Audio Editing/Recording PC Build

L

lpg8248

New Member
Hey, I've been researching computers for a while now because I do some recording on my laptop (dell inspiron 1520) and it's not exactly equipped to handle the needs of audio editing/recording. I just posted the setup that I've been looking at on the recording forum I normally hang out at but I figured I should also check with some more computer savvy people for thoughts and questions about it.

Most of the recording guys on the forum have built computers in the price range of $1500-$2000. I basically researched a system that one of those guys had and ended up with almost the same thing.

I'm pretty sure I've got all compatible parts but I've never built a computer before so I'm not familiar with the terrain. If anyone has any recommendations for somewhere that can assemble the computer for me, it would be greatly appreciated. That's the route I'd like to go but I'm not completely opposed to building it myself.

Ok, here's what I've spec'd so far. Let me know if you see anything that's not compatible or something.


Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

CPU:
Intel Core i7-930
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225

Memory:
GeIL Black Dragon 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-pin DDR3 SDRAM 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144449

Hard Drive:
2 x Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

Graphics Card:
ASUS ENGT240 Silent
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121369&Tpk=asus engt240 silent

Power Supply:
Nexus 630W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817610006

Case:
Antec Sonata Elite Black ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129057

DVD Writer:
LITE-ON 24x DVD Writer Black SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

Dual Monitors:
HP 2210m Black 21.5” 2.5ms Widescreen Full HD LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176158

Hanns G HC194D 19” LCD Monitor (I already own this)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254004

Plus a usb keyboard, usb mouse and windows 7. I had read that ram faster than 1333 wouldn't always work well with the i7's, otherwise I would have gone higher. One of the big things to think about with audio recording computers is how quiet they are since you don't want a roar of fans going on in the background of an acoustic guitar fingerpicked part. So, that's why I went with the fanless graphics card. I just need a graphics card powerful enough to handle dual monitors really.

Most of the setups I've seen on the recording forum have a hard drive for the OS and other files and one for all audio samples and recording files. I have a vague understanding of why this is the way to go. Hopefully those guys can fill me in on that, but if anyone here knows why you'd want to do this I'm all ears! Also, how much does the cache size matter? I've got the 64MB on my list since it's not much more expensive than the 32MB ones really.

Also, would I need a fan for the inside or is the case fan enough?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
 
You could stick with Antec's stock fan (which is pretty decent), but if you really want a good fan then I would go with Noctua NF-S12 (1200 rpm one). They're expensive, but they're probably the best quiet fans available.
http://www.amazon.com/NF-S12B-ULN-Setting-Beveled-Bearing/dp/B002CQU136

I would also go with an aftermarket heatsink as they can be much quieter. Personally i would take a look at this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835242001
along with a Noctua NF-P12 fan.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608004


Everything else seems fine. If you get those items above you're going to have one heck of a quiet machine.
 
Those look like do-able upgrades for me. Not too expensive. Before I spec'd it all out, I guessed I'd have $2000 for parts so I feel like I have some wiggle room since I ended up with $1500 for parts.
 
lpg8248 said:
Thanks for the response!



Is the heatsink you're talking about for the cpu? And would one come with my cpu? (I'm guessing yes since you're talking about an aftermarket one...)
Click to expand...

Yes that one is for the CPU. The one that comes with the CPU is usually a lot smaller and has a faster spinning fan, thus generating more noise. The one I listed it one of the best CPU coolers for low rpm fans. It'll probably cool better than the stock cooler too.

The case you chose is also great for dampening sound. The Antec P182 is a bit better in that department but also is a lot bigger and heavier.
 
I was reading some reviews for that heat sink and it looks great. The only possible problem is it's size. However, most people who had trouble fitting it just had to remove their case side fan and my case doesn't have a side fan so I'm guessing it should be ok? Is there a way I can figure out if it will fit based on the dimensions of the case and components? I guess I could just send it back if it doesn't fit...
 
I've got one more question. I've read so many different things about how Intel said that memory voltages above 1.65v can damage your i7 yet people run memory with i7's at higher voltages. Also Intel says on their website that the highest memory speed supported is 1066 while other places say 1333 and I've read that people have had problems with their i7's recognizing ram at speeds higher than 1333 but alot of people are using 1600 ram with their i7's. So, I'm just kinda confused in that area. I'd like 1600 ram if it will work with the i7.

The GeIL memory I had picked out is 1333 with a 6 cas latency with a voltage of "1.6/1.65v". They have one with a 7 cas latency that is 1.5v. Does the cas latency matter much?
 
