So, I've kind of fallen behind in what's going on in hardware lately. My computer's due for an upgrade, I'm having trouble running my samplers and synths all at the same time, because my CPU keeps giving out. (Barton 2500+).

So, I don't know anything (or almost) about dual-channel RAM, the new dual-core processors and all of that hooplah.

I have a budget of about $1700 US, and I'm looking to build one hell of a tower for audio applications. My priorities are massive amounts of RAM and CPU speed particularly. I need power for my audio apps.

I'm not sure which parts I should move from my current computer to my new one. I already have a 12x DVD-RW (not dual-layer, but I don't really need DL), a 200gb ATA133 hard drive (whenever Maxtor sends it back ), and my Radeon 9600xt. I don't really do much gaming, and my 9600xt is enough for what I play now, so I don't think I'm going to bother upgrading it.

Any help, especially any info about dual-channel RAM and dual-core A64's would be appreciated.

Thanks!

The greatest advice I can give anyone is to use the forums posts like these were intended for.

If your audio application supports multiple processors or anything of that sort, where it uses multiple threads, then a dual core CPU would serve you well. Otherwise, you could probably stick with an AMD FX CPU.

As for ram, you'll probably want to go with 2 sticks of 1GB RAM, PC3200. That's a total of 2GB RAM, which should serve you quite well both now and in the future.

You'll probably want the NForce4 chipset, which is stable as a rock, and damn fast. If you don't need serious graphics power, you can go with just the NF4 Ultra chipset, which does not have SLI support. DFI and Asus both make great NF4 chipset motherboards.

The biggest issue will be your graphics card. Finding a mobo that supports AGP, which your current video card is, will be damn near impossible. You'll be forced to get the NForce3 chipset instead, as no NF4 chipset supports AGP. And MAKE SURE that the NF3 chipset motherboard supports whatever CPU you chose, because they are quite rare.

[QUOTE=Cool Matty]If your audio application supports multiple processors or anything of that sort, where it uses multiple threads, then a dual core CPU would serve you well. Otherwise, you could probably stick with an AMD FX CPU.[/quote]

Yeah, I forgot to mention that my audio app supports multi-threading.



Sounds about right. I have 1 GB right now and sometimes things get a little tight.



Ah crap, I hadn't thought of that. I guess I'll replace my GFX card then, no use in upgrading a system and keeping it back with an older bus.

Thanks a lot, CM, I'll start checking out some NF4 mobo's. Probably ASUS. I love ASUS.

Spending $1700 on a computer and getting a NF3 chipset are two things that don't go together. I don't believe you'd be able to spend that much on computer and not fit in a decent PCI-E video card. You can get a good motherboard with the NF4 for about $115, the Athlon X2 Toledo Core 4400+ for $525, 2x1GB pair of RAM for about $265, and an ATI X700Pro for about $120. Now, you're sitting just over a grand, you already have an optical drive, and probably a hard drive. The only thing that's left is a good power supply and case.

Hmm... Yeah I guess you're right about that.

Here's what I've got so far:

Antec SonataII case
Athlon X2 3800+ Manchester core
Asus A8N-Sli
Asus Geforce 7800gt
2GB OCZ DDR400

With taxes it will fall into my budget.

Any suggestions and any other tips are always welcome.

If games aren't your big thing, tone down the graphics card and get a better CPU. With your audio apps it'll benefit you much more.

Actually, it dawned upon me that I used to play a lot of games, back when I had the hard disk space to install them. :p

Once I get my 200gb back, I can't wait to get back into GTA:SA and CSS again. And Serious Sam. OMG.

Looks good to me.

Spend the extra money on the Premium version of your motherboard as opposed to the Deluxe, the fan on the Deluxe is really loud.

Actually I was looking at just the basic A8N-SLI, not the Deluxe, or the Premium.

Other than the fan (on the chipset I assume?), is there any other signicant reason to consider changing?

No, if you were going to go with the plain A8N-SLI, then stick with that and save your money. The only difference between yours and the Deluxe is the extra SATA RAID I believe, and the only difference between the Deluxe and the Premium is the silent operation and BIOS based PCI-E selector card. You probably won't notice the fan noise if you're using that particular case.

As far as the memory goes, is this the OCZ you picked?

