My new home built PC

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 24 Jun 2012 2:29 am

I'm building a new PC for my recording studio. My main recording program is Sonar X1 Producer 64 bit. I also have Pro Tools MP9 but I don't really use it and may not install it on this system.

I've built "overkill" for now, but that is my suggestion when someone asks my opinion on what to buy, its "buy as much as your wallet can stand" or "buy overkill". Don't buy the minimum as it will soon need updating.

The new PC's Hardware:
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard
i7 3700 CPU
16 GB DDR3 RAM (GSkill Ripsaw memory)
OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD (for OS and some programs)
1 TB (7200 RPM) hard drive for data and non-critical programs
1.5 TB hard drive for Acronis backups.
OCZ ZT 750 watt fully modular power supply
2 LG CD/DVD burner drives (these are the only SATA drives that will burn Audio CD's at 8X)
Corsair Carbide 500R Case
Windows 7 64 bit Home (OEM Version).

I'm initially using the Intel HD 4000 graphics built into the CPU and the stock Intel CPU cooler. I plan on a different cooler later and a separate video card if needed.

I'll run it for at least a week to burn it in before I finish dressing/ty wrapping cables, etc.

Here is a picture of the "innards"

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 24 Jun 2012 5:09 am

Yum! Yum!

Dale Gray · Post by **Dale Gray** » 26 Jun 2012 7:03 am

They say black ones are better.

Kirk Eipper · Post by **Kirk Eipper** » 26 Jun 2012 7:50 am

Jack,

I am thinking of going over to computer daw. I use Korg D-3200. I have heard that there are latency problems in the computer route, and I dont experience this on my current set-up. Will the "over kill" keep yours from doing that?

I know I will eventually have to go that way but what are the pro and cons regarding stand alone and computer based daws?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 26 Jun 2012 9:13 am

I get around 6 to 7ms latency with a USB connected Roland Octa-Capture recording audio interface unit. This doesn't bother me recording or tracking (adding or fixing)an existing recording. I also have an MAudio Fastrack Ultra 8R USB connected interface unit and I get about the same latency.

Firewire connected interfaces tend to have higher latency. The best I could do with a Saffire Pro 40 unit which was firewire connected was 12ms. Also, you need a T.I. Firewire chipset in the PC as many firewire interface units will only work with a T.I. chipset. I know this is true for Focusrite and Presonus firewire devices.

The PC isn't the prime issue with latency and external recording devices. The internal PC sound cards will have problems and should not be used for recording as they have high latency and require near line levels, not low instrument levels.

When I switched from a hard drive standalone unit to the PC it opened up many options that I did not have with the standalone unit.

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 23 Jul 2012 6:52 am

That be a nice looking and nicely spec'd beast.

No overclocking required.

From 1985... "Who is ever gonna fill up a 10 megabyte hard disk?"

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 23 Jul 2012 8:50 am

I moved the PC to my recording studio two weeks ago and did the first recording session with it last week. It zips right along.

One update, that I mentioned I was going to do, I've replaced the stock Intel supplied CPU cooler with a Corsair H80 liquid cooler. The liquid cooler dropped the CPU temps at least 10 deg (C). With the stock Intel cooler the CPU temps ran mostly in the low 40's (C). The CPU temps run in the lower 30's and occasionally dip into the upper 20's with the liquid cooling system.