DAW First Time Builder

ozprimo · 08-28-2009, 04:20 AM

Hello and thank you in advance for any help or advice you can give me.
This is the plan ;

Build a PC with all new parts.
Experience - zero
OS - XP pro ( I have on DVD)
Purpose - Mainly for a Digital Audio Workstation
running Cubase and various softsynths
and connecting to an external firewire
audio interface for connecting mics, intruments
synthesiser and guitars.
I will also use it for general PC work and Photoshop,
occasional video editing and gaming (rarely).
Location - I live in Tokyo although I don't read Japanese well.
I have nearby access to Akihabara but do most
shopping online via Kakaku.com, one of Japan's
largest price comparison online shopping sites.
Budget - Well, that's my business but so far I seem to be able
to keep my wish list of parts to about US$1000 minus
the firewire audio interface.

Basically I have chosen the parts on my list based on performance that
I think I will need both now and in the future, popularity rankings on
Kakaku and to a much lesser degree, what looks sexy on the shelves
of Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara. I am willing to consider any alternatives
based on better suitability for the job I want them to do, compatibility, performance or value for money.
One of the key considerations for a DAW PC is quiet operation as it will be running in the sound studio. That is why I've chosen a Video card with no fan and a case with very quiet specs.
So anyway, here's the list.

Case - Antec Sonata Designer 500 (500 watt PSU included)
Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Rev.1.0
CPU - Core 2 Quad Q9550
Video Card - Gigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI (PCIExp 1GB)
Memory - UMAX Pulsar DCDDR2-4GB-800 (DDR2 PC2-6400 2GB 2 Discs)
DVD drive - Pioneer DVR-S16J-W
Hard Drive (OS) - Samsung HD103UJ (1TB SATA300 7200)

I already have a Samsung 24 inch monitor and other peripherals like extra Hard Drives, keyboard, printer etc.

I am an absolute newbie to PC building so any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Cheers, Oz.

**Tyree** · 08-28-2009, 07:20 AM

Get a case without a PSU. Antec changes suppliers to often for them to be a suggested reliable unit. CoolerMaster & Antec are good cases.
Never heard of UMAX RAM?
I would suggest a WD hard drive.
Asus & GB are quality Mobo's.
Look at this thread for some ideas: Want to Build A New Intel or AMD Computer? Here are 6 suggested models with Spec

ozprimo · 08-28-2009, 08:08 PM

Thanks for your suggestions Tyree. Any thoughts on what would be a good choice and power output for PSU given my other choices and requirements? Umax RAM is highly ranked here in Japan on the onliine shopping sites, guess it's not available there in the USA. Can certainly get WDs Hard drives here and the price is around 7000 yen (US$65) for WD10EADS (1TB SATA300)
Also, the case I chose was recommended for it's low noise output. Any other model suggestions in Antec or Coolermaster? The one I chose is not available here without the PSU.
I have realised there is a bias towards builds for gamers here. If anyone knows about or could point me in the right direction for DAWs I'd much appreciate it.

08-28-2009, 04:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
ozprimo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP service pack 2	DAW First Time Builder Hello and thank you in advance for any help or advice you can give me. This is the plan ; Build a PC with all new parts. Experience - zero OS - XP pro ( I have on DVD) Purpose - Mainly for a Digital Audio Workstation running Cubase and various softsynths and connecting to an external firewire audio interface for connecting mics, intruments synthesiser and guitars. I will also use it for general PC work and Photoshop, occasional video editing and gaming (rarely). Location - I live in Tokyo although I don't read Japanese well. I have nearby access to Akihabara but do most shopping online via Kakaku.com, one of Japan's largest price comparison online shopping sites. Budget - Well, that's my business but so far I seem to be able to keep my wish list of parts to about US$1000 minus the firewire audio interface. Basically I have chosen the parts on my list based on performance that I think I will need both now and in the future, popularity rankings on Kakaku and to a much lesser degree, what looks sexy on the shelves of Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara. I am willing to consider any alternatives based on better suitability for the job I want them to do, compatibility, performance or value for money. One of the key considerations for a DAW PC is quiet operation as it will be running in the sound studio. That is why I've chosen a Video card with no fan and a case with very quiet specs. So anyway, here's the list. Case - Antec Sonata Designer 500 (500 watt PSU included) Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Rev.1.0 CPU - Core 2 Quad Q9550 Video Card - Gigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI (PCIExp 1GB) Memory - UMAX Pulsar DCDDR2-4GB-800 (DDR2 PC2-6400 2GB 2 Discs) DVD drive - Pioneer DVR-S16J-W Hard Drive (OS) - Samsung HD103UJ (1TB SATA300 7200) I already have a Samsung 24 inch monitor and other peripherals like extra Hard Drives, keyboard, printer etc. I am an absolute newbie to PC building so any advice will be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Oz.

08-28-2009, 07:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,566 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: DAW First Time Builder Get a case without a PSU. Antec changes suppliers to often for them to be a suggested reliable unit. CoolerMaster & Antec are good cases. Never heard of UMAX RAM? I would suggest a WD hard drive. Asus & GB are quality Mobo's. Look at this thread for some ideas: Want to Build A New Intel or AMD Computer? Here are 6 suggested models with Spec __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently. Last edited by Tyree; 08-28-2009 at 07:21 AM.

08-28-2009, 08:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
ozprimo Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP service pack 2	Re: DAW First Time Builder Thanks for your suggestions Tyree. Any thoughts on what would be a good choice and power output for PSU given my other choices and requirements? Umax RAM is highly ranked here in Japan on the onliine shopping sites, guess it's not available there in the USA. Can certainly get WDs Hard drives here and the price is around 7000 yen (US$65) for WD10EADS (1TB SATA300) Also, the case I chose was recommended for it's low noise output. Any other model suggestions in Antec or Coolermaster? The one I chose is not available here without the PSU. I have realised there is a bias towards builds for gamers here. If anyone knows about or could point me in the right direction for DAWs I'd much appreciate it.