Building a pro audio pc w i74790k

[flipper666]

I want to build a pro audio PC around this processor...any suggestions on motherboards...maybe Gigabyte or Asus? Any advice on any PC components that would make my build more efficient and quiet would be great!

Thank you,

 

[AdviserKulikov]

Recording or mixing? Because if you're mixing then it's more on the headphones, DAC and AMP.

If you're recording, your most important parts are going to be your fans and coolers, underclocking your parts so they don't need to run active fans.

What sort of budget are we talking about?

If you're concerned about mechanical noise and have enough budget, just keep the computer in a soundproofed room. If you're concerned about digital noise you'll want a high end motherboard and expensive noise isolating components.

 

[flipper666]

I'm thinking about the 800-1000 buck range as far as budget. I'll be using Cakewalk Sonar. I'll be mixing and recording....and a lot of editing. Thanks for your quick reply! I will be using a Focusrite USB 3.0 sound card...

 

[AdviserKulikov]

I'm thinking about the 800-1000 buck range as far as budget. I'll be using Cakewalk Sonar. I'll be mixing and recording....and a lot of editing. Thanks for your quick reply! I will be using a Focusrite USB 3.0 sound card...

Since you already have some parts it sounds like: let's get a list of what you already have available to work with, and what you feel is holding you back.

 

[flipper666]

Ok here we go...

I already have a monitor, speakers (studio monitors), keyboard, mouse, Focusrite soundcard (USB 3.0).

 

[AdviserKulikov]

Ok here we go...

I already have a monitor, speakers (studio monitors), keyboard, mouse, Focusrite soundcard (USB 3.0).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim 113.8 CFM Rifle Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($100.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 750 2GB Video Card ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Silent Base 800 ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill 500W 80+ Platinum Certified Semi-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($16.89 @ OutletPC)
Total: $757.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-24 14:09 EDT-0400

Here's my preliminary suggestion, how much storage space do you need? If you can get everything on an SSD that would remove HDD sounds from the equation. Currently I have the noise cut down to a minimum, but if you have directional microphones I would be comfortable using slightly louder but much less expensive equipment and getting better performance.

How much power are you looking to have in the PC? What programs will you be running so I know if I over or under-powered this build.

 

[flipper666]

Thanks so much! You are a great help! I'm glad you suggested the i5...that was a consideration of mine before thought about the i7. Is there a motherboard that is upgradable to 32 gigs of ram? Also could I use the video card feature on the motherboard? I have a 500 gig usb hard drive I could use for storage so the ssd would be great. With all this can you think of anything else?

Thanks again, Philip

 

[AdviserKulikov]

Thanks so much! You are a great help! I'm glad you suggested the i5...that was a consideration of mine before thought about the i7. Is there a motherboard that is upgradable to 32 gigs of ram? Also could I use the video card feature on the motherboard? I have a 500 gig usb hard drive I could use for storage so the ssd would be great. With all this can you think of anything else?

Thanks again, Philip

Currently the i7 wouldn't be a bad consideration, I'll swap it out for an i7-4790s if you would like. It's useful if you're running stuff like compression programs that can take advantage of the hyperthreading. It also has a lower heat signature, requiring less fan noise to cool.

The motherboard has support for 32GB, just drop 2 more sticks of RAM in when you need it.

You can use the video capabilities of the CPU if you would like, if you don't use anything visually intensive such as video games or graphics processing it isn't strictly necessary to have a discrete GPU. I just throw one in for good measure as most users will appreciate having one once in a while. I do tend to forget that modern Intel processors have semi-capable graphics.

For storage, I advise at least 120GB of SSD capacity. Depending on how much additional storage you need, you may need a mechanical hard drive or you may be fine using your external one for everything except windows and a few programs.


PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3GHz Quad-Core Processor ($159.99 @ Micro Center)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Shadow Rock Slim 113.8 CFM Rifle Bearing CPU Cooler ($39.99 @ NCIX US)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($100.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($79.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Silent Base 800 ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill 500W 80+ Platinum Certified Semi-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($16.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $794.80
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-24 16:51 EDT-0400

Here's another preliminary build. If you only need 500GB of storage, I think we might be able to put together a silent build with no moving parts aside from the DVD drive if you put a disk in (And the case fans, but you need something to move the heat around, might as well have specially mounted fans to reduce noise).

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4570T 2.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($194.49 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: Zalman FX100 Fanless CPU Cooler ($64.98 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z97MX-Gaming 5 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($100.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1866 Memory ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: OCZ ARC 100 480GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($152.99 @ Amazon)
Case: be quiet! Silent Base 800 ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Rosewill 500W 80+ Platinum Certified Semi-Modular Fanless ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSC0B DVD/CD Writer ($16.89 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 OEM (64-bit) ($86.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $927.29
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-06-24 17:06 EDT-0400

This has the advantage of putting out about the same heat as a lightbulb. Keep in mind you're paying a pretty hefty premium on all this low noise equipment. But I know that depending on your level of audio quality you're pursuing, minimal background noise can be vital (My motherboard puts out a tiny amount of USB noise that bothers my headphones if I turn them up to 11... which while not a real issue, irritates me to no end).

 

[flipper666]

Thank you very much!