i7 / X58 Motherboards

[dawman]

I have noticed that 2 Teir 1 manufacturers are using PS/2 instead of USB.
The MSI X58 board has 2 x eSATA connectors and lots of high end capacitors, etc.
Then notice the PS/2 QWERTY / Mouse connectors.
I have had nothing but trouble w/ USB KB/M combos.
Maybe I wasn't alone.
My troubles stem from a single USB connector carrying the trackball & KB simultaneously.
Same w/ DFI's IGP showing.
I would love to read why they changed horses in the last lap.

[MD69]

ASROCK have a X58 motherboard with 3PCI slots. No more serial ports ...

cheers

[MD69]

Hi Stardust

Dunno, I did a quick survey yesterday evening, but there is a good chance I'll stay with my Q6700 my 2 Motif racks fully loaded with AN VL and DX boards and my 3 scope boards. Currently with Halion, AD drums, Battery, FM7, Hypersonic, 2 CSR reverbs and several FXs I have 65%load and 700mb of memory remains....


cheers

[MD69]

Another X58 with 3 PCI:
Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4

cheers

[Neutron]

i7 / DDR3 is a lot of money for little benefit over core2
save your money!

[dawman]

Here's a benchmark although it's not DAW Benchmarks it's a multithreaded app that can give an idea of performance benfits.

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desk ... 3,828.html

One can have an E8600 w/ a new DP35DP and 4GB's of DDRII-800 for 450 USD.
Or an i7 top of the line CPU w/ the Intel X58 and 4GB's of DDR3 for 1700 USD.

Notice this 2 seconds of difference of performance in the benchmark.
That's a new Quad core running at a faster clock and 2MB'smore of cache !!

I'll wait for a year and enjoy what I have ankyuvarymush.

[valis]

I can't see many PlanetZ users needing to upgrade to i7 given the cost of i7 gear right now, the fact that it's an unvetted new platform and the speed of even 'last generation' machines for music production. So I concur with you Jummy, I'd wait on the 'tock' that will bring the inevitable die-shrink to the i7 and v2-v3 motherboards which should come this summer.

OR if upgrading was a necessity (4-5 yr old PC that isn't cutting it for you now) I would invest in a penryn system with a cpu in the $450-650 range. DDR3 is only just beginning to show gains with i7 and there's a long road to climb there, so a penryn board with DDR2 667 & 1333 fsb on the cpu should do just fine for a few years I think.

[dawman]

Here's an interesting real world bench using a current audio/MIDI sequencer.
I believe the i7 we are seeing was released early just to thwart AMD's newest showing, and keep their market share low.
The tock is where I will go, when Intel comes down from their " High Horse " prices next Winter.
The fact they using the same architechture of AMD w/ the on die memory controller, etc. looks to be a show stopper.
Actually, I love looking at the new designs and always kind of wish I had money to throw away, but our applications are just now starting to offer Core assignments and actually use the extra threads. The VSL engine seems to be the trend setter where it appears as though one can assign a seperate core to it's own instrument.
This is what I have been waiting for. I doubt I will use a 2500 libraray for a live gig, but within a year or two all romplers will follow the leader if they wish to remain in the game.

Below is a much better idea of what audio guys will see.
Sure seems like the Lame mp3 test only shows an insight on number crunching w/ audio.
Plug counts are what most want to see.

[valis]

Not sure what an X5430 is (I've got dual e5430's here), but yes dawbench is a good site for audio related benchmarks. There's so much variance between sequencers and plugins, and even between the same sequencer with different drivers that benchmarks can only provide a rough guide but they're good tests for comparing systems. Perhaps we could load up the Scope results a bit more (my Scope cards are still in my older Scope system).

http://www.dawbench.com/

[dawman]

True,

But SC will undoubtedly have new cards in a year or so, and by then the i7's might be cheap as Beer and quite viable.
I am still amazed at the amount of value I have attained w/ these 32bit cards.
Many guys have had them for 10 years.
I still haven't seen one ever just die.
This was my main reason for getting an XITE-1. I figured if these things have lasted that long the 1U rack sure surely be a great performewr for at least another decade.
But knowing I can use a P35 until I actually have to upgrade is a very comforting feeling.

[MD69]

Hi,

Perso, I am really tempted to jump in, but I have first to sell my config to ease up the cost... let's see!

cheers

[Sounddesigner]

Hi,

Perso, I am really tempted to jump in, but I have first to sell my config to ease up the cost... let's see!

cheers

I plan to get one myself, actually i ordered one and received it but it had problems so i shipped it back and have to order another. The i7 systems are a bit expensive and more then i normally like to spend on a computer but i must start from scratch anyways and i believe i7 computer will save me alot of money in the long run. Plus i believe this one to be a winner and the note i like to come in on. A complete i7 920 rig can be bought for around $700 wich is a little pricey but not too bad especially if it is more powerful then every other processors. The Q6600 was like $800 for processor alone at release and the Q9550 was pretty expensive at first also. So i7 920 @ $294 is reasonable imo. There appears to be cheaper mobo's for i7 comming now, one is at $209 and much cheaper off ebay, also DDR3 prices have dropped and probly will continue to.

The last benchmark Xite/4live posted that is related to music shows the i7 920 being very powerful imo and corresponds well to what Scott at ADK has been saying about the i7's being a beast at music creation. At low latency it really performs well. I7 and SCOPE combo will be true Alien Technology. I'm sure Federal Agents will be watching anyone with this type of power.

[kylie]

I'm sure Federal Agents will be watching anyone with this type of power.

welcome to the Axe of Evil [tm]

[Sounddesigner]

[kylie]

Axe and/or axis ?

.oO( kruemelkagga... )

[dawman]

DFI has a good mATX that seems to be a very powerful piece of kit.
Looks like an upgrade path I would be interested in for an 8U chassis w/ external monitors for programming.

You know I always complain about waiting for women as they finish dressing and put on make up, etc. It's because they want to feel as though they have done the best they could have, while feeling good about themselves.
I am much worse as I bounce around unsatisfied and easily tempted for new solutions.

Tri-Channel DDR3-1066 @ CL5 low latency timings..............Dayamn.

But Jeez these 2 items are a match made in heaven.

http://satmytech.com/En_ArticleShow.asp?ArticleID=300