Experience with Core2 Quad Q6600?

cortone · Post by **cortone** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:02 pm

I may have a C2Q Q6600 coming my way in the not-too-distant future (the "price" will be right!). Has anyone had a chance to try one with Scope?

I currently have a Pentium D 3.4GHz in an Asus P5WD2-E board. It has been very solid with the exception of problems with the STS samplers, which I have never been able to fully overcome (though I have managed to drastically reduce the problems). I am able to use them, provided I save often and record to VDAT as soon as I can, and remove the STSx000 from the project after that. That, and the annoying VRC-S bugs are my only pains with Scope since I set up this system. Well, the sync problems with SX3 also, but that's a different story, with work-arounds available for that too.

Is anybody syncing VDAT with EnergyXT or some other MIDI editor besides the big names? I find less and less need for a full-blown audio recorder since I started using VDAT.

Thanks,
Cory

craighuddy · Post by **craighuddy** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:16 pm

Hi Cory,

Although I use SFP quite meagerly compared to most around here, I can report that SFP is stable here with my Q6600.
Using it with a Asus P5B deluxe with 2 GB of OCz DDR2 plat. ram
I have a ATI 1650 pro Vid card with fan removed and using Zalman cooler on both Vid and CPU (9500)
Zalman 600 PS all wrapped up in a Antec 180 case.

Easily the quietest and most powerful system I have ever used.

You will be pleased.

CH

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:31 pm

R U using this w/ a multi=threaded sequencer app.?

craighuddy · Post by **craighuddy** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:17 am

Hey Jimmy,

Yes, using Sonar 6.2 at the moment. It nicely uses all 4 cores as it splits it's engine into as many threads as CPUs available. Working VERY well here.

CH

cortone · Post by **cortone** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:36 am

Craig,

Thanks for the info. Do you use the Zalman cooling for the quiet, or were you having heat problems? It seems like those processors would be very low heat overall, so just wondering.

And now for the barrage of questions: Do you use the samplers much? Is most of your audio recording done in Sonar? How does the midi in Sonar compare to SX3? I am interested in a switch based on steinberg's recent behavior and upgrade price/feature list. I fear I will miss the Drum Editor most.

Cory

craighuddy · Post by **craighuddy** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:52 am

[quote="cortone"]Craig,

Thanks for the info. Do you use the Zalman cooling for the quiet, or were you having heat problems? It seems like those processors would be very low heat overall, so just wondering.

And now for the barrage of questions: Do you use the samplers much? Is most of your audio recording done in Sonar? How does the midi in Sonar compare to SX3? I am interested in a switch based on steinberg's recent behavior and upgrade price/feature list. I fear I will miss the Drum Editor most.

Cory[/quote

Cory,
I use the GPU and CPU zalmans for one reason only, sound. They are VEERY quiet. The Quad runs very cool. between 21 on idle to 34 celcius full bore

I don't use the STS samplers at all, they have historically been problematic for me. I use Kontakt for the diskstreaming . Works great for me. Sonar is fine for midi, there are some things missing in Sonar that were in Cubase and vice versa. Very intuitive though and after about 2 days you will be composing everybit as fast and effiencent as SX3. It it a little different paradigm , but once you get around it, it really is a great platform. Developers regularly visit the forums to help out as well, which is nice if you're stumped. There seems to be a few butt heads on their forum, but it seems pretty friendly all in all. They have a demo to try out, so you can check it out . Shoot me note if you have any questions.

CH

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:42 am

I have been watching this thread and am really interested in the Quad CPU to use w/ Cubase 4, and GVI. I was doing fine on a Core 2 Duo, but started doing multiple instances of VSTi's and GVI. That's when I started to get into a little coughing and gagging. I thought that in no way it was the 10k 16MB 150GB Raptors. So I believe that a CPU upgrade would be in my interest. I don't want to render to audio as I play live and all of that stuff is for the Milli Vannilly kind of guys. They got it made. They can fake their performances, and use the E6400 series CPU to get away w/ it. I have to spend more, but I have a feeling of pride that I don't fake my show. That's why I quit playing those kind of Jive ass gigs. You have to base your improv around a pre recorded section of music, or as some say, ..." I can change the arrangement live though".. I'd rather do it with my brain and fingers, ankyuvarymush.
Does Cubase 4 have the ability to take advantage of the 4 cores? I know that Intel and Sonar were working together during Sonar 5 64 bit, and Project V a couple years ago, so they have done well I imagine, but I have C4 and want to know if anyone has tried the Q series w/ C4?

TIA,
JV

Terrac · Post by **Terrac** » Wed May 09, 2007 7:06 pm

I am running a core2 duo With pulsar II on intel d975xbx2. which is a good combo, but you need good heatsinks and either water cooling or lots of fans.

I have attached a screen shot of logic platinum 5.3 on Windows XP SP2 w/ 4gb RAM running more hard core synth and gigantic sample sets, with about 20 disk audio tracks on a really fast loop with lots of effects. Which was done just to see what 'buck nutty' would be like on resources.

and it was not too bad.

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:54 pm

Awesome,
Thanks 4 the pic.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Thu May 10, 2007 10:00 pm

I'm using an ASUS and I am having some very serious problems with the SATA controller when I use the VDAT sometimes. It causes the computer to switch drive letters and then it will not boot until I fiddle with it. I just did a quick search and see that other people are having the same problem. I'm not buying another ASUS next time. I also heard that they went downhill in quality.

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Sat May 12, 2007 8:28 pm

I tend to agree w/ Braincell, my brotha',
Intel always has the most stable boards consistently. AQbit was awesome, and used the best Capacitors, etc. Then they lost it for a couple of mobos. Same goes with any company that tries to move capital venture from one part of the corp[oration, to another.

Intel has the resources to test their chipsets and mobo combos for many, many hours w/o market pressure. The gaming industry sets it's goals on similar timetables, which is where most mobo makers sell their kit. The Asus Commando is a prime example. It looked so nice, it had to suck. And it did as the testers i read demonstrate www.lostcircuits.com , www.amandtech.com .

I listen to these guys, and GaryB who builds consistent hunters 4 me. Funnt thing though, he doesn't read their forums, but they only re iterate his philosophy for strength and honor.

GaryB wordhips Scope, and that's the kind of guy I want doing my builds.