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To SMP or not to SMP?

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Project86

Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2002
My brother does music production, using mostly Cubase, Logic, and Protools. He uses all software synth, so he's moving a lot of bandwidth. He currently runs an XP3200 based system that I built him a while back (when it was cutting edge!) and is looking to upgrade. I was plotting something out with a budget of about $1100 or maybe a bit more. Wondering if this system-
A64 3000+ socket 939
Thermalright XP 120
DFI Lanparty Nforce4 (can't remember the model #)
G.Skill PC4400 2X512mb TCCD
Fortron 450w PSU
GeForce 6600GT PCI-express

Using the same RAID HD setup, same monitor, same case, etc that he already has, would be better than this

Asus PC-DL
2X 1.6ghz Xeons D1 stepping SL6XK
PC3500 Kingmax 2X512
2X windtunnels with 80mm adapters
Sparkle/Fortron 550w EPS
GeForce 6800 or 6800GT or maybe ATI X800XL

This was built using the guide stickied in this forum. The Xeons hopefully would run at 3.0 or maybe a bit more.

Had to go with a lower end video card on the A64 system to keep within budget, but even the 6600GT is plenty for him and he could always go SLI someday. The A64 rig seems very much more upgradeable- not much upgrade path for the dually. But assuming the A64 is a good OCer with FSB getting to maybe 240-250ish, and assuming the Xeon setup goes to 200-210ish FSB, which would be better for him? He is a light gamer, and needs it to be rock solid reliable at all times.
 
well the question is are those apps he uses multithread capable, if they are he would benefit from a duallie. If theya ren't then go with the A64 or even and intel based LG775
 
If you can afford it, Macs are REALLY nice for this kind of work. They own in the performance and usability in this field.

-Sam
 
Cubase does support multi threading, IIRC. That means the Dually would work better on it.

However, I have heard things where its best to turn of the HT on the Procesors with Cubase SX...

In Media Encoding, the Intel line beats the Athlon 64, so I would go SMP and hope for a nice OC :-D.

Edit: And, I would prolly go with 2GB. Cubase/Audio philes(har har) are ram hogs.
 
Yeah, I guess I should ask him which specific versions he has, and which one he uses most (I think it's like 90-95% Cubase, maybe Cubase VST??? I don't know much about it...)

2 gigs would be a very good idea, and would be much cheaper with the Dually and its cheap low voltage/limited FSB RAM requirements. Anyone remember offhand how many DIMM slots the PC-DL has? The A64 system would be pricy to go to 2 Gb.

As far as the Mac suggestion goes... No. He tried both Mac and PC when he first got into this stuff a long time ago, and decided he liked the PC for whatever reason. He is also a gamer, so the Mac wouldn't do. Also, his Soundcard is some super expensive Mark of the Unicorn thing that cost like $900, I don't know if it works with mac. Plus all his software he has invested in is for PC. So Mac is not really an option, even if it is better (which I'm not convinced of)
 
the pc-dl has 4 slots but i am not sure if it will work with 1Gb sticks or not
 
That's cool, 4 slots. I could get 2 sets of 512X2 Kingmax PC3500 (as recommended for this board) for just over $200.
 
Go for it :D

Duallys forever!

(Although the only dually I have only has one processor in it right now :p)
 
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