Audio Studio/Editing Build ---- Core i7 ---- Under $1350.....$25 to the best build!!

[ChiSox]

I have a buyer that does audio producing and wants to buy top of the line....

He has a $1500 budget & i need to make something out of the deal, So try and stay under $1350

His current system is P4 w/ 1gb and is running out of resources.

He came to with i7 in mind before I even talked to him, so convincing him that a C2D will do, isn't gonna work. He wants to "future proof".

Software he uses is Acid & Pro Tools.

Needs a high end sound card, low end/who cares about graphics he says.

Air cooling only.

Wants XP & 6gb of ram, so 64 bit.....lalallaaland but whatever.

I'll pay $25 to whomever comes up with the most solid build fitting the budget.

Thread will end sometime before August 10th. Whichever build I use will recieve $25

No Mail-in Rebates/Shipping to 86314

CHECKLIST
i7 CPU
MOBO
RAM
SSD or Something Fast RAID? - Size at least 64gb
24 Bit Sound Card - is pci-e best?
PSU - remember graphics power is minimal
CASE
Low End GPU
Heatsink
Fans(2or3)
OS-XP64

Also Suggestions on RAID setups

THX FOR THE HELP ON ADVANCE!

 

[n-ster]

Except for sound cards, I can help you alot... I'll build up a system and then post it and then do some research on sound cards... For HDs, I suggest 2 OCZ 32gb Vertex in RAID 0 and 1 640gb WD Black or 1 TB one...

Sucks... there's no Microcenters in Arizona... Do you or anyone you know work in a Best Buy, Walmart, or anything that sells computer or computer stuff?

How much Overclocking will be done? are you looking for a 3, 3.6, 3.8, 4 or 4.2+ ghz OC?

Will he ever game on this? Will onboard do?

I guess you also want an optical drive... DVD or Blu-ray also?

No Monitor? If he has one, what res / size is it? We could probably through in one if he needs one

But anyways, I have a good idea on what I'm gonna offer you...

 

[freaksavior]

Ohh, i love these threads

I'll have one for you in a few

Does he want to oc it? if its all for audio i would say no tbh

 

[tcorbyn]

- i7 920 "D0" (if you get offered a cheap "C0" then take it)
- Akasa nero CPU cooler
- Gigabyte X58 UD3
- 6GB XMS3 1333Mhz
- 512MB GTS 250
- Hitachi Deskstar 1TB
- Samsung 64GB SSD (OS Drive)
- Pioneer 216DBK DVD-DL
- Antec 300
- Asus Xonar D2X 7.1 PCI-Express Sound Card
- OCZ StealthXStream 700w

Thats the best possible combo for what you asked for.

If you get the "D0" CPU then I would expect a 4GHZ stable overclock (at least). With a "C0" you might get to 4GHZ but I woundlt bet on it, 3.8~3.9GHZ is more likely. My CPU is a "D0" 920 and it does 4.3GHZ stable but I dont think that is very common, and it is watercooled. However the last CPU I had was a "C0" 920 and that only did 3.8GZ (in exactly the same set up).

The Akasa nero is a great cooler, if silence is what you are after then stick a Noctua fan on it, if its performance then get a Thermaltake Thunderblade.

EDIT:

Damm, forgot the PSU - the OCZ StealthXStream 700w seems to be the best value for money from what I can see.

 

[phanbuey]

Its an audio editing build... it needs to be as quiet as possible - so no gaming cases with 10,000 holes in them.

You need -
Zalman "silent pipe" PSU - 700W-800W modular- dead silent Ive used the 850W in 2 builds and they are ridiculously quiet even under heavy load.
i7 920
Motherboard - p6t or w/e
GFX - something passively cooled
Case -Lian Li PC-B25B
CPU cooler - Megahalems - with Gelid PWM 57CFM fan
3x 1TB Raid 0 Array - Make the first partition for software so make C: the first 3-400GB because it will be on the outermost edge of the disk, will run faster. 128KB stripe size or higher preferred.
M-audio external USB audio card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829121001 OR this... ask him which one looks better http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829110001 PCI-e cards may be better - but these are a bit more flexible - make sure your USB are running at full speed and that your buffer is maxed.

