- Joined
- Oct 20, 2014
- Messages
- 65
- Motherboard
- ASUS Designare Z390
- CPU
- i9 9900
- Graphics
- RX 580
- Mac
- Mobile Phone
I have built 2 desktop and 1 laptop hacks to date, still running good but its time to upgrade.
I have 2 discreet studio set-ups, one that relies on a PCIe 424 card to connect up to 4 MOTU interfaces over firewire, another that connects to an RME fireface (better latency but less ways of connection) via generic firewire. Although I cannot run the two cards simultaneously in the same system in Logic it is useful to me to be able to switch for flexibility, either moving the fireface from one studio to the other, or moving the desktop. Bearing in mind that I may wish to move the whole machine to another room I am looking for as small a MB as I can that will still accomodate all the required PCI slots.
In total I think I need 4 slots:
1: GPU
2: MOTU PCIe 424
3: Generic firewire 400/800
4: Wifi/Bluetooth
I can manage without wifi as I have ethernet in both locations but would prefer to have the option and I need bluetooth anyway as it is key for editing patches on my guitar pedals.
I had originally been aiming at the ASUS TUF Z390M-PRO GAMING but then realised there were only 3 PCIe slots. I then had a look at the Gigabyte mini ATX options which have 4 slots but looks like one would be hidden under a double slot GPU. I wonder whether these boards require the GPU to be in the first slot, hence covering the 2nd, meaning that I need to go for an ATX form instead. This is annoying in terms of size but I do need the listed features. I wonder if any MBs support any of these features on-board reliably on a hack.
I'm basically looking for the smallest board that'll get me wifi, BT, discrete GPU, firewire and a PCIe for my MOTU PCIe424. Possible configurations listed in order of preference:
1: ITX or Micro ATX that has: (on-board Firewire or thunderbolt working) + (on-board wifi + bluetooth working) + GPUslot + 1 PCIe
2: Micro ATX that has: (either OB FW/TB or on-board wifi+BT) + GPUslot + 2 PCIe slots
3: Mini ATX that has: GPUslot + 3 PCIe
4: Mini ATX that has: (BT working but not wifi) + 2 PCIe
5: ATX
Any pointers would be much appreciated, I have had a dig around but I'm going in circles. I would be happy pulling apart a wifi enclosure to replace a card on the board rather than using up a PCI slot.
Thanks in advance
I have 2 discreet studio set-ups, one that relies on a PCIe 424 card to connect up to 4 MOTU interfaces over firewire, another that connects to an RME fireface (better latency but less ways of connection) via generic firewire. Although I cannot run the two cards simultaneously in the same system in Logic it is useful to me to be able to switch for flexibility, either moving the fireface from one studio to the other, or moving the desktop. Bearing in mind that I may wish to move the whole machine to another room I am looking for as small a MB as I can that will still accomodate all the required PCI slots.
In total I think I need 4 slots:
1: GPU
2: MOTU PCIe 424
3: Generic firewire 400/800
4: Wifi/Bluetooth
I can manage without wifi as I have ethernet in both locations but would prefer to have the option and I need bluetooth anyway as it is key for editing patches on my guitar pedals.
I had originally been aiming at the ASUS TUF Z390M-PRO GAMING but then realised there were only 3 PCIe slots. I then had a look at the Gigabyte mini ATX options which have 4 slots but looks like one would be hidden under a double slot GPU. I wonder whether these boards require the GPU to be in the first slot, hence covering the 2nd, meaning that I need to go for an ATX form instead. This is annoying in terms of size but I do need the listed features. I wonder if any MBs support any of these features on-board reliably on a hack.
I'm basically looking for the smallest board that'll get me wifi, BT, discrete GPU, firewire and a PCIe for my MOTU PCIe424. Possible configurations listed in order of preference:
1: ITX or Micro ATX that has: (on-board Firewire or thunderbolt working) + (on-board wifi + bluetooth working) + GPUslot + 1 PCIe
2: Micro ATX that has: (either OB FW/TB or on-board wifi+BT) + GPUslot + 2 PCIe slots
3: Mini ATX that has: GPUslot + 3 PCIe
4: Mini ATX that has: (BT working but not wifi) + 2 PCIe
5: ATX
Any pointers would be much appreciated, I have had a dig around but I'm going in circles. I would be happy pulling apart a wifi enclosure to replace a card on the board rather than using up a PCI slot.
Thanks in advance
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