Build your own custom DAW: A tutorial by AE

wow, way to take constructive criticism....
dont take it personally.

youre right, i should have thrown out more info than i did.
i was busy.
so, i just pointed out the bits i saw, and i addressed them.
im not wrong, so what are you mad about?

i guess you would be happier if some ignant kid came and read this and replied,
"yo that is the dopest advice! i just OCed my DAW to 27 Ghz!!"
all appreciative like.

and youd be like, "werd!", knowing that you steered him wrong?

grow up b|tch.
this thread is a great idea. i do agree with the sentiment of it, and it does have some good tips.
but if you cant handle someone chiming in with alternative opinions, get off the internet, let alone FP or this thread....

took you a month to catch my last post, and you think this thread is going to survive with you dominating it? this thread will need people like me to come in and add/edit/update info as it changes.

OCing a DAW is fukking retarded.

:)
 
Thread god has spoken.

god_farside.jpg


Peace
S II
 
wow, way to take constructive criticism....
dont take it personally.

youre right, i should have thrown out more info than i did.
i was busy.
so, i just pointed out the bits i saw, and i addressed them.
im not wrong, so what are you mad about?

i guess you would be happier if some ignant kid came and read this and replied,
"yo that is the dopest advice! i just OCed my DAW to 27 Ghz!!"
all appreciative like.

and youd be like, "werd!", knowing that you steered him wrong?

grow up b|tch.
this thread is a great idea. i do agree with the sentiment of it, and it does have some good tips.
but if you cant handle someone chiming in with alternative opinions, get off the internet, let alone FP or this thread....

took you a month to catch my last post, and you think this thread is going to survive with you dominating it? this thread will need people like me to come in and add/edit/update info as it changes.

OCing a DAW is fukking retarded.

:)


633553695829349661-mad.jpg
 
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Thats an awsome guide, i built my own PC, cost me £1450 BP . . thank god for finance aye :P

heres my specs

Processor - Intel® Core™i7 Processor i7-960 (3.20GHz) 4.8GTs/8MB Cache

RAM - 6GB DOMINATOR GT TRI-DDR3 2000MHz (8-8-8-24)

Motherboard - ASUS® P6T DELUXE V2: DDR3, 2-Way SLI & CrossFireX on Demand

O/S - Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit - inc DVD & Licence

USB - 8 x USB 2.0 PORTS (6 REAR + 2 FRONT) AS STANDARD

1st HD - 250GB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 8MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

2nd HD - 1TB SERIAL ATA 3-Gb/s HARD DRIVE WITH 16MB CACHE (7,200rpm)

DVD - 22x DUAL LAYER DVD WRITER ±R/±RW/RAM

Graphics Card - 1GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTS250 PCI EXPRESS

Soundcard - ONBOARD 8 CHANNEL (7.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD) . . . didnt do anything crazy with this because i have a Profire 610 as my soundcard

Card Reader - INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (READS XD, MS, CF, SD, etc)

Case - COOLERMASTER SILEO 500 QUIET MID TOWER CASE

Power Supply - 600W Quiet Quad Rail PSU + 120mm Case Fan

Processor Cooling - COOLERMASTER V8 EXTREME CPU COOLER - Experience the power of V8

Firewire - 1 x IEEE 1394a FIREWIRE PORT ONBOARD

Cost - £1477 inc VAT and Delivery.

I bought it from PcSpecialists. Its an online store based in UK that let you select all your own parts and they assemble and deliver it for you. This is my 1st computer that aint a brand name. Hope it all goes well.

Ill be paying £36.50 a month for this for 36 months (sigh) because i need a new PC now and i cant wait to save up almost £1500

CHYEA (dont forget all prices are in british pounds, so in dollars it will be like $2,000 or summin, im not sure really)
 
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nice!

i just ordered this, barebones:

Antec Sonata III
Intel Core i7 Processor 920 2.66GHz
Thermaltake V1 AX CPU Fan
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5
CORSAIR DDR3 1600 6GB (3 X 2GB) XMS Triple Ch

im putting in a tiny ssd drive for , and 4x750GB barracudas.
and i will prolly put another 6GB of corsair in it at some point...

zoom!
 
Yeh man thats sick. One thing i like about these PC's you build yourself is that if you ever wanna upgrade . . you can. Like a new faster processor comes out you just save up that paper and BAM, you got a fast ass PC. I didnt even know about building your own PC's until i came to site like this. SICK BRUV !
 
I have had a macalectomy...

I have a mac mini and have only ever really used windows systems that are containing no more than 1gb ram and loaded with freeware ****!

