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Pro Tools Build: Core i5 3570K | GA-Z77X-UP5 TH | 8GB | HD 4000

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Joined
Jul 7, 2013
Messages
7
Motherboard
GA-Z77X-UP5 TH
CPU
Intel Core i5 3570K
Graphics
HD 4000
Mac
  1. 0
Classic Mac
  1. 0
Mobile Phone
  1. iOS
aisforandrew's Pro Tools Build: Core i5 3570K | GA-Z77X-UP5 TH | 8GB | HD 4000

9eb695e6-d0a0-43b0-a00b-dcd49cc7cbe6_zpsb2fd2aed.jpg
Components

Intel Core i5 3570K Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103099

Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP5 TH Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128559

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600 Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233389

SanDisk Extreme 120GB Solid State Disk
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820171567

Corsair TX650M 650W Semi-Modular Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139031

Corsair 300R Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139011

TP-Link TL-WDN4800 PCI Express Wireless Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704133

Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008RXYOKY


Already Owned

Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/os-x-mountain-lion/id537386512?ls=1&mt=12#

Apple 20" Cinema Display (Discontinued)
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trk...ple+20+cinema+display&_sacat=162497&_from=R40

Apple Wired Keyboard
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Aluminum-Wired-Keyboard-MB110LL/dp/B000V07N9U

Kensington Expert Mouse
http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Expert-Optical-Trackball-64325/dp/B00009KH63

Glyph GT050Q 1TB External Hard Drive (for Pro Tools projects)


Comments

This computer was built out of the need for a stable and upgradable Pro Tools system and a desire to build my very first computer. I have achieved both of my goals and I am very happy with the results.

The build was inspired by BoomR's recording rig which you can peek at here. It was an invaluable resource for choice of parts, BIOS and Multibeast settings and other troubleshooting tweaks.

I followed the guide for installing 10.8 to the letter. It went almost flawlessly save for two minor problems and one itty bitty one:

1) The BIOS did not get along with my monitor (Apple Cinema Display plugged in via DVI). Switched to an HP monitor hooked up via VGA and we were back to business. The Apple display works fine now, but still scrambles the crap out of the BIOS screen whenever I enter it. Whatever.

2) Once I rebooted from the USB the last time to finish installing OS X, the installer would hang and never finish. I restarted it several times to no avail. Booting with -x helped me reach the end of the installer and complete installation. I realize I was probably supposed to get rid of any offending kexts not letting the system boot properly but everything is working as it should, including power management.

3) USB devices such as my keyboard and mouse would cease to work after waking the computer from sleep. This drove me NUTS, as unplugging them and then plugging them back in would make them work again but only until putting the system to sleep would render them useless upon waking. The Repair Disk Permissions option in Disk Utility fixed this.


Pro Tools

I'm am currently running Pro Tools 10.3.5 with a Digidesign 002r. As I didn't buy a Firewire card to install into the system, I thought I'd take advantage of one of the Thunderbolt ports and buy a TB to Firewire adapter. Downloaded the Mountain Lion drivers for my 002 and it all works as it should. I ran a Dverb test and got a score of 380 plugins @ 1024 in the H/W buffer. I feel like it could be a little more, but I suppose I shouldn't complain considering my last MacBook Pro (early 2011) could only handle about 20 before falling over. :problem:



MultiBeast settings for Mountain Lion 10.8.4

multibeast_zpsfadb2ff4.png




Geekbench score

geekbench_zps68008c5f.png




Dverb score: 380 @ 1024 buffer




That's all folks! :thumbup:
 
aisforandrew said:
...
1) The BIOS did not get along with my monitor (Apple Cinema Display plugged in via DVI). Switched to an HP monitor hooked up via VGA and we were back to business. The Apple display works fine now, but still scrambles the crap out of the BIOS screen whenever I enter it. Whatever...
Yes, I have the same problem with my 23" ACD DVI monitor, too. Drove me nuts when I was trying to first set up my first Z77 system. I, too, had to use another monitor to setup the BIOS with my Z77 systems. This has been documented over the past year on the forum. Seems that the ACD doesn't negotiate the resolution with UEFI BIOS as my Award (?) BIOS P55 and Z68 systems work without a problem with the ACD. Consequently, IMO, it's a flaw in the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS implementation. (BTW, subsequent BIOS revisions have yet to address this problem.)

You don't need the TRIM with the SanDisk Extreme SSD as it uses a SandForce controller which does it's own garbage collection.

Enjoy your hack...and welcome to the Thunderbolt age.:thumbup:
 
Yes, I have the same problem with my 23" ACD DVI monitor, too. Drove me nuts when I was trying to first set up my first Z77 system. I, too, had to use another monitor to setup the BIOS with my Z77 systems. This has been documented over the past year on the forum. Seems that the ACD doesn't negotiate the resolution with UEFI BIOS as my Award (?) BIOS P55 and Z68 systems work without a problem with the ACD. Consequently, IMO, it's a flaw in the Gigabyte UEFI BIOS implementation. (BTW, subsequent BIOS revisions have yet to address this problem.)

Good to know. I also tried an HDMI out to an LED TV to deal with BIOS setup and that worked fine too. Oddly enough, putting the BIOS in "3D Mode" works fine on the ACD, but it overlays it on top of the normal scrambled BIOS.
 
You don't need the TRIM with the SanDisk Extreme SSD as it uses a SandForce controller which does it's own garbage collection.

Enjoy your hack...and welcome to the Thunderbolt age.:thumbup:

Thought so, but I installed it anyways reading elsewhere that it couldn't hurt if it wasn't needed. Should I remove it? And thank you, it's a wonderful place to be. :D
 
I'd like to see photos of your build and your monitoring room :)
 
<fingers-corssed>
Here's hoping the new Gigabyte 8-Series (Haswell) Thunderbolt motherboards will be out before September...err, Christmas.
</fingers-corssed>
:lol:
 
Hey man, new to the forum :headbang: I've been struggling with an Asrock z77 pro4 for a while now and have decided to grab the Z77-DS3H. Am also using the 3570k and was wondering what are the benefits to using the Z77X-UP5 over the Z77-DS3H apart from it being perhaps more stable? As in, was thunderbolt connectivity something you needed specifically for PT because of a HD System? or monitors? I'll just be running PT through an interface. Do you reckon i'll have problems using the Z77-DS3H with PT? Thanks

 
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