First - Customac build for Pro tools HD2 & UAD QUAD Core - Ivybridge

[theurbanslacker]

Hello all

This is my first post on this site, although I have been lurking around this forum and the Avid DUC in the background now for the last few months. Ive been gradually working out what i think maybe the best build to suit my needs for a Protools HD2 rig using PCI cards and a UAD Quad core I know the motherboard has to have native PCI support and I would really like to do a session where this checky little fella dose not appear to often at the moment I am recording on an old G5 with HD2 rig and an im mixing on single core PC with the UAD quad core PCI-e and pro tools LE - somewhat challenging way to mix and record but needs must.

I would like my new machine to be dual boot with windows 7 probably 32bit as I am aware that protools is 32 bit and I don't have a problem with this. not sure what the advantages to 64 bit are?

After all my research I feel I am now ready to jump in and build my first customac. I have spent a great deal of time reading all the threads and info I can find on this subject and think I have come up with a suitable build.

I just thought I would put it up here first (I hope this is the right place) see if anyone has done something similar and weather it caused any problems. is mountain lion the last working OS with this motherboard. / running pro tools has any one got maverick running. using this list of components
any information or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Motherboard: Gigabyte Ultra Durable Motherboard LGA 1155 Z77-D3H

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i7-3770K CPU (4 x 3.50GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CXM 750W Modular 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX/EPS PSU

Memory: Crucial BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU Sport 16GB kit (8GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 Memory Module

CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer Universal Water Cooling System Dual 12cm PWM Fan

System Drives: 2 xSamsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5 inch Basic SATA Solid State Drive

Storage Drive: 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 3.5-inch SATA III (6Gbps) Desktop hard drive (7200rpm, 64MB cache)

Case: Codegen 600mm 4U Rack Mount

All the links above are to the parts I am intending on using.

many thanks in advance

Scot

 

[VroepVroep]

Motherboard: Gigabyte Ultra Durable Motherboard LGA 1155 Z77-D3H

CPU: Intel 3rd Generation Core i7-3770K CPU (4 x 3.50GHz, Ivy Bridge, Socket 1155)

Power Supply: Corsair Builder Series CXM 750W Modular 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX/EPS PSU

Memory: Crucial BLS2CP8G3D1609DS1S00CEU Sport 16GB kit (8GBx2), Ballistix 240-pin DIMM, DDR3 PC3-12800 Memory Module

CPU Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer Universal Water Cooling System Dual 12cm PWM Fan

System Drives: 2 xSamsung 840 EVO 120GB 2.5 inch Basic SATA Solid State Drive

Storage Drive: 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 3.5-inch SATA III (6Gbps) Desktop hard drive (7200rpm, 64MB cache)

Case: Codegen 600mm 4U Rack Mount

You don't know the advantages of a 32-bit operating system?

Oh my.

You're planning on getting 16GB of memory. With a 32bit operation system you can only use about THREE gigabytes of this. THREE. Even your everyday webbrowsing will need more than that. And let me guarantee you: Pro Tools is not going to be fun with 3 gigs of memory.

On the hardware part: why are you going for a previous generation motherboard and CPU? The 4th generation i7 processors (in this case the 4770K) have been out for a very long while now, and are prices exactly the same as the 3rd generation you selected. You're investing in hardware that is over 2 years old now, while a newer generation is available for the same price.

Rest of the build looks pretty decent. I've heard bad stories about the Corsair CX series PSU, it's a budget line of psu's after all but hey, it should still work fine.

Long story short: look into the CPU and mobo.

 

[theurbanslacker]

Hi VeroVerop

Thanks for your reply this is very help full information. So I now understand why I need to run a 64-bit OS this is cool as I said in original post I have been somewhat working in the dark ages for sometime. with a couple of very old systems both running on about a gig of memory. so even three gig would be an improvement.

The reason I chose that mother board is because I need a minimum of 2 PCI slots for my Pro-tools HD Cards and at least 1- PCIe card for my UAD2 quad. I know that the Pro tools HD cards have to run on a native PCI slot and not bridged from a PCI-e Slot. so this was another reason

I Did read I could use a B85 or Q87 chip-set as they use native PCI but as above need to make sure it has this feature as it is essential in running the HD cards looking on gigabytes site all the boards I have found that suit my needs with that chipset are not on the buyers guide and all the ones that are have only one PCI slot

the GA87-HD3 has two PCI Slots and two PCI-e slots but not sure if the H87 chipset is compatible with protools as i dont think it supports the native PCI slot

Do you have a recommendation on other possible motherboards I should be looking at.

any more information would be great

Thanks for the info on the PSU: I will look at some alternatives.

all the best

Scot

 

[VroepVroep]

Well, would be quite a shame to invest in 16 gigs of memory and only use 3 of those am I right? Never run a 32 bit operating system on any modern machine, some applications (like logic pro X) are 64-bit won't even run on 32-bit operating systems, but then again; mavericks is only available as 64-bit.

about the motherboard and cpu, I'm not very familiar with PCI and its workings, but investing in old hardware while new hardware is out and about just doesn't seem like the best idea. I'm sure there are motherboards that fit your requirements for the 4th generation Intel too.

 

[Going Bald]

the GA87-HD3 has two PCI Slots and two PCI-e slots but not sure if the H87 chipset is compatible with protools as i dont think it supports the native PCI slot

Do you have a recommendation on other possible motherboards I should be looking at.

any more information would be great

Thanks for the info on the PSU: I will look at some alternatives.

all the best

Scot

Have you looked at some of the DAW builds in the User Builds and Golden Builds forums?
Have you thought to use the forum search with your UAD quad as a key word? Or Protools as a keyword? You may find a lot of good advice on what to avoid and what works if you post in the Music forum at Forum->The Clubhouse->System Usage->Music