Building a new pc

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legionserial

legionserial

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I built my pc 4 or so years ago, and I have to admit I have completely lost touch since then. I haven't paid any attention to all the new fangled CPU's mobo's RAM etc.

Basically, the PC I have at the moment I feel is completely fine for everything I need to do, and I have yet to run into any limitations. The only problem is, is that it isn't dedicated to audio, and its about time I had one that was. I tinker a lot with gaming pc's, and don't like doing it with a buttload of music on my pc that I don't want to lose (yes I backup but thats beside the point)

However, I am an avid gamer. The 'gaming' video card I have (FX6800) is, i feel, too noisy for audio. I also have an FX5950ultra which I feel is much better for audio. It eats less CPU cycles, and is super quiet. Just can't run any new games on it :p I had been using the FX5950 up until this weekend, as I wasn't playing games much at all, and concentrating mainly on recording.

Anyway, I digress...basically, all I need to buy is a CPU, a mobo, a case and some RAM. I have 2 soundcards, one for audio and one for games, and as mentioned, the same goes for video cards, and I have some spare fans and heatsinks.. So that's kinda the really expensive shit out of the way.

My current specs are...

CPU- AMD Athlon 3200+
Mobo- Asus A7N8XE
RAM- 1GB Kingston Hyper X
Sound- Delta 44(audio) and SBAudigyZSPlatinumPro (gaming)
Video- as above.

Now, I do feel that those specs are perfectly fine for audio, I can happily run around 50 tracks with no problems (its just me, and my drums are done in battery, so I only track one track at a time, but perhaps I need to look into what I might need in the future...ie, once a real drumkit is involved). However, I do find this pc gets little too hot running games with the 6800 (70 degrees under load then it crashes unless I take the side panel off), despite looking very pretty and running pretty fast. Even gets a bit hot with the lower spec games, regardless of me giving it a good old dust at the weekend.

So basically I need some advice on motherboards, CPU's, and RAM. I have to admit I don't have a sodding clue about what RAM type I should get. I'm also not sure whether the new pc should be for gaming or audio, as, like I say, the current specs seem fine for both. However, I feel I could justify paying out for a new audio PC more than a gaming PC. On the flipside, my current pc works fine for audio with very little increase in temperature.

So basically if anyone wants to chuck any opinions my way on any of this, (ie what pc for audio, what pc for gaming, combinations of new harware plus the hardware I already have etc) it would be much appreciated. I really don't want to spend an awful lot of money. Couple hundred quid maybe (bout 400dollars), give or take (bearing in mind I have a lot of bits for it already). Suggestions welcome. :)

Cheers
 
Last edited:
legionserial said:
I built my pc 4 or so years ago, and I have to admit I have completely lost touch since then. I haven't paid any attention to all the new fangled CPU's mobo's RAM etc.

Basically, the PC I have at the moment I feel is completely fine for everything I need to do, and I have yet to run into any limitations. The only problem is, is that it isn't dedicated to audio, and its about time I had one that was. I tinker a lot with gaming pc's, and don't like doing it with a buttload of music on my pc that I don't want to lose (yes I backup but thats beside the point)

However, I am an avid gamer. The 'gaming' video card I have (FX6800) is, i feel, too noisy for audio. I also have an FX5950ultra which I feel is much better for audio. It eats less CPU cycles, and is super quiet. Just can't run any new games on it :p I had been using the FX5950 up until this weekend, as I wasn't playing games much at all, and concentrating mainly on recording.

Anyway, I digress...basically, all I need to buy is a CPU, a mobo, a case and some RAM. I have 2 soundcards, one for audio and one for games, and as mentioned, the same goes for video cards, and I have some spare fans and heatsinks.. So that's kinda the really expensive shit out of the way.

My current specs are...

CPU- AMD Athlon 3200+
Mobo- Asus A7N8XE
RAM- 1GB Kingston Hyper X
Sound- Delta 44(audio) and SBAudigyZSPlatinumPro (gaming)
Video- as above.

Now, I do feel that those specs are perfectly fine for audio, I can happily run around 50 tracks with no problems (its just me, and my drums are done in battery, so I only track one track at a time, but perhaps I need to look into what I might need in the future...ie, once a real drumkit is involved). However, I do find this pc gets little too hot running games with the 6800 (70 degrees under load then it crashes unless I take the side panel off), despite looking very pretty and running pretty fast. Even gets a bit hot with the lower spec games, regardless of me giving it a good old dust at the weekend.