 

[n-ster]

Didn't think of noise... Will have to do more research then

 

[phanbuey]

Didn't think of noise... Will have to do more research then

Well its not obvious at first. But in a studio you're constantly playing back while editing, and fan noise becomes a nuisance rather quickly.

Also, depending on this guy's studio setup, if he doesn't have separate editing and recording rooms, then he will actually record his own computer fan noise on the track.

Depending on how serious this guy is, you may wanna consider:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829110010 - the build will have to take a hit in other areas - but if he wants real studio quality stuff, its expensive. Its PCI

 

[Binge]

If he's using digital input then he won't have to worry about analogue electrical interferance. An internal soundcard is best especially since USB is a very poor and slow I/O.

 

[freaksavior]

Antec P182 Gun Metal Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129025
$144.99

(3) Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148433
$269.97 ($89.99each)

ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile Ready Video Card - Retail
$34.99

M-AUDIO Delta 1010LT PCI Interface 10-In-10-Out PCI Virtual Studio - Retail
Item #: N82E16829121011
$199.99

Seventeam ST-650ZAF 650W ATX 12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817176006
$99.99

Crucial 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT3KIT25664BA1067 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820148246
$78.99

GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD4P LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813128374
$259.99

Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2C 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116378
$129.99

Scythe SY1225SL12SH 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan - Retail
Item #: N82E16835185060
$33.50

Subtotal: $1,273.87


i didn't put the proc in there because you can get someone to go to mc and get it for about $230 shipped and thats a D0

 

[n-ster]

He's in Arizona so MC is out of the question I believe...

GPU fanless 4670

Quiet Case
+
Quiet Fans

Another Case... Big fans = less noise!

GOOD HSF and not too loud

 

[freaksavior]

He's in Arizona so MC is out of the question I believe...

GPU fanless 4670

Quiet Case
+
Quiet Fans

Another Case... Big fans = less noise!

GOOD HSF and not too loud

ugly ass case

i didn't put the proc in there because you can get someone to go to mc and get it for about $230 shipped and thats a D0

as i said, someone could go get it. there is one near me and i drive over there every wednesday so i wouldn't mind doing it.

 

[ChiSox]

Thanks for the responses guys....

No Ocing on this rig(WHAT!?!?!??!).....Also no gaming(HUH!?!?!?)

Great point on the sound from the case phanbeuy....so I as a lian li nice and sturdy with good current

Im not sure he's a super professional producer but who knows, most of his equipment goes through USB. He also mention he needs a mini input jack and microphone jack which is pretty standard stuff.

Graphics isn't a huge necessity but I'd want to at least get him a dual dvi card...

3tb of hard drives isnt necessary either he says his external is 160 and is never full thats why im thinking SSD to get some speed.....

remember under 1350 so I can make some cash and so can u $25 through PAYPAL!!!!

 

[Hayder_Master]

you need Audio Studio/Editing Build and you chose core i7 why , AMD have better performance with editing cuz it is better with Mathematics counts i see tests with video editing AMD look very better , and it is cheaper

 

[a_ump]

huh, gotta say this is the strangest build i've put together that included i7 lol. best i could come up with right now...is the SSD really that important i dont anything about audio editing so dunno if that's the reason for wanting a SSD.
UPDATED
Wishlist linky
$1323.03
with shipping to that zip
$1352.77

EDIT: XP 64-bit now, not Vista. wasn't thinkin the first time lol

 

[ChiSox]

I totally hear what you guys are saying.....i7 for this??

But whatever, he wants to "future proof" hahhahah

He wants top of the line so thats what Im gonna build him....

a ump-nice build but he wants xp not vista-----

 

[Binge]

I hpe you got my PM. The prices in it for some items on newegg were a bit too high. I was estimating because newegg was not working for me that day.