[guide] Build a DAW Workhorse

[kingozrecords]

I say this first. I like classic builds because they have less moving parts in the hardware and software. They're more reliable and predictable. But modern might well be the same price.

I also remind you're building this for music. In My opinion, the aura 960 and the amd 8350/9590 with 1866 ddr3 is the better computer. It's faster than an m1 mac with 8gb for audio. Furthermore, the newer intel/amd models are better for only for intensive/gaming or really memory intensive apps [like video editing]. Audio requires throttle less than it does perfect synchronicity.

The parts I chose are modern and cool, or cheap and functional. I will keep trying to find lower prices that are relevant.

https://youtu.be/b5tSaZ91KGA

I've made various posts, but I thought I would share My rationale behind the build I use for My DAW PC and I'd come up with some very cheap builds with buying links for those who need something powerful and cheap, modern.

This is just the initial build maybe keep your eye on this for updates and I'll look for the lowest prices.

It should be good.

Modern Build

CPU - Option 1 (modern build)
[intel-core-i5-10600kf]: C$249.99 - 4.99 delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/intel-core-i5-106 ... rce=region

CPU - Option 2 (modern build)
[intel-core-i3-10105f] C$114.99 (free delivery) / US$83.99 (20.40 shipping)

CAD: https://www.amazon.ca/Intel-BX807011010 ... 08LKJPR5X/
US: https://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80701101 ... 08LKJPR5X/

Compare Option 1 (+15% avg) VS Option 2
View stats: https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/I ... vsm1482345

Tower (modern/classic build)
[Cougar PC/Mac/Linux MX330-G PC Gaming Case with 7 PCI Slots]: C$60.99 - free delivery


https://www.amazon.ca/Linux-MX330-G-Gam ... r_1_3?th=1

Power Supply (modern/classic build)
[seasonic focus "gold"]: C$79.99 - free delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/seasonic-focus-65 ... rce=region

RAM (i5/i3 compatible with XMP enabled in Bios, and possibly changing voltage)

You can either play it safe and use 2666 MHz DDR4 RAM, or You can use XMP in the bios (which the Asus Prime mobo supports) to support 3200 Mhz DDR4 RAM. I would use 2666 Mhz ram myself, as I do not trust any form of overclocking.

[3200 Mhz g.skills ripjaws V@newegg]: C$91.99 - 19.99 delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/g-skill-16gb-288- ... 6820231941
[3200 Mhz g.skills ripjaws V@amazon(ca)]: C$82.00 - 11.78 delivery

https://www.amazon.ca/G-SKILL-Ripjaws-P ... 07KTC3TBM/

RAM clocking comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-86SGq8x_r0

mobo (modern build)
[ASUS PRIME B560M-A LGA 1200]: C$139.99 - free delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/p/N82E16813119385 ... -_-Product

usb panel (modern/classic build)
[Weastlinks 2 Port USB 3.0+2 Port USB 2.0]: C$26.99 - free delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/p/0J2-070E-00031? ... YT9G641212

I do not recommend fast charge for these, use the tower connections instead. Causes ssd bootup failure!

gpu (modern/classic build)
[Gigabyte 1050 TI (uses less power!)]: C$ 259.99 - 9.90 delivery

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01M4KGTNI/

hdd (modern/classic build)
[seagate skyhawk 7200 rpm 256mb] C$107.44 - 10.99 delivery

https://www.newegg.ca/seagate-skyhawk-s ... 00VK-00639
(please notice that there's cheaper options from other vendors - save 20$!)

hdd cooler (modern/classic build)
[Black 3.5 SATA IDE Hard Disk Drive HDD 2 Fan Cooler] C$4.44 - 3.81 delivery

hdd-cooler.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003221091098.html

ssd (modern/classic build)
[wd blue 500gb] C$64.99 - free delivery

https://www.google.com/shopping/product ... 1886459133

ssd heatsink (modern/classic build)
[snowman m.2 heatsink] C$11.58 - free delivery

