Recommend a good high-end PC

[poshook]

only good hi-end PC is Mac

[jcschild]

1155 vs 2011. been several comments (shockingly by someone i would have never expected but also understand the ram issues)

IVB 3770k $350ish
board $200-$240
$575 ish..

3820 $310
X79 board $250-$300
lets say $600

so pretty much a wash..

Dawbench DSP test number of RXC compressors at a given buffer


3770 stock Z77 board

256 232
128 223
64 210
32 190

stock 2600 (P67 platform)

256 212
128 214
64 191
32 183

stock 3820 (X79 platform)

256 296
128 288
64 270
32 252

clearly the 3820 is the wiser choice.

now with that said X79 platform is a nightmare for a DYI, its been a problem for us.

Scott
ADK

[jcschild]

only good hi-end PC is Mac

thats funny. Apple is 3 gens old and only a fool would by one unless you have to use logic.

Scott
ADK

[zvenx]

Or want a seamless install/migration from your older computer and continued seamless installs most likely for future computers. But yes this is OT as I don't think the OP wants a mac.....but that alone for me is why I haven't bought a new PC.....although I am reaching the point where I need one.
rsp

[jcschild]

you get the same seamless with a windows system. so not really a valid point richard!

[zvenx]

I just emailed you, cause the last convo we had I got the distinct impression you couldn't. On a Mac I can get my new mac computer to do a migration from a timemachine back up of my older mac with all my applications, plug ins, documents, settings, everything exactly like the old one in under an hour........ on a PC it took me weeks to configure it exactly like the old one,,,as I would forget some things and have to do it manually, and ez migrate or whatever the microsoft program is didn't work 100%......... might have been even months..


rsp

edit: after a few emails with Scott, seems that PC's indeed can't do this as the mac can...........for some performance is everything, but not for everyone....
anyway the OP wants a PC...so this is OT...sorry

[zvenx]

But zerocrossing personally I prefer to buy my DAW-PC's from a builder like ADK or studio cat etc..........you may pay a little more, but the compatibility and that if anything goes wrong you call one person to have it fixed for me is all worth it.
rsp

[Kaine]

1155 vs 2011. been several comments (shockingly by someone i would have never expected but also understand the ram issues)

IVB 3770k $350ish
board $200-$240
$575 ish..

3820 $310
X79 board $250-$300
lets say $600

so pretty much a wash..

Looks like I need to re-examine the 3820 then as the last time I looked the pricing wasn't as close as that. Regarding the memory reference I've noticed it's easier to get a higher and more stable OC out of the IB series, but then if the 3820 has that much of a lead on things it's a rather moot point. Think I need to rebench them head to head!

[george]

So, I'm coming into a little windfall and after a brief fantasy of using it to buy some expensive instrument, I realized I'd be way better off getting a kick-ass music PC to replace my older Dell. It's an OK computer... I think it'a a dual core duo 2 running at 2.5.

The good thing about it is I can plug both my old MotU 828s into it (firewire) and they run flawlessly (though which one will boot first is a crap shoot!) So I'd need something that has a Firewire on the mb or can get one with a Texas Instruments chipset.

Don't say Mac. I'd love one but I have too many plugs at this point that are PC only that I use all the time.

Well, I think it could help to say how many cash are you going to spend.

[ghettosynth]

1155 vs 2011. been several comments (shockingly by someone i would have never expected but also understand the ram issues)

IVB 3770k $350ish
board $200-$240
$575 ish..

3820 $310
X79 board $250-$300
lets say $600

so pretty much a wash..

Looks like I need to re-examine the 3820 then as the last time I looked the pricing wasn't as close as that. Regarding the memory reference I've noticed it's easier to get a higher and more stable OC out of the IB series, but then if the 3820 has that much of a lead on things it's a rather moot point. Think I need to rebench them head to head!

Except that the point here is that there is absolutely no need to spend $200 on an 1155 board. If you need all of those features, then yes, they are more price comparable, but for a music machine, I don't think that you do. You can get good 1155 boards for $100 all night and all day long. Cheap 1155 boards can be had for $50.

The overclockers really prefer the 3820, and if that was the use case, then I would agree, but in a music machine you want the lower TDP so that the machine is cooler and quieter. I really don't see the point of the 3820 here unless you are needing more ram. The 3770 clocks higher out of the box and the TDP is almost half of the 3820.

The 3770 WILL be cheaper overall unless you go for a high end motherboard. Again, not something that you will need with most music machines.

Also, you simply aren't going to notice that much difference between these machines in everyday use. I'm not even convinced that the i7s are enough of an improvement over the i5s to justify the extra money. I'd go with a 3570 for a music machine and put the $100 into something else.

A 3570 with a basic motherboard is about $300.

[jcschild]

as someone who has does this a very long time.

i have to say if you buy a $100 1155 board your an idiot (other than there are 2 decent MATX boards in that price range) at the same time there is MATX for 2011 as well now.
but Matx does not allow OCing..

the point is a board can be had for either at the same price pretty much.

2) the 3820 stock (or OCed) has a 40% gain on stock or OCed 3770/2600

3) processor is pretty much the same price

4) there is absolutely no noise level difference in either system (assuming you have a clue what fans to use)

so you have no point to make..

Scott
ADK

[ford442]

i am not so sure..
the 2011 motherboards start at $200 and people complain that they are budget - so you would spend $270 instead of $130 on 1155 to get 6% performance over the 2600K.. i don't overclock though.. the 3770S is $319 not $350, so you could get Ivy Bridge for $450, technically a superior, newer, better performing CPU
or spend $150 more for an overclocked rig.. maybe the 3820 can do a strange number of compressors, but Ivy Bridge has an overall horsepower advantage..

i normally go for something in the mainstream.. my Q9650 has lasted me some time - i am glad that i didn't spend an insane amount on a weak i7 back then because it only becomes a dinosaur.. i spent $1400 on my last PC, but if i had been an early adopter it would have been more like $1700..

[jcschild]

the ivy in no way has more power over the 3820.
again same price the newer Z77 boards are NOT any cheaper than the affordable X79s.. well $50 less but the 3820 is less money..

and 35% faster for audio. same would apply for video rendering but only about 11% better.

if you have to worry over $100 price tag to build a system maybe a new hobby is needed..

[ford442]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Intel Core i7-3770S @ 3.10GHz 10,064
Intel Core i7-3820 @ 3.60GHz 9,665

[mandolarian]

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Intel Core i7-3770S @ 3.10GHz 10,064
Intel Core i7-3820 @ 3.60GHz 9,665

*BUZZZT* - Not tested with audio benchmarks, but thanks for playing. Read jcschild's earlier post with the audio benchmarks results. Or as quoted here:

Dawbench DSP test number of RXC compressors at a given buffer


3770 stock Z77 board

256 232
128 223
64 210
32 190

stock 2600 (P67 platform)

256 212
128 214
64 191
32 183

stock 3820 (X79 platform)

256 296
128 288
64 270
32 252

Impressive... (See, Kaine, my initial 3820 gambit wasn't so bad after all... )