Please critique my dream music DAW

[JerGoertz]

I'm about to finally pull the trigger on my dream machine. Here's my proposed build:

New Puter Pic.png

Primarily I'm going to be working in-the-box with soft-synths and -samplers, but will also be doing the odd live recording.

Please let me know if this seems like a good build. Don't assume I know what I'm doing, I haven't been au courant on PC technology in years. If something looks wrong, it probably is.

(No audio-monitors b/c I already have them.)

One question in particular: I'm getting the Meshify 2 case without the glass side, will the cooler that I selected fit?

[Pictus]

This is much better
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pXn7sL


How to build

The big 420mm AIO fits the Phanteks P500A

How to install the ARCTIC LGA1700 Kit

How to install the Thermalright 12th Gen Contact Frame


Some stuff you may like:
Unofficial Windows Audio Workstation build and tweak guide
https://devblogs.microsoft.com/windows- ... de-part-1/
Some stuff for Windows
viewtopic.php?p=7624448#p7624448

BTW, the Intel 12th-Gen with DDR5 is quite better for KONTAKT stuff, check
viewtopic.php?t=574244

The LG 32ML600M is a big monitor, but with low resolution 1920×1080
https://www.displayninja.com/lg-32ml600m-review/

New/better CPUs are almost here...

[Googly Smythe]

Think about getting a AOC-Q32E2N 2560x1440 monitor, kind of a halfway point between 1080p and 4k. More screen real estate but still easy on the eye. Around £200 in the UK.

Or this
https://www.displayninja.com/aoc-q3279vwf-review/

[glokraw]

@ OP, Not knowing your experience level creating music with plugins, or those plugins you have licenses for, I suggest putting the dream on hold for a few months, get an old i7 with 16 gig of ram, and an old mAudio pci soundcard. Most music can be made on that, for $300, and plugins extra if you don't have them yet.

There is great room for frustration in a custom build. A bit like inviting 8 blondes on a date at a romantic little restaurant. What could possibly go wrong?

When you can critique your results on the inexpensive system, revisit the dream concept
based on your positive experiences. You could likely get a pre-buit daw-ready beast at a lower price than $3300, that won't cost you happy recording hours when breaking up fights among the blondes

[Pictus]

Think about getting a AOC-Q32E2N 2560x1440 monitor, kind of a halfway point between 1080p and 4k. More screen real estate but still easy on the eye. Around £200 in the UK.

Or this
https://www.displayninja.com/aoc-q3279vwf-review/

https://monitornerds.com/aoc-q32p2-review/
https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/aoc-q3279vwf/
The AOC Q32P2 uses IPS panel and have better viewing angles
than the AOC Q3279VWF with MVA panel, but the Q3279VWF has
wayyyyyyyyy more contrast, both are flicker free.

The surface of the Q3279VWF panel is glossy and will have a lot
of reflections from the room light sources.
The Q32P2 surface is matte less reflective.

[JerGoertz]

This is much better
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/pXn7sL

Thanks again for all your detailed info, man! Can you explain why what you've suggested is much better? The changes didn't seem all that significant to me, but again, I'm not aware of all the subtleties in building a modern PC.

Think about getting a AOC-Q32E2N 2560x1440 monitor, kind of a halfway point between 1080p and 4k. More screen real estate but still easy on the eye. Around £200 in the UK.

Or this
https://www.displayninja.com/aoc-q3279vwf-review/

Okay, point well-taken. I'll definitely consider other 32" monitors, and yeah, the ones I had originally are pretty low-res.

If anyone else has suggestions for 32" monitors with decent resolution, I'm all ears.

@ OP, Not knowing your experience level creating music with plugins, or those plugins you have licenses for, I suggest putting the dream on hold for a few months, get an old i7 with 16 gig of ram, and an old mAudio pci soundcard. Most music can be made on that, for $300, and plugins extra if you don't have them yet.

There is great room for frustration in a custom build. A bit like inviting 8 blondes on a date at a romantic little restaurant. What could possibly go wrong?

When you can critique your results on the inexpensive system, revisit the dream concept
based on your positive experiences. You could likely get a pre-buit daw-ready beast at a lower price than $3300, that won't cost you happy recording hours when breaking up fights among the blondes

I appreciate your suggestions, but my situation is such that it's really time for me to get that super-powerful system. I essentially already have the system you mentioned, and I'm constantly bumping my head against its limitations, especially in the form of maxing out my CPU. I want to be able to use my CPU-hog VSTi's with extensive processing chains, without worrying (as much) about crackling, stuttering, and dropouts. I've been doing this for over 20 years and as such am pretty experienced and knowledgeable about computer music-making, just not so much about the specifics of modern PC music builds. Your advice would be good for someone just starting out, I agree.

https://monitornerds.com/aoc-q32p2-review/
https://pcmonitors.info/reviews/aoc-q3279vwf/
The AOC Q32P2 uses IPS panel and have better viewing angles
than the AOC Q3279VWF with MVA panel, but the Q3279VWF has
wayyyyyyyyy more contrast, both are flicker free.

