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What machine would you recommend for a combined DAW and MIR host.
I am not a professional, and rarely use more than 24 instruments in a piece.
I am looking to replace current workstation with something upward of 32gigs (with even more room to expand for memory).
But as to CPU's, I have not kept up with developments over the last 3 to 4 years ... so do not know my i7 from my xeons.
Budget might be £1.5k,
Thanks
bump...
Anyone able to advise me on a spec for a machine capbale of runnin both DAW and MIR?
thanks
@Air said:
Hi Drew,
If you want more than 32 Gig RAM you need 2 Xeon CPUs. I would recommend the new E5 CPUs. With this you be able to host your DAW and your VSL with MIR.
Regards
Bernd
So you have no chance, with your budget. I think you'll have to go for a single CPU i7, perhaps a Hex core.
DG
I have a $600 computer I bought off the shelf at Best Buy. It has an i5 processor. I put in 16gb of Ram, but otherwise, no other upgrades have been done. I have MIR 24, Cubase, Vienna Suite and a bunch of full DVD libraries and everything works fine. You don't need a super computer to run this stuff.
Corte Swearingen
Many thanks for the replies.
After doing my own research I think I will I think I will give myself a budget up to £3k, and go for a dual Xeon system ... with 32gig, with expansion capacity toward 192gig. (I'm fed up of buying new system every three years becuase I've run out of memory capcity ;-)
I don't have the time to build a system myself, so was considering scan.co.uk
Can anyone suggest any other reputable DAW system builders in the UK, that might be worth considering?
@Air said:
If you want more than 32 Gig RAM you need 2 Xeon CPUs. I would recommend the new E5 CPUs. With this you be able to host your DAW and your VSL with MIR.
Thanks for processor suggestion.
I think this is the basis of the scan.co.uk system I am looking at. Why do you recommend this processor family in particular?
Be greatful if you have a moment to share your views.
Hi,
The E5 family has at least 3 memory channels. Depending which processor you select they have 4 memory cannels as well. Our certificated DAWs vendor XI-machines (http://xi-machines.com/xi_de/xi_systeme_vsl_de.html) in germany has build some really big monsters with this processors and SSDs drives for some of our customers which work pretty well [:D].
If you are looking for a system you do not have to think about performance for the next 5 years go for something like this.
Regards
Bernd
FWIW: I just ordered a new machine, based on a i7 3930k, 6 * 3.2/3.8 GHz, with 32 GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM (4 memory channels). This will be a nice system to run MIR Pro on. Yay! :-)
BTW - based on several years of experience, our IT guys recommend ATI video cards.
@Air said:
Hi Drew,
If you want more than 32 Gig RAM you need 2 Xeon CPUs. I would recommend the new E5 CPUs. With this you be able to host your DAW and your VSL with MIR.
Regards
Bernd
Not quite necessarily. x79 mobo's accept up to 64GB. E.g. Intel
So you can use a second-gen i7, hex-core, X79 mobo w/ 64GB, and that should be more than plenty to deal with your DAW, VEP, MIR, and a good bunch of libraries simultaneously.
Thank you for the kind replies everyone.
Maybe an overclocked i7 with a motherboard upto 64gig will suffice.
@Dietz said:
FWIW: I just ordered a new machine, based on a i7 3930k, 6 * 3.2/3.8 GHz, with 32 GB of DDR3 1600MHz RAM (4 memory channels). This will be a nice system to run MIR Pro on. Yay! 😊
BTW - based on several years of experience, our IT guys recommend ATI video cards.
I got exactly the same computer one week ago. Hooked to my Mac Pro is a killer combo.
I Have most of my libraries in a SSD and playing a busy arrangement running 36-38 instruments (PLAY and Kontakt) plus some FX and several instances of EWQL Spaces the CPU meter never goes beyond 14-16%
Thank you everyone for the advice you've given.
So my choice comes down to the following;
I want to be able to Cubase 64bit, VSL, MIR 24, and a mixture of Kontakt instruments etc, all on a single system.
Typical arrangements are between 24 and 30 VI's.