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001228305771.html

120mm cooling fans (NO LED)

::3pin (modern/classic build)
[arctic f12 5-pack 3-pin] C$40.99 - free delivery
https://www.amazon.ca/ARCTIC-F12-Pack-S ... 092ZV2MGL/
::4pin (modern/classic build)
[arctic f12 5-pack 4-pin PWM] C$55.99 - free delivery
https://www.newegg.ca/p/1B4-0103-000B9? ... 9H5B6K8327

120mm cooling fans (RGB)
[coolmax 120mm 4-pin pwm RGB cooling fans] C$74.99 - free delivery

https://www.amazon.ca/DEEPCOOL-Compatib ... _1_12?th=1

fan control (modern/classic build)
[4-pin generic] C$18.75 - 4.22 delivery

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002271829684.html

snaps (modern/classic build)
[80mm generic] C$0.75 - Free delivery

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003 ... 4c4deHrnDz

fire-proof tape (modern/classic build)
[black 10m 1pc] C$1.62 - 3.44 delivery

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002 ... 4c4deHrnDz

for a professional touch, first add tape at the red+black wires base before covering with woven sheath, prevents seeing wire underneath.

molex to 3-pin (modern/classic build)
[black 15cm] C$1.07 - 2.24 delivery

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3231833 ... 4c4deHrnDz

if I'd access to a soldering gun I'd use this same cord to merely solder the wires together and then cover with the woven wire covering. Would look more pro.

exhaust blower (modern/classic build)
[evercool fox-1] C$14.87 - 6.59 delivery

fox1.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000043 ... mainSearch

The Asus Prime would realistically fit one of these, using the pcie 1x slot.

wire covering (modern/classic build)

wire-cover.jpg

[generic 1m by 3mm] C$4.40 - Free delivery
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000279973628.html

cpu cooler (modern/classic build)
[snowman 6 heat pipe older model 1/2 fan] C$37.60 - 10.77 delivery

SNOWMAN-CPU-Cooler-6-Heat-Pipes-120mm-4-Pin-PWM-RG.jpg

tiny.one/snowman1
[snowman 6 heat pipe newer model - 2/3 fan] C$32.23 - 11.03 delivery

SNOWMAN-6-Heat-Pipes-Silent-CPU-Cooler-4-Pin-PWM-9.jpg

tiny.one/snowman2

Classic Build
.
(all items in above list colored in red are compatible with the classic build!)

RAM - 16gb (classic build)
[Patriot 16GB(2x8GB) Viper III DDR3 1866MHz (PC3 15000)] $C56.99 - 17.17 delivery

viper.jpg

https://www.amazon.com/Patriot-1866MHz- ... 00453R90W/

RAM - 32gb (classic build)
[G.Skill Ripjaws X 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM] $C162.99 - Free Delivery

gskills.jpg

https://www.newegg.ca/g-skill-32gb-240- ... 6820231562
[CORSAIR Vengeance 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM] $C169.99 - Free Delivery

vengeance.jpg

https://www.newegg.ca/corsair-32gb-240- ... 6820233303

CPU (classic build)
[AMD FX-8350 (recommended seller)]

8350.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32815208075.html $C124.75 - Free Delivery
[AMD FX-9590 (rare, good luck!)]
[AMD FX-9370 (cheaper than 9590, but rare)]

Mobo (find the best prices yourself)
SSD Compatible+++ (boots from ssd!): ASUS 970 Pro Gaming/Aura ATX DDR3 AM3+

aura-970.jpg

https://www.newegg.ca/asus-970-pro-gami ... TG4EAH2601
SSD Compatible++ (boots from ssd): 990fx sabertooth gen3 boot from ssd [expensive, has psuedo pcie gen 3.0!!!]
https://www.win-raid.com/t871f50-HowTo- ... S-310.html

[kingozrecords]

I just thought I would say for those that had read this. After reading an interesting article:
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=576834

I also found a comparisoon of the two modern processor options here:
https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/I ... vsm1482345

I averaged the comparison to about 15% more for the i5, which is tolerable imo.
I'd realized that the i3 is a contender (though the 15 seems like a powerhouse) and it has good stats for a nice price. Therefore I've added that to the list also. You save about 200 dollars going that route. You can use the same well priced mobo for it. The prime mobo seems in most ways great.

