Hello mates, I would ask for some help building up my new PC specs.

Any help/advice would be so much appreciated!

I haven't been able to be updated about 'knowledge' in the last years in PC, due to work. I've been saving during a time, and I want to build a PC for around $2500.

What CPU, Motherboard, GPU and RAM do you recommend to me?

I'm not sure if like i9-7960X its a better choice over i9-9900X, so you guys, I'm on all your call (expertise). Thanks in advance.

BTW, I'll be using lastest version of Cubase and doing some EDM.

 

Last edited: Apr 12, 2019

I'm not an expert in computers but I'm sure the I9 7960X will do the job very well!

 

9900k

 

im about to pull the trigger on buying this if it helps.. or if anyone wants to critique it before i hand over my hard earned cash...

Intel Coffee Lake Core i7 8700K 639
Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB 16GB (2 X 8GB) Memory DDR4, 3200MHz 16GB 269
Gigabyte B360M D3H MATX motherboard 158
Corsair RMx Series RM650X V2 650W power supply - 80 Plus Gold 199
win 10 64 bit 195
samsung 970 evo pro hardrive 383
RACTAL DESIGN FRACTAL DESIGN Define R6 Mid Tower Case, Closed window - Black 263

 

i9-7960X is a beast of a processor and it will handle very well any set you throw at it, and it has 16 cores over the 10 of the 9900x, which is better. Of course the i9-7960X has a higher price so you have to front that, I don't know if you'll be able to fully take advantage from it in a 2500$ build. You also have to find the right cooling for this beast.

As a motherboard i would go with a strong one because the top ones support multiple M2 drives, and also many more hard drives which is always great for music production. Look for motherboards that have 2 or more M2 slots, they're usually over 200$ but they're worth it in my opinion.
Example: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/PRIME-X299-DELUXE-II/

RAM is crucial in case you need many Kontakt libraries or other samplers to run at once, since they take a lot of virtual memory. 16 GB is minimum, I would go for 32 GB. Corsair Vengeance is the best here.

Power supply: very important. A strong power supply can protect you against power outages and surges, and it will also provide some extra power in case you need it in the future. I would go for a Corsair HX1000i.

I also suggest you a silent case like this one: https://www.bequiet.com/en/case/1473

 

Gigabyte Z390 DESIGNARE
32GB DDR4 3800MHz memory
Intel Core i9-9900K
Noctua NH-D15 CPU cooler
Samsung 970 EVO 2TB M.2 SSD
CORSAIR RM850x power
MSI GeForce GTX 1060
Fractal Design Define R6 USB-C case

And a Thunderbolt Audio Interface with good Windows drivers

 

I heard that Nvidia Graphic Cards are less good for audio stuff? no ? yes ?

 

nahh there are some that means that the latency numbers are slightly better with AMD cards. As long as you change the settings on your Nvidia card to Prefer Maximum Performance you are good.
Having a Nvidia card has many benefits over a AMD card in my opinion

 

Last edited: Apr 11, 2019

I'd wait for AMD Ryzen 3rd generation, it's coming this summer.

 

assuming you have some knowledge around PCs, I'd add some personal opinions and tips:
1) MOBO - less features = less problems; decide what and how much you need, and don't hesitate to disable features you will not need (RAID, additional usb/sata headers, onboard audio, onboard gpu, additional PCI slots...);
I like ASUS most as the AI Suite is user-friendly utility to adjust BIOS-like stuff directly from Windows (fan speeds, cpu clocks, cpu power delivery etc..)
2) CPU - for audio workflow, instructions per clock are still crucial, so high cpu frequency is more important that amount of cpu cores
higher-end cpus support quad-channel RAM operation, can't really say if it's worth it though; 4-6 cores at 4+GHz is fine;
3) RAM - frequency itself is rather unimportant, it's the "ratio" betwen frequency and CAS latency (CL number of ram specs) which defines overall execution speed and I/O of memory modules; Intel cpus don't really benefit from high-clocked RAM, so saving money there may be useful; kit of 32GB in total is rather futureproof for audio workstation;
4) GPU - bigger the cooler, the better passive cooling happens, most cards nowadays don't spin up fans until reaching about 60°C, and also many of them support user-defined fan control via MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision (neither of those softwares requires gpu of that particular vendor I think); powerful cards require more power, so keep that in mind when choosing PSU
5) CPU COOLER - actually important spec, I'd suggest big air cooler like Noctua NH-U14S (don't really see advantage in bigger NH-D15 though) and case which can fit it
6) CASE - Fractal Design Define R5 or R6 (version WITHOUT side glass window) is the way to go, simple as that

