Advice on Core 2 Duo machine with (at least) 3 PCI slots

[ChrispyH]

Hi,

My current DAW is causing me real problems, so I think it's time to invest in a new one. I'd like to buy off-the-shelf if possible (I don't trust my build capabilities!), and have been looking at Dell and others. However, I'm having serious problems finding what I need, which I thought was quite minimal!

- Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (or above) processor
- 2GB RAM
- 2 x 250GB Hard drives
- A half-decent graphics card (but high level gaming performance obviously isn't a requirement)
- At least 2 firewire ports (one for Liquid Mix and another for a firewire audio interface - see below)

But, here's the really important bit. I've got 2 UAD PCI (yep, PCI not PCIe) cards and an original Powercore PCI (again, NOT PCIe) card, and this one's a real monster at about 12\"-13\" long - which doesn't include the metal screw-down part which is about another 1.5cm I suppose. So I absolutely HAVE to have 3 PCI slots, that are all usable (I've seen some motherboard designs where the graphics card's heat sink overhangs one of the PCI slots, rendering it entirely unusable) and one of those slots needs to be able to hold the VERY sizeable Powercore, which I know a lot can't due to obstructions on the motherboard or simply due to case size. I'm not sure if these cards are the 5-volt variety or not, but that seems to also be an issue I need to look out for...

I'm currently using an M-Audio Audiophile PCI card, which I was hoping to bring across too, but it seems that 4 PCI slots in a Core 2 Due machine these days is unheard of (I've never seen more than 3; most are only 2) but I guess I'll have to get an external firewire interface instead (see above requirement for 2 firewire slots).

I was hoping to budget around £700 or so for this, but if I have to go higher then I'll have to go higher I suppose.

Any advice greatly appreciated, especially if you're already using UAD and Powercore cards together successfully, and have other good news such as positive iLok driver stability (if that ever can be positive!), etc.

Many thanks.

 

[Stuart Stuart]

I was in almost the exact same position.

I've gone for an ASUS commando board and a QX6700. I have the old long powercore PCI too, plus 2 UAD PCI's. With this new system, I've fitted them all in, plus bought a UAD PCIe which is running flawlessly alongside the existing stuff.

The board has two firewire - one straight up next to the USB ports and one that attaches internally with a little card. But it's no problem.

One thing - I had to buy a couple of 5.25 inch hard drive coolers, so I could remove the hard drive rack in the case, so the Poco PCI could extend out. Make sure you buy a case where you can move stuff out of the way and fit it in.

 

[project]

Asus P5B here with E6600 and 2GB DDR-2 800. 3 PCI slots and 3 PCIE 1X slots and 1 PCIE 16X check it out at newegg.com 2 UAD-1's

 

[sporter]

I like my AsRock system. 3 pci's, and even AGP, so I can use my video card and my PCI UAD-1. Works great with Intel Core Duo Processor/

 

[Commodor]

I suggest the Asus P5W DH-Deluxe...

3 X PCI

2 X PCI-E X16 slots

2 X PCI-E X1

Texas Instruments Firewire Controller

(One thing to watch for, if it's important to you, is the differences in the firewire support. Some of the P5B motherboards use a Via controller for this while some use the TI (Texas Instruments) controller. Oddly enough some of the top models of the P5B's use the Via controller. The Via is known to have issues with some firewire gear while the TI is generally known to work well. The P5W DH-Deluxe has the TI controller.)

'Native' EIDE support.

(If it matters, the Intel P965 chipset used on the P5B motherboards has no EIDE support at all. The P5B's have EIDE support only through an add-on controller.

This might not be an issue but, it can be. I've heard of guys ..for example.. having problems with imaging drives on the add-on controller.. even SATA drives.

On the P5W DH-Deluxe, in addition to native support there is also the same JMicron controller used on the P5B's ... so.. 4 X EIDE hard drives on the P5W DH-Deluxe versus 2 on the P5B... and that from the add-on controller.)

