Need advice on new system for sound editing, No OC'ing.

[Herkulese]

I am finally ready to order the parts for my Pastor's new PC (I must build this system in January, during Christmas brake).

He will use it mostly for sound editing and desktop publishing, and it will be networked. I plan to go for an XP2600+ (333fsb) cpu with 512mb PC3200 or PC3500 ram, and need some advice on the best, fastest, most stable, platform to put it on. I want to run at 166fsb with the most aggressive settings for memory, etc....

Please remember that this system will not be overclocked, however it would be nice to have 200fsb support down the road.

I am considering the Nforce2 (8rda+) as it seems to be a solid fast, solid platform, and has good onboard
On the other hand the KT400 (specifically the 8k9a2) sounds like a good 333 board as well.

1) Which would be the best, or are there any other boards/chipsets that I should consider?
2) If not using Nvorce2 which Sound Card should I consider that has Digital In and Out (SPDIF)?

Thanks for any and all advice on this issue,
Herkulese

 

[halkebul]

Hello. Asus A7N8X Deluxe is the best. Use two memory modules to benefit from DualDDR- doubles memory bandwidth. And put the two memory modules in the BLUE memory slots in order to utilize DualDDR (this has been confirmed by Asus). If you have 1 or 3 memory modules inserted, you WILL NOT be utilizing DualDDR AT ALL! DDR400+ memory is recommended for a future 400MHz DDR FSB Barton processor upgrade.

My Recommendation
--------------------------
AMD XP 2600+ 333MHz FSB
Asus A7N8X Deluxe Motherboard
Two 256MB OCZ PC3500 Enhanced Latency (EL) memory modules

 

[mechBgon]

I think you may be in error about DualDDR being disabled with three memory modules. Every review I've seen shows the performance goes up when a second module is added, and goes up again when a third is added.

But yeah, good choice with the A7N8X-Deluxe, it has the S/PDIF included among the standard I/O ports. I don't think the EPoX includes one although you can buy one from EPoX for $35 or so.

 

[halkebul]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
I think you may be in error about DualDDR being disabled with three memory modules. Every review I've seen shows the performance goes up when a second module is added, and goes up again when a third is added.

Greetings MechBgon. Yes. I believed this too, but a member of the tom's hardware forum personally called asus and asus went into great detail about the fact that the only way to utilize DualDDR is to use two memory modules in the blue slots. And if you have 1 or 3 modules inserted, you will not be utilizing DualDDR. Memory benchmarks were the root of most of the confusion. People thinking that the memory config with the highest memory benchmark must be DualDDR. I undersand your skepticism though:

From tom's hardware forum:

member:
I have talked to Asus, and withought a doubt, Slots 1 and 3 will run NOT run as Dual DDR, I am 100% certain on this now.
ONLY slot 2 and 3 together will run at Dual DDR.
Currently the Benchmark App for sisoft has an error and does not correctly show Dual DDR. I got this info right from ASUS. PLEASE correct your thread as you are wrong... and feel free to call Asus yourself to verify!

i say again, 1-2 DDR, 1-3 DDR, 1-2-3 DDR, 2-3 DUAL DDR
keep it in the blue baby!

me:
Hello again. I'm clear on the fact that you must use two memory modules in the blue in order to benefit from DualDDR. But for three modules, are you sure they said that if you populated ALL of the memory slots that you will NOT benefit from DualDDR at all? Or did they say "keep it in the blue" just to keep things simple? I guess what i'm asking is, what did they actually say? I'm clear on two memory modules, but three modules is last thing I need to focus on.

member:
yeah, the guy was specific that 2 and 3 were used for dual ddr only, any other combination was in single mode. so if you stuck 3 1gig sticks in you would be running 3gig in DDR mode. it took 3 days to get ahold of them... but they do callbacks, which eventualy they do call!

 

[mechBgon]

I don't see how it's possible for it not to run Dual DDR when one bank is connected to one memory controller and the other two are connected to an entirely different one. There's no way to connect three DIMMs to just one of the two controllers. The proof is in the pudding, as they say...

Now, granted, the original nForce 4xx-series reverted to Super Compatibility Mode and ran at PC1600 speeds if three modules were used, although some manu's eventually overcame this IIRC. But even then, they were running DualDDR... just at PC1600 speeds.

 

[Herkulese]

So are you guys saying that Nforce2 is the best platform, and that the Asus A7N8X is the best of the Nforce2's?

BTW, I believe that the Asus board only has SPDIF in but no SPDIF out, so you need the bracket with that board as well.

What about the Epox 8RDA+, or is it a toss up between the two?

 

[halkebul]

Originally posted by: Herkulese
So are you guys saying that Nforce2 is the best platform, and that the Asus A7N8X is the best of the Nforce2's?

BTW, I believe that the Asus board only has SPDIF in but no SPDIF out, so you need the bracket with that board as well.

What about the Epox 8RDA+, or is it a toss up between the two?

The Asus A7n8X deluxe is the best no doubt. It still is not clear whether the Epox 8RDA+ keeps the PCI bus frequency at 33MHz when running at a 400MHz DDR FSB - important for a probable future 400MHz DDR FSB Barton Processor upgrade. As of now, the only AMD Athlon board I recommend is the Asus A7N8X Deluxe.

 

[Herkulese]

Still looking for more opinions here.

1) Is there any reason that I should consider the Pentium 4 platform over the Nforce2/AMD XP?
....a) If Pentium 4 is the best way to go, which MoBo should I use?
....b) If Nforce2/AMD XP is the best way to go, should I go with the ASUS A7N8X or the EPoX 8RDA+?
........b1) Shoud I use the onboard SoundStorm or and add on card?

 

[Vette73]

I like the nForce2 Abit board as it comes with a adapter to make a IDE drive work on the SATA. So you can have a burner and dvd drive on their own ports and put a hard drive on the SATA port.

But that is what I would get if I got one.

I am still running my Dual Athlon 760MPX system, so it will be a while before I upgrade, ala Dual HAmmer

 

[Atif]

Hello Herkulese,

The 8RDA+ is a very good choice, as it is very stable and offers most of the features of a full-fledged nForce2 motherboard minus the second LAN connector and optical out that some NF2 boards have.

I would recommend that you buy the 8RDA+ ($109) along with the ASUS (it uses the same connector, have no fear) SPDIF Bracket ($15) The bracket will give you the SPDIF input/output that you're looking for when recording. The 8RDA+ already supports SoundStorm, so the driver panel is ready to go with SPDIF input/output as soon as a header is attached to the Digital In/Out pins on the motherboard.

Have fun, and if you plan on upgrading to a 200MHz FSB in the future, be sure to update to the latest official BIOS.

Peace