PlanetZ forums - scopeusers.com

I got today an e-mail from my supplier telling that the following items are now available for me:

Intel Lemont DP965LTCK
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
Corsair VS2GBKIT667D2 DDR2 KIT 2X1GB 667MHZ CL5
Asus EN7300GT
Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB SATAII
Western Digital Caviar Se 160GB 7200 SATA
A-Link/G+F+ENet PCI RJ45 Giga Ethernet

These are the parts I placed an order for a couple of weeks ago. I have not yet paid for them so if you see any incompatibilities please tell me.

As you can see I have not yet ordered the case but quite propably it will be
Antec Titan650.
Antecs are available and popular here and this model can take full size pci cards.

The cheap network card is for the older machine. I'm going to try if I can get Fx-Teleport working.

looks good...

Hey! So you have already started! Great! I can feel de excitement going on…
The Intel Lemont DP965LTCK seems to be a good choice, it has pretty everything you may need for a long time.

The processor, I don’t agree. I was after the exact same one, but in a “cheaper” range, you have a bigger and more powerful CPU, that is the one I’ve got, the E6750. Intel is moving toward the 1333MHZ, so they push people to get the 6750 instate of the 6600, but it is a better processor, for about 20 dollar less!
You should really read the reviews around and so you can see that for yourself.

About the Corsair VS2GBKIT667D2 DDR2 KIT 2X1GB 667MHZ CL5, I have to say that I was thinking on getting 667 too, but I was wrong. I have speculated much, read much about the subject of which is better, the 667 or the 800. The truth is that the performance difference it is important, depending on the kind of programs you’re going to use. For me for instance, using multimedia apps, it makes an important difference, because may programs uses ram in a particular way that 800 is much better than 667. I cannot explain you in depth about it, because it is too complex for me, but I don’t need to know everything to know what is convenient for me, because I try things out before, so think about it. Read reviews and give some readings to the way your programs will work with respect to ram, and then decide. Ram is something you cannot save money on; it is like your legs… way too important.

Nothing to say about the ASUS EN7300GT because I don’t know it, but I guess that if you don’t do graphics at all in your machine, it will be plenty for what I have read.

About the Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB SATAII, Western Digital Caviar Se 160GB 7200 SATA, of course, great choices, but there, if you can, spend some more money and get the biggest drives you can afford, you’ll need them sooner or later, rather sooner… it is always like that.

The Antec Titan 650 is a great choice, but a bit expensive perhaps… Well, anyway, you know, when you do a PC yourself you’ll truly love to have lots of space to move, and this implements keeping everything cool as airflow gets moving much more than in small, bad quality cases.

What you don’t mention is the PSU, unless you are getting the 600 watts that comes included with the Antec, Titan 650. If this is the case, you’ll get a BIG PSU. Do you need it really? If you plan to plug many more things in the future, it’s ok, otherwise it is a waste of money in both ways, the first, the price of the PSU, the second, electricity bills. I think that with a 500watts high quality PSU you’ll get an over-killing power supply. When you get a PSU, you better get the best possible make, but not necessarily the biggest in power. You should also investigate that the PSU it is proven to be SILENT, or you’re going to suffer from his bothering sound for years to come… Get to read the reviews of every item you intend to buy, always. Do it with the PSU too, so you get the “real thing”.
I don’t think you have any incompatibility there. But, it would be good to know how many SCOPE cards are you planning to install?

Thank you gary.

And thank you, Nestor. I can see you have really thought about these things thoroughly. I appreciate your advice.
Well, we have different ideas and different goals,don't we? For me it's important to get a trouble-free working pc. Also I have to make my choices on the availability of the parts on our market. These are what I know I can easily get here, and so I ordered for them. If gary gives his blessing it's ok
.
This will be a pc just for music, no internet, no graphics processing, no gaming, no other progs than just those I already have. I even decided to stop the annual upgrade/update rhumba I've been dancing since my first Atari, 1986, too long ago. I have other use for my money and my activities now. And the point is: I'm too old for that kind of amusement, anymore.

Yes, the Antec Titan650 seems like an overkill, kind of...But the price difference to the nex step down was quite neglible.
Antec Sonata had a 380W psu, Sonata 2 has 450W, Sonata 3 has 500W. Ok, but they haven't room for full-size pci cards.
I succeeded in getting a Pro card working in a Sonata (v.1) box. But there's no room for a second one.
I decided to try to get yet an other Scope Pro card, if a tempting sales offer still is available. That's why I need space for full size cards.

Titan comes with its psu. More than enough power I admit. So what? I have no big tv screens, no home theatre equipment, no boat, no car. Still I'm happy. And my electricity bills have been actually sinking. Imagine!
(Well, I must confess, I have quite a high end hi-fi rig with Accuphase class A amps. Warm nicely during the long cold winter days )

Asus graphic card is a cheap basic one. No bells no whistles. No need for more. I have my small workroom ("studio" is too pretentious word) equipped with an allround/office pc already .