[kingozrecords]

Here's My vintage DAW workstation playing the 2020 game Cyberpunk 2077. I show you the temperature levels of both the GPU and the CPU throughout the video. There was no post processing of this video whatsoever.

https://youtu.be/SiVb2NIH1Wc

[kingozrecords]

I found this new gtx 1650 at a good price. from the Canadian memory express site:
https://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX00115227

Keep in mind that's Canadian dollars (CAD).

Here's the gtx 1650 specs vs the gtx 960 (the 1650 is +78% more powerful):
https://gpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/N ... 3165vs4058

And that's great news considering that the gtx 960 is still among the most popular light duty cards amongst steam users.
Good luck

Oh and I should add. Go easy on msi afterburner, or don't use it at all for the fan curve. If your fans are already strained, it will fry them fast, haha!

[kingozrecords]

Here's a great price on a gtx 1050 ti [canada]
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01M4KGTNI/

Me testing it:
https://youtu.be/EPAsx-3dNH0

[kingozrecords]

In this video I speak of a better ssd / m.2 / ngff heatsink (made by the snowman company) that uses both copper and aluminum (see image below)

SNOWMAN-Heat-Pipe-M2-Heatsink-Copper-SSD-Cooler-2280-Solid-State-Hard-Disk-M-2-Radiator.jpg_640x640.jpg

that's low priced and as well I mention My experiences with loading high memory apps like games through a pcie mounted ssd vs a faster hdd (seagate skyhawk 7200 rpm 3tb).

https://youtu.be/YxZ52clqtmc

I thought about the newer model of snowman cooler also, that has two separate pieces of aluminums adjacent to fans and I believe the old version is a sounder design due to radiant heat.

[Pictus]

I just received this SSD heatsink yesterday.

For CPU cooler "the bigger is the better", more surface to exchange the heat.
The big 140mm fans can be also more silent/efficient.
I have the Frost Commander 140 https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/10050032 ... pt=glo2bra
and it is excellent, but the foot is a bit convex
so I lap it to make flat...
And control the fans with
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1099996 ... placement/
Good to make the case fans react to both the CPU/GPU temperature.

[kingozrecords]

I just received this SSD heatsink yesterday.

For CPU cooler "the bigger is the better", more surface to exchange the heat.
The big 140mm fans can be also more silent/efficient.
I have the Frost Commander 140 https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/10050032 ... pt=glo2bra
and it is excellent, but the foot is a bit convex
so I lap it to make flat...
And control the fans with
https://linustechtips.com/topic/1099996 ... placement/
Good to make the case fans react to both the CPU/GPU temperature.

Nice , expensive though. I'm very cheap lol.

btw, adding a hdd cooler to the list ($C 4.44 3.81 delivery):

Refrigerador-preto-do-f-da-movimenta-o-de-disco-r-.jpg

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/1005003221091098.html

If you're going the expensive route, the iceberq seems the best.

You'll need a molex to sata adapter for it ($C 1.22 2.229 delivery):

New-SATA-to-IDE-Power-Cable-15-Pin-SATA-Female-to-.jpg

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001107613197.html

Or you could just control it with a 4-3 pin pcie controller.

[kingozrecords]

snowman copper/aluminum heatsink unboxing

Here is an unboxing of the m.2 ssd snowman heatsink. It helps you to get an idea of how thick it is.
https://youtu.be/8fU4jtlbxaM

There's another video that tests the cheaper version (without an additional copper insert) with nice results. The snowman official store suggests that the hybrid copper/aluminum design is 40% faster!

Here's a video testing that previous version, see for yourself that it works quite well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb0oNtkfNWU