I7 6900K OC or not OC for Cubase 9 pro audio?

[monk_mingus]

I just swich from Mac to Pc, and from Logic 9 to Cubase pro 9. I built a PC with an i7-6900K. I work on huge orchestral templetes. I do not play games. On tha Mac Pro (old one) I had to freeze many tracks...and the workflow was terrible. I got many clicks and artifacts while playing back in real time.
1) Do you recommend to OverColck (O.C.) this CPU? If so, how far should I go for an stable system?
I ask this because the people who are assembling my PC just call me and asked me if I wanted any O.C.

These are my PC specs:
CPU: i7-6900K
MB: Asus deluxe ii
RAM: 4x16 64GB Trident Z 3200 CL14
GPU: GTX 1060 6GB
cooling: Hydro Cooling Corsair H100i v2
Power: Corsair 850w modular platinum
OS drive: Samsung 960 pro M2 512GB

Thanks in advance

 

[getochkn]

Well why were your projects clicking and that before? CPU maxing out? RAM maxxed and having to swap? Disk's too slow? Cubase uses lots of RAM for large samplers and Disk space and disk speed while CPU is more for plugins, so if you're running mostly a sampler based project vs lots of plugins, then faster CPU may not help.

That said, if the PC doesn't need the CPU speed, it simply won't use it so if they're offering a guarenteed and tested overclock, then maybe go with it so do you have the power.

 

[monk_mingus]

Thanks for the replying!

I was getting clicks, pops etc. because of exceeded CPU usage and Disk slow... I pushed the MAC to its limits..so at the end of my project I had to do many things (wasting lots of time..) to be able to finish the projects and deliver. That's why I am investing in a more powerful machine.

My projects consist in:

Many sampler based tracks (plenty of Kontakt units loaded with top libraries) I don't like to use one Kontakt and put many different instruments inside with different outputs and midi channel etc.. I prefer to control every track with one instrument and put the plugins needed for that specific one.

I have several groups (WW long, WW short, brass long, brass short, strings long, strings short, perc., FXs, synths etc.)
I use many plugins, some of them consume a lot of power, like East west QL spaces. I use it for scoring stage control ER and for tail. And of course all the other common plugins (compressor, EQ, etc. and I like sometimes to put some mastering plugins in the master channel to preview some things and then turn them off to keep working.

I use audio tracks too, not midi based.

And the thing is that I like to have everything on one project, I don't want to freeze channels etc.. Because this kill my workflow.

I like to have loaded many virtual instruments on my template even if I don't use them, so I can try easily different sounds just changing the midi notes from one midi track to the other.

In some projects I need to write music to video, so I need to work with the video open. I work on a 40" 4K monitor.

So, if someone have this CPU i7 6900K and work with these big templates, and did some OC...it would be of great help to know his/her feedback and thoughts...

Thanks!

 

[getochkn]

Well more power won't hurt. lol. Sounds like you could make use of it a mild OC. I remember from my days of audio, I could always max a project if I wanted. lol. Honestly if you're not gaming, I would go less on a GPU. I know some would say use the integrated, but since you will be working that CPU to the max, don't add extra heat for any video work on the CPU.

What are you doing for storage?

 

[monk_mingus]

Thanks for the reply.

I use a SSD 840 EVO 1TB and some regular sata 3 HD 7200. I am about to buy a 850 EVO 1TB

I know the GPU is too much for audio, but I do some video editing work (nothing big, not pro level) I like it. So that's why I bought that GPU.
So then, your point is that just having that GPU kills some power of my CPU, right?

 

[getochkn]

No, i meant to say stick with a GPU still. That CPU has a built in GPU but I would rather not run it at all, as it does add heat and such to the CPU so going dedicated is fine.

 

[monk_mingus]

No, i meant to say stick with a GPU still. That CPU has a built in GPU but I would rather not run it at all, as it does add heat and such to the CPU so going dedicated is fine.

Thanks for the help

 

[getochkn]

Extreme audiophiles would go next level 10-12 core CPU's, but those platforms start to cost a lot more. Worth it though. You may look at Xeon's too.

 

[monk_mingus]

Extreme audiophiles would go next level 10-12 core CPU's, but those platforms start to cost a lot more. Worth it though. You may look at Xeon's too.

Extreme audiophiles? What do u mean?