I am expecting to get laughed at but this is a serious question! If I build my own custom DAW like you guys have, using windows....Will it be as fast as a mac? If I keep it off the internet and only load legitimate programs on it? as in full version ableton, etc??

I want a system where I can leave it turned on all day every day and have only barebones loaded on it! Because It only has to fulfill one purpose and that is to be a DAW!

Going down this Custom DAW path is better than getting a 13" macbook?
 
If I build my own custom DAW like you guys have, using windows....Will it be as fast as a mac?

Depending on the components you use it will be even faster.

I want a system where I can leave it turned on all day every day and have only barebones loaded on it! Because It only has to fulfill one purpose and that is to be a DAW!

I sometimes have my Windows 7 machine on for days without a hiccup. And I use it for everything. It is my DAW, my multimedia center, my internet surfing, mail checking, chatting, graphic designing, video ripping, mp3 converting, script writing, Bluetooth sending/receiving,... everything(!) machine.

Going down this Custom DAW path is better than getting a 13" macbook?
Depends on who you ask. I'm a PC man, so I would say yes.
 
Can anyone recommend me specific parts for a totally stable daw?I'm running sonar 8, a tascam us 144 interface,and will most likely run windows 7 64 bit.
 
is it possible/inexpensive to have my g4 ppc turn into an intel processor. i got the ppc for a good price, but now some of the software i want only compatible with an intel processor
 
UPDATE

I wrote this in another thread. I think it's ok for a small update.

AE said:
Damn thats a lot of $$$. It's not a good time to put so much money in a new system because Intel will be releasing a brand new plattform in 2011 with new 6 core und 8 core CPU's. Don't know if you can wait that long.

I'll try to make this short...lol

AMD CPU's are not recommended for audio use because they are slow. In video games, video rendering etc. they are pretty quick and quite comparable to Intel but not in audio situations.

Benchmarks can be found here:
dawbenchdsp980.jpg

The picture basically shows different CPU's at different latencies. They basically load a music project in cubase and see how many Compressor plugins they can load until they get sound issues. As you can see Intel wins pretty much everywhere.

There are currenly two intel platforms out right now. Both plattforms will run out in 2011 and be replaced by LGA 1356 and LGA 2011 (Q3)

The LGA 1156 (mainstream plattform) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1156

The LGA 1366 (high end plattform) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_1366

Can't really say that one plattform is faster than the other one especially when the LGA 1156 was released a while later. It depends more on the CPU.

The only thing that sets apart the 1366 platform is the Triple Channel memory and the PCIe Crossfire und SLI support (if you're a hardcore gamer and you need to get 2 videocards). The 1156 platform has only dual channel memory. It's a little bit slower. At the same time the LGA 1156 came out some time after 1366 so it's more up to date.

If you compare a 1156 Platform with an Intel i7 860 and a 1366 platform with an intel i7 920 the cheaper mainstream plattform (1156) is even a lil bit faster:

ben-pcmark.jpg


But like you see there is not a big difference.

Now if you look at the memory benchmarks you see that the i7 920 on the LGA 1366 platform is faster:

ben-sisoft.jpg


Like I said before it's because the LGA 1366 platform uses triple channel RAM.

Before I forget it... Triple channel means that you should have 3 Ram sticks preferably each 2 GB = 6GB. LGA 1366 boards usually have 6 Ram slots so you could put in 6GB (3X 2GB) 12GB (6 X 2GB) or even 24GB (6X 4GB)

LGA 1156 only supports Dual channel so you have 4 Ram slots available: 4 GB (2X 2GB) or (4X 1GB), 8GB (4X 2GB) or 16GB (4X 4GB)

Keep in mind that you can only use more than 4GB of Ram on a 64 bit operating system.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I just updraded to a new system a week ago. I decided to get the LGA 1366 platform. Why ? Because for me it was much cheaper than a LGA 1156 system. There was this X58 mainboard from DFI that they were selling really cheap over here in europe and of course I got it.

Would I decide to get the LGA 1366 platform if it wasn't for that blow out deal ? NO !!!

- LGA 1156 is cheaper
- LGA 1156 is more up to date
- LGA 1156 and i7 860 CPU consumes less power
- LGA 1156 and i7 860 CPU doesn't get as hot as the 1366 i7 920
counterpart
- You can get 8GB of Ram for 200$ (6 GB on 1366). In other words
for 200 $ you get two 2 X 2 GB kits for the LGA 1156 or one 3X 2GB
kit for the LGA 1366.

