new Build for ProTools Native

EDIT: This build is working now!

Hello all,

I am a new builder, and this is my first post here. I browsed a good deal on this site and it gave my the confidence that a reliable system can be build. As this is my first post, i like to thank the whole community for sharing their experiences and the owner and moderators of this site to keep it running. Deeply respect! I will share mine where possible as a small return.

I am a ProTools Native user, and into audio post production here in the Netherlands. My current Mac, 2,66 dual core2, needs replacement badly. But the just announced new mac pro has no PCI slots anymore. I use ProTools PCIe and Blackmagic Extreme 3D for video playback. Since external Thunderbolt-pci boxes are expensive but also noisy, i think its no option. My puter is in the same room i work in, although in a cupboard, so it has to be a quiet system. This is where the option for a Hackintosch came in.

Beside that i am also into photography, but the needs for the system for that are less challenging, so i leave that alone.

Needs:
- Thunderbolt for future expansions and hard drive connection.
- USB3 for drives and future expansion
- I'd like a FW800 card for current drives.
- I like to have two Ethernet ports; one for internet and one for my Avid Artist Mix controller that uses ethernet. I could use a router but i hate all the mess around.
- A quiet system.
- I will use an 256GB SSD for OSX (10.8.4) and a 128GB SSD for windows8 (just for maintenance.)
I have a normal HD (1 or 2 TB) for video storage and a normal HD for sound effects.
I might install a DVD burner, just for Roxio Toast or importing data or audio cd's.
So, a total of 5 SATA ports are nessesary

It should hold a ProTools Native card and a Blackmagic Extreme 3D card. That latter has a blind plate for HDMI connections.

I run a dual monitor setup. Main Eizo screen is DVI and a secondary low end screen on VGA or DVI.

A friend of mine (hackintosh user) selected this setup in an online store:

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH (Although the UP5 was my first choice, regarding what i read here on the forums. But it looks like it's not available here in The Netherlands.)

I can work with a simple graphics card so i might just use the one on the MOB. Can i send DVI to the main and through a HDMI to VGA to the secondary screen?

Intel Core i7 3770K / 3.5 GHz

Noctua NH-U12P

Samsung 840 Series MZ-7TD120 (ssd for windows)

ADATA SSD S511 256GB for OSX

Corsair Vengeance - DDR3/PC3-12800 1600MHz16 GB : 2 x 8 GB

Nexus NX-5000

Dawicontrol DC-FW800 PCIe firewire card

Corsair Obsidian Series 550D

TP-LINK TG-3468 for 2nd Ethernet port (need it for a ProTools controller)


Any comments on this setup?

I would use the Samsung 840 Pro SSD for OS X. Get another for your sound libraries.

Get a Rosewill or Kingwin 2.5"/3.5" hot swap bay that fits in an optical bay. Remove the OS X drive and insert the Win8 drive when needed. This way, you don't have OS X asking if you want to use the Win8 drive for backup and writing files on the Win8 drive and you don't have Win8 messing with your OS X drive.

Going Bald said:

I would use the Samsung 840 Pro SSD for OS X. Get another for your sound libraries.

Get a Rosewill or Kingwin 2.5"/3.5" hot swap bay that fits in an optical bay. Remove the OS X drive and insert the Win8 drive when needed. This way, you don't have OS X asking if you want to use the Win8 drive for backup and writing files on the Win8 drive and you don't have Win8 messing with your OS X drive.

Click to expand...

Thanx for the reply.
What is the benefit of the Samsung 840 over the ADATA that i already have? I see the Samsung named more often, so it sounds like a good choice, but would the difference be that interesting to justify to buy another SSD while i already have one?
An SSD just for my SFX library is overkill. The speed of the spinning drive is more then enough.

The hot swap bay is a very good idea. This one looks cool:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994143

Fokke said:

Thanx for the reply.
What is the benefit of the Samsung 840 over the ADATA that i already have? I see the Samsung named more often, so it sounds like a good choice, but would the difference be that interesting to justify to buy another SSD while i already have one?
An SSD just for my SFX library is overkill. The speed of the spinning drive is more then enough.