So basically I need some advice on motherboards, CPU's, and RAM. I have to admit I don't have a sodding clue about what RAM type I should get. I'm also not sure whether the new pc should be for gaming or audio, as, like I say, the current specs seem fine for both. However, I feel I could justify paying out for a new audio PC more than a gaming PC. On the flipside, my current pc works fine for audio with very little increase in temperature.

So basically if anyone wants to chuck any opinions my way on any of this, (ie what pc for audio, what pc for gaming, combinations of new harware plus the hardware I already have etc) it would be much appreciated. I really don't want to spend an awful lot of money. Couple hundred quid maybe (bout 400dollars), give or take (bearing in mind I have a lot of bits for it already). Suggestions welcome. :)

Cheers

What are you talking about. I had a pc with the 5200 in there (I had the same 5950 but it died over clocking it..). The 5200 ran a nice selection of the newer games. I got 50fps in HL2 lmao. Anyways, I think your system is pretty much decent enough to run, maybe another gig of memory. If your willing to spend money, than

quiet efficient barebones with Asus P1-AH2 AM2 mobo $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110057

AMD64 X2 3800+ dual core $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103729

OCZ 800mhz gold memory $89.99 (only 1GB though, but real good memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227123

if you need a new HD, WD SATAII 3.0gb/s 7200 $52.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144415

That's $402.96 for a new computer, but you'll need to pay shipping.
If you had the money, I would say spring for a core 2 duo but they are a lil more expensive though. BTW the barebones have the 6150 geforce in it.
 
Mindset said:
What are you talking about. I had a pc with the 5200 in there (I had the same 5950 but it died over clocking it..). The 5200 ran a nice selection of the newer games. I got 50fps in HL2 lmao. Anyways, I think your system is pretty much decent enough to run, maybe another gig of memory. If your willing to spend money, than

quiet efficient barebones with Asus P1-AH2 AM2 mobo $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856110057

AMD64 X2 3800+ dual core $99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103729

OCZ 800mhz gold memory $89.99 (only 1GB though, but real good memory)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227123

if you need a new HD, WD SATAII 3.0gb/s 7200 $52.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144415

That's $402.96 for a new computer, but you'll need to pay shipping.
If you had the money, I would say spring for a core 2 duo but they are a lil more expensive though. BTW the barebones have the 6150 geforce in it.

Thanks, thats just the ticket. Got a few things to get my teeth into there. I'll have a look at some equivalent UK shops tonight. Lol don't really fancy paying transatlantic shipping costs. (And I couldn't handle the wait. When I order a pc, I get pretty keen to get my claws into it) ;)

Don't get me wrong, my 5950 is a nice card, and it runs the likes of HL2, Q4, FEAR or similar absolutely perfectly, but I can't get stuff like Oblivion or S.T.A.L.K.E.R much higher than 800x600 with it, and Company of Brothers yieldeded like 5fps at the very best :eek: . Whereas my 6800 will let me pretty much max out the video settings on all of it. Nonetheless, I don't want games and audio to be on the same PC anymore.

Cheers Dude :)
 
Ok. I seem to have hit a snag. I can't seem to find a motherboard that's AGP compatible. Am I just wasting my time trying to find one nowadays?
 
legionserial said:
Ok. I seem to have hit a snag. I can't seem to find a motherboard that's AGP compatible. Am I just wasting my time trying to find one nowadays?

Honestly yeah, you'll be wasting your time. There's still motherboards that support AGP, but your going to have a hard time finding them that'll comply with all the newer technology. Also suggest your drives are sata, because a lot of motherboards are also phasing out IDE.
 
Mindset said:
Honestly yeah, you'll be wasting your time. There's still motherboards that support AGP, but your going to have a hard time finding them that'll comply with all the newer technology. Also suggest your drives are sata, because a lot of motherboards are also phasing out IDE.

That's gay. I have actually found a motherboard that will support AGP and 64bit, but it just highlights how much much of a fucking money pit buying an new pc is.

I've been using SATA for years.
 
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