Compatible Specs? (self build music and CS5 computer)

M

M.T.Pilot

New Member
I'm looking to build a computer to be used for both music and video production (CS5). I came up with this one. I think I've been careful in taking into account compatibility-issues. I just like to be sure. What do you think?

Case:
* Cooler Master RC-692-KKN2 CM690 II Advanced ATX Mid-Tower Case - ATX, 7+1 Expansion Slots, USB 2.0, Front blue LED fan w/ SSD adapter & built-in hard drive dock.
* http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...1&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart
* $99.99

MoBo:
* Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R (Socket 1366, ATX)
*http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5648696&CatId=4068
*$199.99

PCU:
* Intel Core i7 960 Processor BX80601960
* http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5765907&CatId=4072
*$289.99

Memory:
* Kingston KHX1600C9D3T1BK3/12GX HyperX T1 Desktop Memory Kit - 12GB (3x 4GB), PC3-12800, DDR3-1600MHz, 9-9-9-27 CAS Latency, Unbuffered, Non-ECC, Intel XMP Ready
*http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=40719&CatId=4534
*$99.97

Graphics Card:
* EVGA 01G-P3-1556-KR GeForce GTX 550 Ti Video Card - 1GB, GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0 (x16), Mini-HDMI, Dual DVI, DirectX 11, Dual-Slot, SLI Ready
* http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=41125&csid=_21
*$129.99

OS HD
* Western Digital WD1002FAEX 1TB Caviar Black Hard Drive - 1TB, 7200RPM, 64MB, SATA 6Gbs
*http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...1&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart
*$79.99

Data HD
(see OS HD)
*$79.99

OS
*Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64BIT Operating System Software - OEM DVD, English
*http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5213932&CatId=306
*$99.99

Additionally, I’ll be installing an (old) M-Audio 2496 soundcard (PCI), one (old) 250 GB HD (SATA), one (old) 250 GB HD (SATA) as an external HD, an old DVD-player and a new ANTEC EarthWatts 750W PSU which I already have.

(total without shipping costs, etc.: $1160.. damn... :( )
 
No! there is no reason to use the first generation core i series when sandy bridge is available and much better. Consider using the i5 2500 or i7 2600.
 
I'm worried about using the newest gen. i3-i7 processors... I read there were big troubles with the sockets on the mobos for these processors..
 
Those aren't an issue anymore. There was a recall on the motherboards when they came out, but that's been fixed. Everyone else will recommend the second gen as well.
 
M.T.Pilot said:
I'm worried about using the newest gen. i3-i7 processors... I read there were big troubles with the sockets on the mobos for these processors..
Click to expand...

Was nothing wrong with the socket. The chipsets SATA 6Gb/s ports would die out/slow down after awhile. Been fixed now with a new rev. of the chipset.
 
there was a problem with the old revisions, but the problems have all been solved. im using one of the boards that would have had the problem, but with revision 3.0 i haven't noticed any problems.
 
Ah, okay, thanks!

So, I just have to make sure I get a mobo rev 3.0 to go with the sandy-bridge processor...

And that means I'll have to start allover again with my research into compatible specs :D

Suggestions are welcome!
(I'm thinking a Gigabyte Mobo and I need the computer to be as low on wattage usage as possible [while still being able to use the computer for music production and CS5], because I'm on a solar power system only. I'm not planning on overclocking. Another thing: the mobo needs to have an old PCI-slot for my m-audio 2496 soundcard).
 
really all you need to do is find a nice lga1155 mobo with a i5-2500k, benefits of i7 is next to none and not worth the extra 100 bucks, then either drop to 8b's, which is plenty, or you'll be going at single channel, or go to 16gb's and then it's back to dual channel i think.
 
Just to keep RAM-upgrading options open, I was looking for Gigabyte mobos (lga1155) with 6 RAM-slots... and haven't found them so far...

Also: P67 or Z68?
 
p67 and z68 are both great, i think i was told z68 use ssd's in a way that made them perform better than the others did, and i don't think there are any six slots, i'll add in the conclusion to that search in a sec.

ended up at closer to a min, dang, but only 1 1156 and 49 1366 have 6 or 12 slots on newegg, which makes some sense from what i know, and don't feel like writing as i have a headache from trying to write was i was thinking on another forum and ended up with a migrain from adhd and trying to concentrate on 1 thing while thinking about 20 other things, it hurts so much, and music in the back ground doesn't help but i hate the quiet.
 
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I read about some issues of the Z68, mostly booting problems:

Gigabyte never mentioned while both sata 3 port under the Z68 chipset is used, the 1st pci-e slot decreases speed from x16 to x4 when using 1 video card.
Click to expand...

My board suffered from the cold boot loop issue for 12 days, after which it became an endless loop and wouldn't even post. Google "gigabyte z68 boot loop". Eventually a BIOS update will probably fix it, but in my case the board didn't last long enough to find out. So if your board exhibits this issue from the start and the latest BIOS doesn't solve it, I'd just return it.
Click to expand...

About the GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4-B3 LGA 1155: "DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT upgrade to BIOS version F8. It will cause random reboots while the computer is powering on and starting up windows. F7 works like a charm."
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Every once in awhile it will stop during POST, no error message or anything, just kind of pauses, a quick ctrl+alt+delete clears that up right away though. Not sure if this is because of any hardware problems in my system or not, once I'm booted into Windows everything is as stable as can be.
Click to expand...

Had to RMA my GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD4-B3 board, anything other then default bios settings this thing would be unstable. I worked with this board for two days and finally threw in the towel. I bought this board an Intel i5 2500k and 8 gigs 2x4 of ddr3 Corsair 1600 Vengeance ram. This board would not let me run my ram at 1600 it would become unstable failed boot ups, locks in windows and constant reboots also tried to over-clock any change in bios it would become unstable.
Click to expand...

:(
 
What programs will you be using? You don't need that powerful of a graphics card, I think, with most editing purposes. You only really need that much power for gaming.
 
claptonman said:
What programs will you be using? You don't need that powerful of a graphics card, I think, with most editing purposes. You only really need that much power for gaming.
Click to expand...

I'll be using CS5 (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, etc.. plus plug-ins). What graphics card would you suggest?

(I won't be using the computer for gaming, only music and video production)
 
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Well, I only saw the name, so I figured a 550 would be expensive, but $130 is a nice price. I'm not sure that you even need that powerful of one, but again, not sure. Any other members can back that up?
 
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