You mentioned a system for audio work, what kind of sound card are you getting? I wouldn't suggest relying on any onboard audio, it just lacks and your recordings will come out better with one. Also about memory, check specs of your motherboard and it should list all memory speeds supported, as well as what speed it can run. Most of them say something like 1033/1333, and some will say 1866+. The motherboard by default will run on the first two speeds, but must be overclocked in order to run 1866 rated memory.
 
lpg8248 said:
I was reading some reviews for that heat sink and it looks great. The only possible problem is it's size. However, most people who had trouble fitting it just had to remove their case side fan and my case doesn't have a side fan so I'm guessing it should be ok? Is there a way I can figure out if it will fit based on the dimensions of the case and components? I guess I could just send it back if it doesn't fit...
Click to expand...

It'll most likely fit. You can take a look at the height of the heatsink, add about an inch for the motherboard/mount, and compare it to the width of the case. The Sonata Elite is a pretty wide case so I doubt you'd be any trouble fitting it in.

Russ88765 said:
You mentioned a system for audio work, what kind of sound card are you getting? I wouldn't suggest relying on any onboard audio, it just lacks and your recordings will come out better with one
Click to expand...

He's probably running some external device, most people who are serious about audio work do that.
 
Thanks for all the replies!

diduknowthat said:
He's probably running some external device, most people who are serious about audio work do that.
Click to expand...

Indeed I am. Right now it's a Lexicon Lambda but I'll probably upgrade at some point down the road when I want to be able to record more inputs at once. Since I'm just recording myself and overdubbing, I really only need one input and the Lambda has 2 so I can still do stereo tracking. Eventually I'll get an audio interface with more inputs so I can mic and record my drum set among other things. Mine's a usb 2.0 interface. Firewire is also popular. It's gonna be nice when usb 3.0 becomes a standard for audio interfaces. I guess it'll probably be a little while though...
 
Tried to reply yesterday but had no internet...and java phones have terrible browsers. :(

I would suggest a couple of things:

1- Change the graphics card to a current-gen card. A Radeon 5570 or 5670 should do fine. They're around the same price as the GT240 you picked, but are much more powerful and also available as silent models. Newer cards support newer versions of GPGPU technologies, which are becoming more and more common across all forms of media editing. Even if the base software doesn't support it, some of the plugins probably do. Most of the ATI 5xxx series also supports three monitors, which can also be useful in a DAW.

This sapphire 5670 would be great:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102902


2- Consider a RAID 1 array for the data hard drive. You'd have to buy two(or more) drives, since they mirror each other, but this means that one of them can fail and you'll still keep your data. On a single drive, you just lose the data.
 
Do you know if that Sapphire card gets hotter than the Asus since it's faster?

Is the RAID 1 array something I could upgrade to easily in the future?
 
lpg8248 said:
Do you know if that Sapphire card gets hotter than the Asus since it's faster?

Is the RAID 1 array something I could upgrade to easily in the future?
Click to expand...

The new 5 series actually produces less heat than the 4 series, so I wouldn't worry about it that much.

As for RAID 1, you'll just have to buy an identical drive and set it up. I'm not sure whether you can create a RAID 1 series without reformatting though.
 
lpg8248 said:
Ok, cool. Also, my motherboard says "DDR3 2200/1333/1066/800" for the memory. So if I get:

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145236

I'm guessing it should be fine even though it's 1600 and my motherboard doesn't explicitly state 1600 in the list?
Click to expand...

I am sure it will work, however, I believe the memory will be used as 1333 Mhz ram unless there was overclocking involvled.

Please correct me if I am mistaken.
 
The 5670 uses less power (and thus makes less heat) than the GT240...no worries there.

If I remember right, on many controllers, you can create a RAID 1 array from an existing drive without losing data as long as you set it as the primary, or something like that. I've never actually done it myself but I've read about the process.

That RAM will be fine. You do have to "overclock" it, but that's because it runs lower than its rated speed by default. So technically, it's underclocked when you first install it and you just have to fix it.


edit: Also, does anyone know anything about that PSU? It seems to benchmark well in reviews, but I don't know the brand...
 
Last edited:
Yea, what I read about the ram with my motherboard and i7 is that it will be defaulted to 1066 because that's the highest intel specifies for the i7. The ram supports Intels Extreme Memory Profiles so basically you don't have to manually overclock it, there is an xmp you just switch it to and it will run at it's native 1600. So it's not really overclocking anyway. That's just what I can tell from what I've read about it today.

I've swapped out the video cards in my cart now. =) Thanks for the suggestion!

I also found this fan speed controller that would be convenient...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811998065
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top