.55 shipped ($95.55 after rebate) *My local microcenter has in stock at the same price*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128421&Tpk=ga-h55m-ud2h

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX - $89.99 ($69.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) - $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211364

$405.52 ($360.52 after rebates)


or maybe some of these

Radeon HD 5750 - $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150448&cm_re=hd_5750-_-14-150-448-_-Product

G.SKILL ECO Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) - $122.98 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231321&cm_re=f3-12800cl7d-_-20-231-321-_-Product

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX - $95.98 shipped ($85.98 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

I'm open to any suggestions and I would like to get this stuff ordered as soon as possible so I can start my build.

 

[ghostofsparta]

Can you give a list of things you have so far,( Including the 5750 reccomended components as well.)

So far I have

(2) 500gb f3 spinpoint hardrives ( will be adding a 1tb sometime in the next couple of months and maybe a ssd when prices go down)

i7-860 cpu

Antec 300 Illusion case

dvd burner (it's one I had left over from my old cpu. will have to check the model when I can dig it out.)

what if I just replaced the hd 5770 in the top combo I had?

so it would look like this

cpu: i7-860
case: antec 300 illusion
hard drive: 2 samsung f3 spinpoints
vc: hd 5770
psu: CMPSU-650TX
ram: A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) ddr3 1333
mobo: GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H

I already have a keyboard and mouse and will be using an older acer monitor until I buy two new monitors here later this year. That way it will make it so much easier to work on music with two screens to spread all the settings out on.

 

[ghostofsparta]

Okay. What about an OS?

I'll be running windows XP which I already have. Most of the audio programs I use seem to be run better with xp. once those programs become more stable with 7, i might upgrade. For now though, I'll stick with what works.

 

[randomizer]

This topic has been moved from the section CPU & Components to section Homebuilt Systems by Randomizer

 

[ghostofsparta]

anybody else with any thoughts on this build?

Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 - $104.99 ($89.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -477a-ydfc

GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H - $105.55 shipped ($95.55 after rebate) *My local microcenter has in stock at the same price*
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -h55m-ud2h

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX - $89.99 ($69.99 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) - $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820211364

$405.52 ($360.52 after rebates)

or any other suggestions would be nice.

Also does a video card's ram take away from the 4gb limit on a 32 bit OS? In other words would say a card with 1gb of ram make the total windows can use from like 3.5gb's to 2.5 if I have 4gb's installed?

Also with ram is there that big of a difference between 1600 vs 1333? The lower the cas latency the better right (cas7 is better than cas8)?

 

[ghostofsparta]

anyone?

 

[ghostofsparta]

Ok, I've bought most of my parts and just need help with the video card.

So far I've bought
core i7-860
(2) samsung f3 500gb spinpoints
Ga-P55m-ud2 motherboard
cmpsu-650x power supply
f3-10666CL8d-4gbhk 2 x2gb g skill ram
antec 300 illusion case
running windows xp 32bit

Now I just need help with the video card. I want something with dual dvi ports. I won't be doing much gaming. Maybe at the most playing left for dead 1/2 or the sims 3. I was looking at the hd 4770 or the hd 5750 (both by xfx).

My questions is does the video card take away from my total ram that windows xp can use/see? So If I get a 1gb card, will xp only be able to use 3gb's or less of my 4gbs of ram?

I plan to run xp for awhile and will eventually upgrade to win7 but that's down the road. I want to be able to use as much ram of my 4gb (I know xp is only going to see 3.5 max) that I can. If anyone can help me pick out a card, that would be great.

Thanks.

 

[deagle_94]

well since you dont game alot any 5xxx series would work. i would say a 5550 would do the job for you. keep the i7 because at the moment the i5 750 is 200$ and i7 860 is 300$ so you got a great deal im guessing?

SI P55-CD53 LGA 1156 Intel P55 119$
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130240

Rosewill Green Series RG630-S12 630W 64.99$ ( seems like a great psu with lots of features like single rail,80 plus. and it runs cool)
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182200

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 91$
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231190

SAPPHIRE 100293L Radeon HD 5570 1GB 85$
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102874&cm_re=5570-_-14-102-874-_-Product

soo all together is 360$, maybe a little more for tax and shiping. but its deff under 400$. or you can always change the gpu to something lower to save like 10 to 20$ but the performance drop you get is really really really not worth it. hope i helped