No, this would be it. Simply because my local store doesn't seem to sell the platinum kit. :\

Hey, as far as the motherboard goes, the Asus A8N-SLI is great, however, I think a bit overpriced.

I would recommend the MSI K8N Neo4 SLI (Link Here) . It's got more features, kick-*** onboard sound, and right now, only 125 dollars retail, and 99.00 with the 25 dollar rebate.

My old Asus A8N died after a bad northbridge fan (which your Asus board may have depending on when it was manufactured, and Asus knows this too). They prefer to let it annoy you first, and then you pay them for a replacement.

So yeah, I would recommend the MSI. (That link is actually the platinum version, even though it doesn't say it).

Here they're the same price. :\

However, I'll check out the difference in features. And I definitely don't feel like living the same experience you did. Thanks, I'll definitely consider switching mobo's.

Edit: I found the Platinum here - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130487 - not the same price

The only difference that one has against the the regular SLI is that the SLI doesn't have a 2nd LAN. Otherwise, they are the exact same. Hell, mine even shows up as the Platinum in all software, and even in the boot-up logo. Save yourself the 40 dollars, unless you really need dual LAN.

Thanks buck, I'll save myself the bucks and go for the MSI. I don't need dual LAN (I don't even need ONE). I'll just make I get one that's "X2" ready (they're identified with a sticker, whereas the older ones aren't and need a BIOS flash).

Uhh... i think you left out a sound card (on boards suck).

The creative X-fi is the best you can get without a doubt. They have modules designed specifically for audio encoding. You might wanna take a look at that. This is from memory, so correct me if im wrong- The X-fi got a processor equivelent to a p4 3 ghz cpu, and the sound quality is soemthing we never seen before on computers. Im talking about movie quality sounds. People say that it makes games worth playing all over again just because the sounds are THAT much better. Not to mention, they totally improved the sound quality for headphones. You get a much more 'surround' sound experience.

Anyway, you should head over to [url]www.creative.com[/url] to check it out.

Thanks dude, but I already have a sound card.

I had an Audigy 2ZS Platinum Pro until I sold it off this summer. Onboard sucks, but I don't need anything fancy, since I'm already well equiped for just about anything.

I use the interface I linked to for recording and playback, mixing, etc. I use my currect onboard nForce2 sound for gaming and multimedia. It gets the job done. Maybe eventually I can look at an upgrade, but for now, I don't really need another fancy sound card.

The onboard on the MSI does not suck. It's the best thing since Soundstorm (any of you remember that!?)

It's an onboard Creative Sound Blaster Live 24-bit. It's great, with Coax and Optical connections. However, if you have a better sound card, feel free to use it (which I will assume you are doing with that beast you have)

Well that monster of a sound card is only good for recording purposes. It can't really be used for gaming or general multimedia. I can plug the SB Live's Coax output into my MOTU unit, and have everything play over my studio speakers. <3

Now you need to build an 8.2 surronds sound set up. Duel 15-in subs, 8x 4-inch mids, and 2x 1 inch-tweeters. That would own.

4-inch woofers suck.

8-inch all the way, baby.

Sound quality never seen before on computers? ROFL. The X-Fi is total hype.


It's an SB Live, how can it not suck? Soundstorm is the digital part by the way, the analog outputs on those boards were total crap.

SB Live's suck, but not nearly as badly as onboard Realtek sound. :p

Yes, and that's what the analog part of Soundstorm was. Soundstorm is strictly the digital part actually, it has nothing to do with analog.

I said a 15 in woofer. The mids are 4 inches.

You said sub-woofer. :p

Um, no...

Why the hell would you want woofers in the subs anyways? Woofers by definition are for full-range sound (bass, mids and trebles).

Sub-woofer speakers offer a more defined bass than a woofer does. Your idea would be like putting PA speakers in a sub-speaker cab.

FOLLOW YOUR HEART, FRENCHY

Good lord he's building a computer not setting up an amphitheater.

As to the topic, I don't really like MSIs myself, but I suppose they're OK. I think the biggest issue is to make sure that the motherboard has a late enough BIOS already installed that will support the X2s.

Come back when you know what you're talking about.

Yeah, if I get to the store and they don't have one marked with an X2 sticker, then I'll probably go for the Asus.

Microbytes has several stores in Montreal though. I could call around and try and find one.