Upgrade for a music production computer.

[oynaz]

I need to upgrade my music production computer. AMD 3000+ just doesn't cut it anymore 🙂

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.

Music production in Cubase 5.1 (perhaps 6 later) and Reason 5 (perhaps 6 later)
Music production is quite special, as real-time performance is critical, but at the same time the software is very good at making use of mutiple cores.
Also, a quiet computer is very important.
I will also use it for light and occasional gaming.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread

2500-3000 DKK. About $500-$600, but Danish prices are ~33% higher

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.

Denmark, unless there are huge savings in another EU country.

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.

Nope

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.

Case
PSU (430W, good qaulity, Enermax, I believe)
2 PATA HDDs (I might drop one - it is only 80 GB)
1 PATA DVD writer
Sound card - MAudio Delta 44
Mouse, keyboard and 32" TV
6600GT with a huge cooler, making it virtually silent.

So, I just need CPU, RAM, mobo, and perhaps video card if it makes sense. I will probably add a HDD later.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

Yes, and I am quite experienced with computers.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.

Probably default speeds.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.

Probably 1280x1024

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?

Christmas. I am checking out the parts here, so I can put them on my Christmas wish list 🙂

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.

I am married.

 

[Zap]

GeForce 6600 GT? May as well use integrated graphics. Ditch the old graphics card and drives, since most new motherboards no longer support IDE.

Core i5-2500K (for the HD 3000 graphics) $220
budget Z68 chipset motherboard (ASRock?) $110
budget DDR3-1333 1.5v 8GB kit $40
SATA DVD writer $20
SATA HDD $60

Uh, yeah, you'll need new drives. I've listed rough USD pricing. Total would be around $450.

 

[oynaz]

More or less what I thought, but what about AMD's Bulldozer? Would that be better than the i5?

 

[mfenn]

More or less what I thought, but what about AMD's Bulldozer? Would that be better than the i5?

No, it wouldn't. The chip that is closest to being equivalent to the i5 2500K's performance costs more and runs hotter (that means louder).

 

[mfenn]

GeForce 6600 GT? May as well use integrated graphics. Ditch the old graphics card and drives, since most new motherboards no longer support IDE.

Core i5-2500K (for the HD 3000 graphics) $220
budget Z68 chipset motherboard (ASRock?) $110
budget DDR3-1333 1.5v 8GB kit $40
SATA DVD writer $20
SATA HDD $60

Uh, yeah, you'll need new drives. I've listed rough USD pricing. Total would be around $450.

:thumbsup: Looks good to me.

 

[Arglebargle]

Last time I checked (though a couple of months ago) the new socket 1155 intel motherboards were incredibly inconsistent for serious audio work. This inconsistency was found across different bios for the same MB as well as across different MBs made by the same manufacturers. You really need to look very carefully at the exact set up of the individual MB before buying. Stability is not nearly as important for gaming, and those things aren't tested as rigorously as needed for pro audio implementations.

I'd go to Sound On Sound's forums, and see what the recent recommendations are.

I use Cubase as well, but I am still back on a socket 775 system, so I don't have new and useful experiances in upgrading.