The surface of the Q3279VWF panel is glossy and will have a lot
of reflections from the room light sources.
The Q32P2 surface is matte less reflective.

From my brief impression googling these monitors, they seem hard to find (maybe discontinued?).

What do you think of this one?

AOC Q32V3S 32" 2560x1440 2K QHD monitor

Or this one?

SAMSUNG 32 inch UJ59 4k monitor (LU32J590UQNXZA) - UHD, 3840 x 2160p

[Googly Smythe]

...
From my brief impression googling these monitors, they seem hard to find (maybe discontinued?).
...

Maybe AOC has different marketing for different regions - the AOC-Q32E2N is available on Amazon uk.
My experience with AOC has been such that after using a 32" monitor for about 15 months, I bought a second one, an updated version of the first one.

AOC-Q32E2N v2.png

[JerGoertz]

Yeah, it must be regional then. The Q32E2N doesn't seem available through the U.S. amazon.com site.

[Sebastiantheseeker]

my ultimate dream daw would instantly recognize what sound i am thinking of in my head and dial it in and record it Then it would determine what the best mix is to get the most listens. then it would automatically post complete songs in all the correct places online to get noticed and rewarded. it would also collect money for you, deposit it in the bank, notify you of your sales, and even file your taxes for you. it would also turn whatever you plug into your usb drive turn to solid gold (on command, if you want.) And if i didnt stress it enough, the daw will make you instantly famous and select your perfect partner for you.... a boy can dream right?

[Sebastiantheseeker]

oh yeah and it would be free and wouldnt work for anyone else...

[Sebastiantheseeker]

@ OP, Not knowing your experience level creating music with plugins, or those plugins you have licenses for, I suggest putting the dream on hold for a few months, get an old i7 with 16 gig of ram, and an old mAudio pci soundcard. Most music can be made on that, for $300, and plugins extra if you don't have them yet.

There is great room for frustration in a custom build. A bit like inviting 8 blondes on a date at a romantic little restaurant. What could possibly go wrong?

When you can critique your results on the inexpensive system, revisit the dream concept
based on your positive experiences. You could likely get a pre-buit daw-ready beast at a lower price than $3300, that won't cost you happy recording hours when breaking up fights among the blondes

oooh oooh. sign me up. i eant to experience that (not to get laid or for any future payoff but just the entertainment experience.) i am talking about the date with 8 blondes.

you sound like you speak from experience. how did it go?

[glokraw]

I appreciate your suggestions, but my situation is such that it's really time for me to get that super-powerful system. I essentially already have the system you mentioned

Hi, since you joined kvr in 2004, I kinda figured that might be the case. I'm sure your imagination will have it's hands full when the dust settles
A video doc of the build process might be cool, and inspire others to dive in
Have fun!

[Pictus]

Thanks again for all your detailed info, man! Can you explain why what you've suggested is much better? The changes didn't seem all that significant to me, but again, I'm not aware of all the subtleties in building a modern PC.

You are welcome, the MSI motherboard has better bios and VRM
https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments ... rus_elite/
The drives you selected are SATA(slower) and QLC(shorter lifespan)
The drives I selected are NVMe(faster) and TLC(higher lifespan)
https://www.pcworld.com/article/394015/ ... u-buy.html
The CPU coler is more efficient and more silent.
It's also the same case/motherboard in the video guide that you should see.

From my brief impression googling these monitors, they seem hard to find (maybe discontinued?).

I have no idea.

What do you think of this one?

AOC Q32V3S 32" 2560x1440 2K QHD monitor

As for the AOC Q32V3S/WS without a proper review I can not have
an opinion, but it is an IPS panel and does not use PWM.

Or this one?

SAMSUNG 32 inch UJ59 4k monitor (LU32J590UQNXZA) - UHD, 3840 x 2160p

The SamSung UJ59 uses PWM for backlight dimming at 30% brightness
or less and for me this is a NO GO.
https://www.rtings.com/monitor/reviews/ ... 2j590-uj59
Why PWM is bad
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Why-Pulse ... 240.0.html

[chk071]

@JerGoertz: Maybe you should wait for the i9-13900K. Seems to be a sick CPU, very powerful.

[JerGoertz]

I'm looking to install Win 10, does anyone know if sites like keysfanDOTcom are legit?

https://wccftech.com/how-to-get-windows ... -for-free/

And how does one go about installing Windows nowadays on a blank drive? Do I need an external DVD drive? Can I install from a thumb drive?

If anyone has any advice for Keyboard, Mouse, Power Strip, and Thermal Paste, that would be appreciated too, but I figured these things wouldn't require any special knowledge.

@JerGoertz: Maybe you should wait for the i9-13900K. Seems to be a sick CPU, very powerful.

Wow, yeah, that sounds like a good idea. It's estimated to be less that $50 more expensive than the i9-12900K for like 8 more cores or something. I can wait for that. Do you know offhand whether the MOBO in Pictus' build would support it?