I think I provided enough information. You have to decide what you like more.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Those components are valid for both systems:

Case
(of couse you can choose one you like...matter of taste...don't get a cheap one though)

Recommended brands: Antec, Xigmatek, Cooler Master, Thermaltake, Lian Li, Silverstone

Never get a case with a built in power supply unless it's an Antec. As far as I know only Antec puts high quality PSU's in their bundles. You should know that the PSU might be the most important part in your pc. Most people who complain about their coputer crashing a lot and get a mac are those who buy power supplys for 10 bucks. Apple knows this and puts high quality psu's in their macs. But it's recommended to buy the case and the psu separate.

Here are some cases I like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129062

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163135

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119150

If you decide to get a mini uATX board you could get some small stylish cases like:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163112

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112221

The big advantage of those are that they are not a heavy as those big cases. You can always take em with you or to your friends house to work on some music etc. I have a small uATX system in my living room...now not for music but a media center to watch movies etc.
But that doesn't say that they can#t be used as music machines.

+ that white Lian Li looks dope as hell if you ask me


v351a.jpg


Now enough with those cases..

PSU:

Recommended Brands: Seasonic, Enermax, Corsair, Antec, OCZ

For your build you usually don't need more than 400W...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7151074&cm_re=seasonic-_-17-151-074-_-Product (that's the one I got)

Hard Drives:

Recommended brands: Western Digital (never had problems with them)


1 TB WD Sample Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=western_digital_1tb-_-22-136-284-_-Product

1 TB WD Backup Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...re=western_digital_1tb-_-22-136-490-_-Product

Western digitals are available in 3 different colours / performance classes:

WD Black = High Peformance Drive
WD Blue = Mainstream Drive not as fast as WD Black
WD Green = Energy saving and reliable HDD. It's slower than Blue and
Black but great for backups because it doesn't spin at
full rpm and get too hot

SSD's

With a big budget like yours I would buy a SSD drive for the OS partition:

OCZ seems to have the best one out right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227528

Those drives are really fast because there are only memory chips inside and no mechanical parts or magnet disks spinning like in a conventianal hdd. Keep in mind that you only get 50 GB so you still have to put some conventianal hdd's in your pc.

DVD Drives:

LiteOn's are good

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

Could also get a blueray drive if needed (burning blueray discs, watching blueray movies etc.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106346

Might as well get rid of the WD Green backup HDD because you can burn up to 50 gigs to a Blueray Disc. It will be more expensve though.

Video Cards:

(wanna play some video games in your free time ?)

Gaming (good pefromance):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102878&cm_re=5830-_-14-102-878-_-Product

Gaming (average performance):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102901&cm_re=4850-_-14-102-901-_-Product

Thats the one I got. It's cheap and quite ok for some gamign here and there. I don't have that much time for video games anyway.

Non Gaming: (slow performance)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102877

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814134112

The only advantage of those are that they're silent. Otherwise they're too slow.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Now for the real important parts:

LGA 1366:

Mainboard ATX $199
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

Mainboard uATX (for small uATX cases) $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136066&cm_re=dfi-_-13-136-066-_-Product

The DFI is the one I got. I've put it in a big ATX case though. Like I said before it was really cheap and I didn't really care. Normally you buy the board that fits to your case. Doesn't make sense putting an uATX motherboard in an ATX case because you loose expension slots. But in 90% of all cases you don't need them anyway.

Memory: 185$ or $170

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231254

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145236

Need to pay attention to the big RAM coolers on the Trident because it might not fit in your case or it blocks the CPU cooler. Corsair is slower but it should fit in every case.

CPU: $290

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115225&cm_re=i7_930-_-19-115-225-_-Product

The i7 920 seems to be not available on newegg. If there's a 10-20 $ price difference between them I would get the 930.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

LGA 1156:

Motherboard:

ATX: $125

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128437

uATX: $95

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131623

(video card may block one PCI slot)

Memory: $200

2X http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

CPU: $289

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115214&cm_re=i7_860-_-19-115-214-_-Product

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Will make some edits to this post later...tired right now.

Hope I could help. I will also post this as an update to my "Build your own custom DAW" thread

I must say I'm in a good "help and teach" mood today lol :bat:

Edit: Newegg should pay me $$$$$$ for that promo lol

If anyone got any questions or needs help hit me up on twitter @AndreyAE
:cheers:
 
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Good job. Yo, you got a good recommendation for an HD TV Tuner card?
I need to move into the "Digital Age" now. I might consider the 1156 In the near future since I do actually enjoy the build but I have to examine the cost compared to the money coming in from work. If I don't decide to get it, I may decide to get a pre-built system such as: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=6470739&CatId=5138 and upgrade it.
Peace
S II
 
I have a question about this. Do you suggest two LCD screens, side by side, so that screen details are larger and easier to fine tune in programs?
 
i would update this OP and put some AMD love in there, they have 3x cores under $90 dollars and 4x cores under $150
 
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