building my own pc

  • Thread starter Thread starter pandamonk
  • Start date Start date
AMD's technology is different to Intel's, allowing them to achive higher performance with lower clock speeds.

The AMD X2 CPUs are effectivly two processors in one - giving huge performance boosts in many music making packages. Apparently Sonor makes really good use of multithreading. I use Cubase - and it certainly makes a big difference with that!

Here's an AMD X2 spec I did recently - hope it helps:

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CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800+ (Socket 939) - Retail (ADA3800BVBOX) (CP-134-AM)

Motherboard:
Abit AV8

CPU cooler:
Zalman CNPS7700-CU Ultra-Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail

Case:
Lian-Li PC-7 PLUS Silver Aluminium

RAM:
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC3200 Dual Channel Platinum Series EL-DDR CAS2

Power Supply (PSU):
Antec Phantom 500W Hybrid Fan Silent ATX2.0 PSU

DVD/CD writer:
Plextor PX-716AL Dual Layer Slot Loading 16x4x DVD±RW ReWriter - Retail

Two Seagate hard drives:
2 X Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 NCQ 250GB ST3250823AS SATA 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-020-SE)

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I haven't included a monitor, keyboard or many of the other peripherals. I also haven't included a graphics card, as I don't know if this machine will be playing games (and you seem to have decided on a gfx card). I've left the soundcard off too as you seem to have decided on an audio interface.

Have fun with whatever you get - and find an experienced friend to help with your build :D
 
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This machine will only be used for my studio. And i only chose that graphics card because of the dual monitor out. what type of motherboards should i be looking for with an AMD X2? Also, would this be a good choice, and is it good price?
 
pandamonk said:
Ok, confussed about processors. How come the AMD is £300ish for 2.2GHz, and the pentium 4 is £100 for 3.2GHz, with the AMD being conisdered the better option? Also what motherboard will work well with AMD X2 that isn't too expensive? What changes would everyone mine, for the same or not too much more than it?
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gigahertz is not every thing you know. Intel uses the processor speed to advertise. 3.2ghz dosent mean that it can get the info around the pc at that speed. other factors affect the performace of your over all PC. try a 2.8 celeron and a 2.8 P4 and youll see what I mean. they're both intels.
 
pandamonk said:
This machine will only be used for my studio. And i only chose that graphics card because of the dual monitor out. what type of motherboards should i be looking for with an AMD X2? Also, would this be a good choice, and is it good price?
Click to expand...
If you're buying in the UK there are a number of online retailers.
Have a look at:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/
http://www.overclock.co.uk/
http://www.quietpc.com/uk/
http://www.dabs.com/
http://www.scan.co.uk/
...and compare prices.

There are loads more online retailers if you look.

That CPU (the X2-4200) would be great for a DAW.

The Abit AV8 is a good mainboard for X2 CPUs and supports AGP graphics cards, like the one in your original post. The Abit AN8 is a good mainboard for X2 CPUs which supports PCI-Express graphics cards, should you decide to go that route.

You're basically looking for a Socket939 mainboard with AMD X2 support.
 
Ok, looking into building my pc again, as i just realised that it shouldn't be too long before i have the money for it. I have changed my ideas and now need 4 ADAT I/Os. I have found thisbut it comes with a PCI card, is this bad? Is it all changing to PCI-e or something? If yes, what can i do? i don't have a huge budget and need a reasonably fast computer with 4 ADAT I/Os. I would like, like you guys suggested, to get a AMD athlon 64 X2. Also 2 harddrives, and quite a bit of RAM, at least 1GB. A dual out graphics card, a DVD-RW +/-, and a rack mountable case. My budget is probably around £1000, but that is maximum, if i can get it cheaper then GREAT! I looked on ebay and can get a PC with 200GB sata hd, 1GB RAM, AMD 64 X2 4200, DVDRW +/-, dual monitor out, shitty case neons and shite speakers which i would obviously sell the moment i got it, network card/modem which i wont need, and 7.1 sound(great:p), for £600 + p&p(£20).If i sell the case and neons and whatever else i can i should get the p&p back, lol. Then i can get a rack case for £70, another hd for bout £50 maybe another 1GB ram for £40, then 2 monitors, say £120 each. That's exactly £1000. Can anyone find it any cheaper/easier? :o
 
I wouldn't buy components off ebay (especially if it's your first build).
To be honest I wouldn't buy any essential components off ebay at all.

A friend of mine bought a graphics card from ebay and it had been overclocked to hell and back and was seriously unstable (sparklies and the like - and eventual death!).

I know some people are lucky with it - but IMO it's not worth the risk.

It sounds as though you have the right idea about the specification.

At this point I would recomend the Abit AN8 mainboard:
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/techspec.php?categories=1&model=259

Don't worry about PCI going away - it'll be supported for a good time yet.
The AN8 has PCI-e as well as regular PCI slots.

I would recommend Corsiar or OCZ RAM. Stay away from any RAM marked as 'value', but there is no need to go for super RAM with amazing timings unless you plan to overclock.
 
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