Next week I'll go and collect the ordered items and pay the bill.
If you don't forbid me I'll place an order for an Antec Titan650 case too.

Still I'm open to suggestions...

BTW. The Atari, or the Ataris, I still have two of them. A ST520 and a Mega Atari. And both are still working!
Amazing! Impossible, you would say if you had a look inside them. Never seen anywhere so primitive solding job. Even myself would do it better!

the titan is fine, but i regularly use the tx1050. it's much cheaper, but still a great case. it will definitely fit a full sized card.
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=61050

i'm sure that'll be a great DAW for quite some time.

Thanks, gary.
I would use tx1050, of course, for the reasons you named, but unfortunately it's no more available here.
I could get one by ordering from Germany, at a price of 169 EUR plus shipping.
Titan650 will cost just 175 EUR, no shipping needed. And in case of guarantee and service I'm dealing with a local dealer.

sure.
it's unfortunate the tx isn't available. in the US and Canada, you can get a "b" stock for $80.....

I've always said we live in a wrong country.
Everything is so damned expensive. You wouldn't believe it!

But enough of that...There are other points, though. Still something great I wouldn't be without.

You will surely get a powerful and stable system with what you have chosen. Now, are you actually going to build it with your own hands? If yeas, have you done it before? If you didn't there are a few things you should know so to take care of your items.

It is nothing so complicated or special, but you better know what you're doing.

When I build a system, I would alwyas prepare a writing with all tthe steps. Particiuarly if I have to upgrade, as it is more complicated cos of the migration of the HDD contents and so on. I would suggest you to write down the steps you have to take, and there you'll find things you have never thought you would need to do, or take care about. This will save you time and will avoid from doing anything wrong.

Just an idea

Good idea, Nestor.
You're right, I've never actaually built a pc although I've many times planned of doing so.
I've built some simpler hi-fi gear, made my own hi-fi and instrument cables, built several hi-fi speakers, serviced broken microphone and instrument cable plugs on band gigs during the show when all other guys were playing (I was a horn player ), upgraded my computers and fixed and repaired broken mechanic things for my family and close friends and relatives. People seem to think that I have limitless patience and that I'm always interested in all kinds gadgets. That isn't always true, of course.

Anyway, I'm careful and there's no hurry. I try to think what I'm doing before I'm actually doing it.
Thank you Nestor. I will ask when something I'm not familiar with comes along.

I have not a lot of old files and projects on my old HDDs but if needed I have Ghost 3 and Partition Magic available.

I have not yet decided if I'll keep the old pc (865PERLL with P4) as there's no place for another Pro card in the Sonata case. The original idea was to have the older pc for Scope only and the new one for everything else. And use FxTeleport for connecting them.
But the 865 pc has acted strangely, maybe it's a fault in one of the Maxtors (I have three of them). It's difficult to know, yet.

Cool! So good luck and let us know how it performs...

Thank you, Nestor.

i would go for a 600W because :

1) Intel boards like an increasing number of brands ask for big PSUs. It means that you may get into troubles with a , let say, 350/400W !!! (it is mentionned in their website)

2) A good and powerful PSU is an investment. Should you make your computer grow (additional HDs, external devices, ...) and you won't have to change your PSU so ...

Jo

That's right, Jo. Exactly what I'm thinking.

Some points more:
- Price difference between Sonata 3 and Titan (here) is only 40EUR
- Sonata 3 has 500W PSU (see the trend)
- Titan takes full size pci cards, Sonata doesn't
- Larger box, better cooling, more options, easier to service
- I'm familiar with Antec cases and they are well available here

Think of the PSU as the biggest factor for PC noise.
You would not regret a silent and powerful PSU.
Like: Hiper and Mist - The noise level should be literated

Sure.
This is supposed to both silent - and powerful.
I'll soon see what's the reality. Anyway, I'll place all my computers around the corner in another room. Higher pitched noise will not be heard but low pitch rumble might be a little more problematic. Still it's the best way to get rid of (unwanted ) noise, I think.

Today I went to the shop, paid the bill and carried home two large plastic bags loaded with computer parts .
Now I have bought everything but the Antec Titan case. I have placed an order for it but it may take 2-4 weeks before I get it. So there will be a short break for my comments here.

Can't you get a bus and buy it somewhere else? 4 weeks it too much. I would move and get it from another shop... Then I would go to the shop with the case... just to show up

Nestor wrote: Then I would go to the shop with the case... just to show up

Oh man, that was funny
It's not available in my country. No shop seems to stock it at the moment. The nearest shop where I could get it would be somewhere in Germany, maybe... maybe not. I could get the case from France but the price would be higher.

Four weeks too much? I have time, this is not my first computer, and propably even not the last. I can wait.
Actually I'm working all the time - untill next month - preparing music material for a concert of my music. So I'm not idling. No past time problems