Intel E6850 Core 2 Duo

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 1:31 pm

I got to see some audio apps being used w/ a Q6600, QX6850, and the lowly little E6850 Conroe.

I have been trying to prepare for Gigastudio 4 by researching the P35, X38, and other CPU / Chipset combinations.

I wish to be prepared for Vista drivers if they suddenly become available for Scope, but the reality is that I need the best XP performance upgrade I can afford, as GS4 will be a host for VSTi's and will have the new code that made GVI so much better than GS3.

My buddy here in LV has several computers that he built, and has 2 DAW's, which are actually for video firstmost, but one has an ancient Luna card, and the other an RME Digiface w/ breakout box.

He OC's his video boxes and claims large gains by doing so, and is an avid Asus, DFI guy 4 sure.

He has assured me that my quest of the DFI X38 T2R / QX9650 CPU, is totally unnecessary for audio. His benchmarks using iTunes, LAME, and Nuendo were proof enough for me.

He suggested waiting for a long time before upgrading, but I told him my E6700 was being stressed at current polyphony and libraries loaded in GVI.

Then he showed off his E6850 in some iTunes, and LAME bench's where the stock speeds of the CPU's were used. Even in that scenario, the E series doing audio benchs, out does the QX series, as well as the quads, and these apps. are multi core compatible. When he showed the amount of VSTi's loaded in the host at stock speeds, it seemed sufficient for live work as there were 6 running, along with Giga, and 12 tracks of audio. He then OC'd the same box and was able to load 4 more VSTi's and double the audio tracks. I was impressed, but the clincher was the CPU had plenty of headroom left.

That was his idea of a stable Overclock to use w/ Scope / GVI, or GS4 for that matter.

Hell this CPU is only 275 USD, and if the proper Micron memory modules are added, a very modest voltage bump, and increase of the F.S.B. shows a remarkable boost in performance, modest by Overclocker's standards, but the stock fan, along with the impressive stock cooling from Asus has sold me.

The 3,0GHz speed, and the 1333MHz FSB make this a good choice at stock speeds. But lower latency memory, and a bump from 9 to 10 on the muliplier will give this baby an additional 333 MHz of speed for free. No noticable heat or power issues, just good common sense Overclockin'.

I am sold. I had to see these apps. being OC'd to know how good this could be if used conservativly.

So when GS4 becomes available, it seems as though the fastest dual core beats out the quads where Giga and VSTi's are concerned. I will simply design my DAW around Scope compatability first, then Gigastudio second. Only this time, I can OC it if I need to. The stock speed of this @ 3.0GHz w/ 1333MHz FSB should do the trick, it's good to know if I want to Overclock it, it will do so in spades.

GS4 in 32bit XP will allow a 3GB memory trick from what I was told also. So 4GB's of DDRII CL3 RAM, an Intel E6850, and an ASUS mobo will do just fine, ankyuvarymush.

ScofieldKid · Post by **ScofieldKid** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:59 pm

Looks good. I hear you on the 4GB issue. I thought this quote explained the situation fairly well:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/XPMyths.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929605/en-us

My gut on the Quad v. Duo issue is that a lot of the current benchmark tools are only dual-threaded maximum. So when the benchmark is only a single app test, the benchmark might be a wash against a Duo.

But I'm on the same track... I'd like to hit 1333 DDR3, E6750. I have lots of systems so I tend to overthink them as well. I will likely do some kind of ARECA RAID5 on the side of this one also, but that's another story...

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:08 am

Lame was the only app. that spawned multiple threads. Even then the fast F.S.B. on the E6850 using 2 threads, was slightly ahead of the Quad due to it's slower F.S.B.

My friend has convinced me that if and when audio applications really begin to spawn 4 threads, it will be a while, and by then the 45nm CPU's, and X series chipset based Mobo's will be more mature and cheap. Plus DDR3 will be reasonable.

I really didn't want to spend that much money on an X38 / DFI board, CPU, config. But the DFI w/ plenty of PCI's and the P35 / E6850 should have the power needed to be a VSTi / GS4 hosting DAW.

By having a 4GB DDR2 CL3 / E6850 / DFI P35 DAW, it will only cost 700 USD.
I can live with that.

ScofieldKid · Post by **ScofieldKid** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:56 am

So... curious... which mobo is getting the blessing? Asus P5K series?

I totally grok this approach. I just have the luxury of waiting myself to see where things go in the next few months with PC's. DDR2 1066 is as good as anything else at this point, so no problem there. And yeah, the higher clocks on the C2D... it all makes sense.

I had actually been looking at the iMAC, but saw lots of issues with their FW800 on the support forums, and no ExpressCard on that one, so they really made that thing a 0-expansion box. Their Macbook Pro is still their best piece of hardware price/performance.

FrancisHarmany · Post by **FrancisHarmany** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:07 am

I am definitly interested in hearing what wil work nicely for a stable - able to use live - setup!

If the universe is kind, I will have another 30DSPs soon! Funny thing is I do not have enough machines for all my cards

ScofieldKid · Post by **ScofieldKid** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:31 pm

The last one I bought... I installed it at work.

You can never have too many Scope cards...

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:00 pm

After careful consideration, and watching it's BIOS updates, OC'ng reviews, I must stray from the Intel mobo's, for they are the ones responsible for all of these 2 32bit PCI designs,..............................................................................................

The winner is the DFI P35 Infinity Blood Iron

It is very stock, allowing my choice of CPU HSF combo

The PCI layout is considerate for 3 full length cards.

The BIOS allows the exact voltages, and tweaks for my modest OC'ng desires.

The latest review below convinced me.

http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=611

Here's another reason why the above is the upgrade, along with the prices, etc.

GigaStudio 4 supports multi-core processors, but because of the kernel-level engine the main part of the app runs on one core. GigaPulse, hosted VST plug-ins, etc. would run on other cores. So if you were choosing between a super-fast dual-core and a less speedy quad-core, the dual core would probably get better performance. You can post this if you want to (minus the email address).

kylie · Post by **kylie** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:21 pm

looks nice, indeed. hell, is that a netcat sitting on top of the lan port?

pci slot arrangement looks fine. well, all sata ports in that area, so maybe you'll have to use angle plugs here...

but what about something like this:

http://www.chassis-plans.com/motherboar ... -965q.html ?

-greetings, markus-

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:52 pm

Those look perfect as well.

I will miss my Intels, but they wish to push rhe marketplace around a little too much recently.

The SATA ports are staggered somewhat.

If you could see a different angle it would be more noticable.

Besides GaryB and his chopstick fingers will jump any hurdles w/o a problem.

Post by **garyb** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:13 am

5 pci slots....

kylie · Post by **kylie** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:22 am

garyb wrote:5 pci slots....

that's why I posted this.

FrancisHarmany · Post by **FrancisHarmany** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:03 am

Industrial mobos! looks great

kylie · Post by **kylie** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:23 am

FrancisHarmany wrote:Industrial mobos! looks great

but expect them not to be cheap. industrial boards usually offer long term support and broader range of environmental parameters to work in, and that's not for free...
you can still get isa boards with p4, for those who need it, as well...

-greetings, markus-

dawman · Post by **dawman** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:38 am

Yeah Those Guys Are Top Shelf 4 Sure,

I was discussing a P35 model w/ the developer, but no design as of yet is in the works. But the 965's are selling like hot cakes.

http://jackd%40chassisplans.com