 

"doing some EDM"

you will be fine with an i3 old desktop

 

like always first question should be

Beginner - Advanced user

what software (daw aka sequencer) / Cubase
what hardware (audio interface) are you planning to use?

External gear if any?
is useful to know if you are ITB or hybrid

Planning on doing Visuals (foto, video, cg)

maybe Hackintosh Or linux ideas (in the future)

 

If you want to use macOS on that PC you rather get a AMD Graphics card since there are no Mojave Drivers for Nvidia.

 

Last edited: Apr 11, 2019

which besides Graphic performance ?

 

power consumption and heat output, optimized for games, better support and like you said better graphics performance

 

I'm an Advanced User.

Cubase and Studio One, both lastest versions.
I own an NI Komplete Audio 6 but I want to upgrade (I'll not using external hardware at firsts years). As I expect to be all under ITB. BTW, what Audio Interface do your recommend under $1000? What about UAD cards? And another thing: I'd like to have an Hackintosh HD.

No visuals at all, not gaming at all as I own an PS4 Pro.

 

What Thunerbolt Audio Interface do you recommend with WIndows Drivers?
What its the difference between SSD and M.2 SSD?

 

So, for DAW using wich one do you think it'd feet better: i9-7960X or i9-9900X? Do you think any of these two will still be enough power for the next 8 years? Theres any other CPU out there for a good price?

Will pick Corsair Vengeance, thank you!
Wich CPU cooler do you recommend for these beast?

 

There is no way to use any Nvidia with Mojave?

 

good to know
So going backwards
hackintosh might limit your selection a bit but in some ways might make things easier

First things
the best selection for Hackintosh you will find @https://www.tonymacx86.com/
follow their guids (hw requirements), things like amd radeon better for macs etc.

UAD cards people like them lots. i personally like em.
watch out for deals on that one. at least 2 times a year big deals or hardware bundles

my 2 cents, you will probably have less problems with changing hardware
by using external uad boxes. i hear some starting having problems with internal pcie cards

Audio interface depends on your needs (i/o, pre etc.)
you might find different selections for mac-pc
like antelope runs better on mac (t.bolt seems more stable)
Metric halo, Apogee only mac for foreseeable future

system Agnostic 500 and up to 1k
RME
Audient
SPL
newer UAD

Above 1k
Prism
maybe Merging technologies (depending on deal)
Antelope


not many like to hear it
i prefer to buy A.Interfaces used
besides audient and antelope (wich are relatively young)
i have no problems buying any of the above mentioned used!
great deals to be had/hardware is rock solid


TBDrivers windows
i think most of them seem f....
i wouldnt put too much emphasis on it its not as problem free as it should be.
as long as you don't need tons of (real time) recording power USB is fine.

M.2 means direct, Pcie.xpress interface
means higher bandwidth, much faster
than normal sata harddrive interface 5-600 mb/sec
m.2 sometimes over 3gig/sec

don't worry about nvidia
8 years is a hard sell nowadays
you might fare better building a system that you will be comfortable exchanging in 3 years
than stretch your buying power for the best cpu or gpu now

look at it this way
if you can sell your rig for 1k in 2-3 years you only need another grand to be on top again
just food for thought ;)

 

Last edited: Apr 12, 2019