Options
1) i7 3976 Hex Core, overclocked to 4.4Ghz with 64GB Ram for £2,200 (no spare capacity beyond 64GB)
or
2) Dual Intel Xeon E5640, Quad Core, each 2.66Ghz, with 48GB Ram for £2,903 (capacity to 192GB)
or
3) Dual Intel Xeon X5650, S 1366, Westmere Six Core, 2.66GHz, with 48 GB RAM for £3,200 (capacity to 192GB)
Would the i7 suffice?
If not, which of the Xeon system would you go for ... is the 4core E5 more powerful than the 6 core X5?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Options
1) i7 3976 Hex Core, overclocked to 4.4Ghz with 64GB Ram for £2,200 (no spare capacity beyond 64GB)
or
2) Dual Intel Xeon E5640, Quad Core, each 2.66Ghz, with 48GB Ram for £2,903 (capacity to 192GB)
or
3) Dual Intel Xeon X5650, S 1366, Westmere Six Core, 2.66GHz, with 48 GB RAM for £3,200 (capacity to 192GB)
Would the i7 suffice?
If not, which of the Xeon system would you go for ... is the 4core E5 more powerful than the 6 core X5?
Thanks for your suggestions.
Hi Drew.
As fas as I know, the i7 3970X is the same processor as the 3960X running 200/100MHz faster. No idea about the 3976X.
Check this. It may help:
For single CPU
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
For multiple CPUs
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/multi_cpu.html
Good luck [;)]
Drew,
Have you really assessed the need for massive amounts of RAM? I'd urge anyone in your possition to do some homework first and try to estimate their RAM needs before making any decision. I am one who thinks the future is more on the disk streaming (SSD) improvements to be able to handle more, and not so much in having massive RAM capacities. It is simply more cost effective, to begin with.
On the other hand, just respectfully proving your assumptions:
a) An i7 3930k CPU and suitable x79 MOBO, with 64MB RAM go today for about US$1,000.
b) A six-core Xeon E5645 (US$ ) is an older gen CPU. You can certainly use it, however I'd have thought you'd be more interested in investing in a newer Sandy Bridge socket-2011 reincarnation, such as (for instance) a six-core 2.0 GHz E5-2620. This last would be around $425, plus a suitable double CPU MOBO, and 48GB RAM, would be give or take $1250. Then you may want to consider adding the second CPU, or not. But whatever you buy for the first, the second has to be exactly the same.
Either alternative is viable, I think it may be start to be more of a cost consideration at some point. The i7 system is a top line system by today's standards. The dual Xeon is a premium system, higher cost. Keep in mind there are a few things to keep in mind when you use these dual CPU MOBO's, in terms of how RAM is split, same CPU's, etc. And the fact that the E5-2620 is considerably slower than a i7-3930. When you go and look at a faster Xeon, the price creeps up very rapidly...
To me, bottom line, you need to estimate what your intended capacity requirements are for the next 3-4 years and decide. I'd not look for any technology decision you make today to try to overcome the pace of rapid progress and go beyond that timeframe, as you'll find yourself interested in upgrading in 3-4 years. I guarantee it.
Hope this helps somewhat.
I think that a i7 3930k CPU with a x79 MOBO, with 32 MB RAM and an SSD for the samples is really more than enough.
With an SSD you don't need that much RAM and you load samples really really faster!
Thank you for the overnight responses.
- The older generation Xeons I am considering do not seem to be as fast as the i7, according to the benchmark test results (thanks for the link).
(The new generation prices rise very rapidly exceeding a reasonable budget for me)
- And even though they would be in a dual configuration, they are much more expensive, the mobo seems to be very outdated (no sata 3, or usb 3) ... and although they enable upto 192GB, I can't foresee needing that amount in the next 4 years, especially as Sergino points out SSD mean relatively smalller amounts of RAM are required.
An i7 Hex core overclocked to 4.4Ghz with 64GB RAM would seem to be more than adequate for my needs, costs £1000 less than the xeons, (64GB v 32GB RAM is only £100 more ... no brainer)
(The £2200 price tage, is for the complete system I might add. Excellent case, silent cooling, silent 850W power supply and silent ATI graphics, 240gb ssd system drive, and Windows 7 64bit Pro)
Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and insight. I am very grateful.