The P5B Deluxe and so on are nice and I'm not meaning at all here to suggest that they are inferior to the P5W DH-Deluxe and in fact the P965 is the newer chipset than the P975X used by the P5W-DH Deluxe motherboard.. and the P5B's can make an excellent DAW... just look closely at the differences between all of the various versions. There are a lot of trade offs and details to pay attention to that might come back to bite you if you don't choose carefully.

The P5W DH-Deluxe pretty much has it all and IMHO has the best overall balance of I/O, and accessories. YMMV of course.

To add: the Asus Commando does have 4 PCI slots.. but trades off other features, like the Via firewire controller and no e-SATA port on the back panel. Also, there are no PCI-E X1 slots.

I'd just want to confirm from others that the Via firewire controller won't be a problem for you.

Also, the Asrock 775 Dual-VSTA motherboard has 4 X PCI slots as well. I have one of these and it's fine except that the Via chipset on this conflicted with the Motorola DSP chip on my Soundscape Mixpander card and so didn't work for me.

But, no firewire support on board this one... and no PCI-E X1 either. Plus, be aware that this uses older VIA chipsets that might or might not be (or become) a problem for you. One plus is that this Asrock motherboard is incredibly inexpensive.

I talked with my OEM vendor about this board before trying it and to their credit they said they had had excellent results in the field with Asrock motherboards in general and had sold 400 or so with only 2-3 of returns.

Hope this is of some help.

Shop wisely... Best of luck!

Commodor

 

[Rickard]

I just got a p5w and really like it. I too had the Asrock board and could not get it stable with Nuendo. Many blue screens later I went for the p5w. I am however having problems using the third PCI slot. I cant get my system to post if there is a card in it.
Overclocking its easy and stable. I've been running 30% extra on a duo 2.4 for a few days now with low temps with the stock fan and no crashes. I'll try for more later in the week.

 

[Kosta]

Hi,

Asus P5W is upgradeable to multi-cores, right? What about P5B? It's almost half the price of P5W here but maybe not worth it if one plans to upgrade to octacore or whatever.


k

 

[Brad]

Sorry if this seems like a highjack, but dooes anyone have any experience with the Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3 Motherboard and the Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Sorry if this seems like a highjack, but dooes anyone have any experience with the Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3 Motherboard and the Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

You just read my mind, that board caught my eye earlier tonight because of the on-board VGA. It doesn't have on-board firewire (though I swear I saw it on there at the shop) but the GA-965G-DS4 does:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=2393

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, a UAD-1e can work in a PCIe x16 slot, meaning this board has 7 usable slots when the on-board video is used, no?

- edit - Damn, I just realized the DS4 isn't available in the US. Any Australians want to trade a Project Pak for one?

 

[KEN1]

http://www.shop-sonica.com/

 

[Commodor]

Sorry if this seems like a highjack, but dooes anyone have any experience with the Gigabyte GA-965G-DS3 Motherboard and the Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

You just read my mind, that board caught my eye earlier tonight because of the on-board VGA. It doesn't have on-board firewire (though I swear I saw it on there at the shop) but the GA-965G-DS4 does:

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ProductID=2393

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, a UAD-1e can work in a PCIe x16 slot, meaning this board has 7 usable slots when the on-board video is used, no?

- edit - Damn, I just realized the DS4 isn't available in the US. Any Australians want to trade a Project Pak for one?

Looks like that's a G965 rather than a P965 chipset. I'd just make sure that the G works well in general for a DAW. I remember reading something somewhere (Nuendo Hardware forum maybe?) about the G965 but don't remember what was said now. After doing some research I decided to stick with either the 965 or the 975X chipsets.

This mobo might work fine... maybe the only difference is the on-board video? I'd just want to be certain that it works as well as the P965 or the P975X.

Best,

Commodor

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

Any opinions on the Intel DG965WHMKR? Should I expect not to be able to overclock much with an Intel board?

http://www.intel.com/products/motherboard/dg965wh/index.htm