What mobo?

[djrinsa]

Hey all...

Just a quick question, building my first intel dula core system for my home studio, and noticed that the specs for the E6400 say:

\"Please note: Intel's new Core 2 Duo are only compatible with Intel 975X, 965 Chipset based motherboards. Please check your motherboard for compatibility.\"

There are however, socket 775 mobos that say they are dual core ready that dont have these chipsets - such as http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/+MSI+PM8PM-V+Socket+775?productId=25645

Which am I to believe?!

Also, on the subject of cases, do mATX mobos fit ATX cases? What mobos fit into MIDI cases?

Thanks in advance :)

[Sean]

For a Core 2 Duo just ensure that it can support an FSB of 1066.
So that includes some tweaked nForce4s and of course the nForce 6.

[djrinsa]

So the mobo I had in the first post would work? Supports FSB of 1066 but isnt either of the chipsets that you have mentioned - Confusing! lol

Basically just trying to find the cheapest AGP board that will support the Core 2 Duo!

[bigdan676]

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/+Asrock+4Core-Dual+VSTA+775?productId=26474

This is a great board, it has DDR1 and DDR2
An AGP slot
A PCI Express slot
And is core 2 duo ready

Regards
dan

[Aaron]

yeah its a good starter board - but you will need ddr2 ram to use a C2D!

[djrinsa]

Thanks for that

So how does this look for a cool quiet music producing machine? ;)



Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Retail #23825
OCZ 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 SODIMM #24224
2 x 250Gb Samsung / 7200 / 8 SATA #24030
Asrock 4Core-Dual VSTA 775 #26474
Akasa Zen Silent-Cool - Black #25262
SV 450w SilentLoad 20 & 24+SATA PSU #25508

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[Aaron]

Are you talking about actual music creation, or just playing mp3s?

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]

[djrinsa]

Nope - its purely going to be for music production and web broadcasting...

So it has to run Reason, Cubase, various VSTs, handle lots of realtime recording and all sorts of other software - Some pretty cpu heavy stuff

Will obviously be getting a soundcard too, but will get that from specialist music stores.

actually - just remembered I have a spare PSU at home, so scrub that.... The less money I spend on the build the more can go on other things :)

[Cheule]

If you're going for a C2D (and why not indeed :) ) go for the newer Allendale chips, the E6320 or E6420. They have the same spec as their original counterparts except they have the full 4mb cache like the higher end E66 / E6700's. Plus as a bonus they are the same price :)

[Aaron]

If its for music creation, Id stick an extra gig of ram in there if it was me.

Also, whats the deal with the OCZ/C2D compatability now? When I was building mine, there was an issue with the two, which is why I went for Corsair?

Also, I dont think that the motherboard mentioned has firewire onboard, which chances are you will need if you are going to use any sort of pro studio soundcard with a breakout box or if you are going to use a control surface.

And I totally agree with PP about getting a decent PSU!

[djrinsa]

Cool, gone with corsair just incase there are any problems... Was a bit cheaper too!

Got this now:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 x 250Gb Samsung / 7200 / 8 SATA #24030 £ 32.45 £ 64.90
Asrock 4Core-Dual VSTA 775 #26474 £ 32.95 £ 32.95
Akasa Zen Silent-Cool - Black #25262 £ 23.95 £ 23.95
Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Retail #26798 £ 109.95 £ 109.95
Corsair Value Select 1GB PC2-5300 #23537 £ 31.95 £ 31.95
2 x 19\" Yuraku MA9 Widescreen Black #26652 £ 85.95 £ 171.90
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 110 #23256 £ 16.00 £ 16.00

Total £ 530.63

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gonna stick with the 1gb and see how it goes, can always lob another 1gb in there later :)

Dont think lack of firewire will be a problem, most of my equipment is USB2 and the soundcard i get will probably have one on anyway. If not I cant imagine a firewire pci card being too expensive?

[Aaron]

nah, it'll only be a few quid. I just like to get all my stuff at once! hehe ;)

[djrinsa]

Cheers guys... All ordered!

Just need some desks to put it all on now :lol:

[djrinsa]

... and it just arrived...

I love Arias speedy service :lol:

[Anonymous]

[Removed at the request of the author]