The hot swap bay is a very good idea. This one looks cool:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994143

Click to expand...

If you'll primarily use OS X for your work why use a Samsung SSD for windows ? I believe Going Bald is suggesting
either a 128 or 256 GB PRO model by Samsung not the 120 GB consumer model you have listed. The ADATA
SSD could then be used for SFX or Windows. You could use an HDD for the SFX library as well. When you read
some of the SSD reviews you'll discover the Samsung PRO is by far the better choice than the ADATA for an
OS X boot drive.

Fokke said:

The hot swap bay is a very good idea. This one looks cool:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817994143

Click to expand...

I use this one - my case had no front USB3.0 and this took care of that - http://www.amazon.com/KingWin-Multi-Function-Components-Other-KF-253-BK/dp/B00856XFUS/

When using hot swap trays, be sure to check with the vendor to make sure which SSDs are supported - the thinner ones do not work in trays that will fit a standard 2.5" notebook drive - the connectors don't match up correctly in the back of the unit to the SSD connectors.

Going Bald said:

When using hot swap trays, be sure to check with the vendor to make sure which SSDs are supported - the thinner ones do not work in trays that will fit a standard 2.5" notebook drive - the connectors don't match up correctly in the back of the unit to the SSD connectors.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Yes, the Samsung 840 is a 7mm model. It will fit in the icy dock i mentioned but the eject button will not work. http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=141
Note: 2.5" hard drive or SSD with 7mm height are compatible, however, the ejection button will not work with these drives. The drive must be ejected manually in order to be removed or swapped.

Shall i look for a 9.5 mm model equal to this Samsung or shall i just take that minor issue?

Fokke said:

Thanks. Yes, the Samsung 840 is a 7mm model. It will fit in the icy dock i mentioned but the eject button will not work. http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=141
Note: 2.5" hard drive or SSD with 7mm height are compatible, however, the ejection button will not work with these drives. The drive must be ejected manually in order to be removed or swapped.

Shall i look for a 9.5 mm model equal to this Samsung or shall i just take that minor issue?

Click to expand...

It is not the ejection that is usually the problem. It is getting the connectors lined up on insertion so the drive will work that is the problem.
If you can find them, there are self adhesive plastic shields that can be placed on the open side of a laptop HDD for protection of unshielded electronics that you can use to make the SSD thicker.

Going Bald said:

It is not the ejection that is usually the problem. It is getting the connectors lined up on insertion so the drive will work that is the problem.
If you can find them, there are self adhesive plastic shields that can be placed on the open side of a laptop HDD for protection of unshielded electronics that you can use to make the SSD thicker.

Click to expand...

Yeah, that crossed my mind too; make it 1.5 mm thicker with some self adhesive anything.
The one that i have in mind (and is available here in the Netherlands does say it works, just the EJECT button not (why is not clear to me though)

Another thing;

Is it wise to look for a Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH instead of the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP4 TH?
(i know, there are a few threads about it but i get confused with all the info. Some of which is out of date because of bios upgrades for example, or that people sorted things out)
The UP5 is hard to find here in The Netherlands, and all European Amazon stores indicate out of stock. Is it only sold in the states?

I gave up finding a UP5 so i have to use the UP4 is i want to have thunderbolt ports. Which i do.

This is my current about-to-buy list.

The Samsung SSD pro will be for OSX and the non-pro 128GB will be for, sorry for cursing, Windows8. For system maintenance purposes.

I still have to sort out if i can make a dual monitor setup using DVI and HDMI on the onboard graphics (HD4000). There are some threads about it but also contradictory reports. I think i have to find out myself with my current setup. I want to use DVI out and HDMI out with a HDMI->VGA cable. I want to keep my thunderbolt ports free.

EDIT: I was wrong. I have no HDMI to VGA cable, but a HDMI to DVI cable.