Which Processor/Chipset for Pro-Audio Workstaion?

[Jules48]

I'm really in need of some help here. I just replaced my PIII Asus P2B-DS system with a Socket A 1GHz Athlon and all the bits. Problem is, pro-audio work is very heavy on the PCI bus (hundreds of channels of audio in and out) and my audio hardware (Creamware's Scope system) is struggling with the PCi bus on the new system. So much so that I get PCI overflow errors all the time and the manufacturer has now stopped recommending VIA KT133 based systems for use with it's products.

Luckilly my OEM is being cool and has offered to rebuild me a new system. What I need to know is this:
Is PCI bus performance on the new AMD 760 chipset likely to be improved over the KT133?
Alternatively, would I be better to go for a P4 system if this is the prime consideration?
I basically need a high end system with the best possible PCI bus performance. Cureently the audio hardware manufacturer is recommending BX and 815 based systems as least problematic, but there are issues with these platforms (like limited RAM support etc.) which make them less suitable for my needs.

Any technical advice on this issue would be enormously appreciated. I know there are lots of people here who know much more than I do about these things and I'm really ineed of some guidance.

Thanks

Jules

 

[xtreme2k]

if Stability is critical
go BX with Dual P3/850
you will not get super high speed but you will have acceptable performance
BX supports more than 1G of ram so ram shouldnt be limited by the BX

the AMD760 and P4 might be a good solution, but then you will have to wait for quite a while

 

[Stealth1024]

sounds like you need an AGP sound card. now there's something new...

 

[toph99]

what about a 64-bit PCI soundcard?

 

[Jules48]

Unfortuntely the audio hardware I already have cost more than any PC is likely to cost me so that part of the equation's fixed.

I take the point on a dual PIII BX system, but my audio front end (Logic Audio) still only runs under Win98, so two processors are no good to me and one PIII800 is not quite the leap in performance from my PIII500 I need. Also, I'm disinclined to put a lot of money into a PIII system at the moment as I see no upgradability in the future.

Which means I'm back to P4/I850 or Athlon/AMD760 and waiting (my OEM seems to think he can ship either system inside a month). So what I really need to know now is whether (from the information avaialble) these systems should provide better PCI bus performance than the VIA KT133. I know this is like trying to predict the future but I know some information on these technologies is out there and just figured maybe somebody who knows more than me might have a view.

Thanks for the advice so far.

Jules

 

[Stealth1024]

If you would, please post a link to the site with the specs on this sound card/system you have.

 

[Jules48]

www.creamware.com - the Scope SP system on the main page, although the PCI bus problems in question also affects all of Creamware's other products as they use the same DSP technology (Motorola SHARC chips).

Jules

 

[Beatnik]

You using SCSI disks? I hate to say it, but IDE is bad juju. In terms of raw perf, yeah whatever. But for CPU loading and BUS loading, I think SCSI is a better choice for your app.

 

[Jules48]

Fair point - I ditched SCSI because I could get all ATA100 which is just as fast and the drives are so much cheaper. Are you saying this is using more PCI bus bandwidth than SCSI drives would?

 

[Beatnik]

Um er well (waving hands vigorously) I think it is really more of a CPU% and number of interrupts, and sequential v. assymetric kind of a thing.

With a SCSI setup, I think you would have gotten a much lower CPU loading, and few interrupts against your CPU. I've seen boards with onboard U100 (ASUS CUSL2) do things like 18%CPU on a single disk. Can't be good.

Just a thought. I know a lot of audio people are shifting to IDE, but then many of them use NT4... You might check some of the SEKD newsgroups. Some smart audio folks seem to hang out there. Go to the SEKD website, and find the newsgroup link there.

 

[RSM]

Unfortunately I would have to say go for the pentium thing.I build DAWs for a living and would love to see someone muscle intel out of this area,but the athalon/kx thing just has too many issues.If you want to save a few bucks in the mean time maybe a 700 clocked to 933 etc?I have gotten pretty good results with these as long as you follow one rule.NEVER RUN NON STANDARD BUS SPEEDS! stay at 100 or 133 whatever you do.Anything in between with throw your midi/audio timing right out the window!If you need more in depth help you can mail me.Don't worry-no sales pitch!

 

[Stealth1024]

Awesome! Will that setup work for live sound reinforcement or only recording/processing/studio work?

How much does that package cost?

 

[Jules48]

No reason why it shouldn't work for live use, I know some people using it for live recording and I think I recall one or two mentioning using it for theatrical productions. Needless to say it's designed and orientated primarily at studio recording/mixing and post production, but I guess that needn't limit it's applications.

Prices aren't cheap. Pulsar II(which is the mid range 'virtual studio' packeage) comes in around $1000 I think, and then Scope Packages (the hi-end stuff) start around $2500. It's a great system because you can just add more DSP cards as your requirements dictate.

Still gotta sort this PCI bus problem out though, or start with a I815 or BX system.

 

[Stealth1024]

Didn't want to distract you Jules48. When you have a chance... will this software let you create sound cues that you can execute? and... How difficult is this to use in real time with your mouse?

 

[Jules48]

Hi Stealth. It's not sequencing software in it's own right. It's effectively intended to be used either as a 'virtual' studio offering mixing, FX, sampling and a variety of synths (virtual analogue, modular, FM etc.) all powered from it's on-board DSPs, or as a front end for DAW software like Cubase, Nuendo, Logic etc., or a combination of the two.

You'd have to describe the application you have in mind in more detail (mail me off-list - here) and I'll try and suggest how/if it might work.

Jules