good desktop system from scratch

[didgewind]

hi there. I am setting up a desktop system i want to use in gigs. I've got a Terratec Usb Phase 26 soundcard, using lubuntu 14.04 (ubuntu with lxde) and want to set up the computer from scratch, following j_e_f_f_g advice (http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php ... 013#p32147). The thing is that he doesn't seem to be around anymore and the info he provided is a bit obsolete, so I am a bit lost here.

I've checked some things and as a processor an AMD FX Series FX-8350 4.0Ghz seems good, but I have no base to say that, just comments from people. Then I guess I need a good ventilation, something that is not very noisy, or as quiet as possible. Then it seems the motherboard depends on the processor. At the same time I would like to have a thin case, so I can build a home made rack system so I can move everything (computer, screen, mixer and midi controllers).

Do you have any recomendation, advice, etc about anything related to this post ?

xxx

[CrocoDuck]

Hi! I don't have much stuff to share, only a couple of things that popped up in my mind. You are planning to use an USB sound-card, so to have a quiet fan should not be essential. Quite fans are intended to reduce the acoustic and (if lucky) electromagnetic noise inside the PC case as generated by the fan's coils. The latter would be cached by an internal sound-card, but not by an external one. However, if you are planning to mount your PC in a rack effect unit maybe you want to minimize noise anyway, as you will have a lot of cables in a small space... Here you can find stuff to make your computer dead quiet. For extreme quietness go with fan-less heat sinks, but that would require a bigger case for proper heat dispersion. I think it is the only solution that will for sure prevent electromagnetic noise to generate (a fan can be acoustically silent... but screaming hum electromagnetically). Should be relatively easy to find rack PC cases .

[glowrak guy]

Traditional racks are not a requirement. Drills, brackets, handles, wheeled carts etc can be
put to use with standard cases and lcd monitors. If you don't need massive amounts
of i/o ports, an maudio pci card eliminates the chance of usb getting snagged/unplugged,
and likely much better kernel support over a range of linux choices. The biggg case, bigggg heatsink option
makes sense. You can attach a handle atop a desktop case, fasten a flatscreen to the case,
mount the case on a printer stand with wheels, whatever suits the venues you'll gig at,
yada yada yada
Cheers

[didgewind]

thanks for your ideas, very useful.

more opinions welcome

[didgewind]

What about the processor? I'm thinking about a AMD FX Series FX-8350 4Ghz and 8 cores (http://www.amd.com/en-us/products/processors/desktop/fx). I've read intel processors with 4 cores are better (but of course more expensive). Any opinion about it?

[Frank Carvalho]

I recently built a new system with an 8-core AMD of that series, and got a rack mountable cabinet. You can get ones that are perfect for standard racks. The plan is to mount it in a rack with some outboard gear. The motherboard provideds temperatured controlled fan outlets, so I can keep the noise down at a minimun. I also use an maudio 1010 pci. This is now a pretty robust system.
Frank

[Eino]

hi there. I am setting up a desktop system i want to use in gigs. I've got a Terratec Usb Phase 26 soundcard, using lubuntu 14.04 (ubuntu with lxde) and want to set up the computer from scratch, following j_e_f_f_g advice (http://linuxmusicians.com/viewtopic.php ... 013#p32147). The thing is that he doesn't seem to be around anymore and the info he provided is a bit obsolete, so I am a bit lost here.

I've checked some things and as a processor an AMD FX Series FX-8350 4.0Ghz seems good, but I have no base to say that, just comments from people. Then I guess I need a good ventilation, something that is not very noisy, or as quiet as possible. Then it seems the motherboard depends on the processor. At the same time I would like to have a thin case, so I can build a home made rack system so I can move everything (computer, screen, mixer and midi controllers).

Do you have any recomendation, advice, etc about anything related to this post ?

xxx

I use a fanless processor cooling system, the biggest issue it takes up a lot of room in the case, so your out of luck on a rackmount case. I'm using a gamers case with two chrome handles on top for carrying. But it's great not hearing the cooling fans, when your recording. I'm using a AMD FX Series 6 core processor, and so far I can't beat it, It out preformed the old Intel system I once had.

[didgewind]

Thanks again for your ideas.

Frank, can you share the specific model of your motherboard and your rack mountable cabinet?

And of your fanless processor cooling system and gamers case, Eino?

tx again

[Frank Carvalho]

I'll check up on it when I get home tomorrow
/Frank

[Eino]

Thanks again for your ideas.

Frank, can you share the specific model of your motherboard and your rack mountable cabinet?

And of your fanless processor cooling system and gamers case, Eino?

tx again

I use a CR-95C copper icepipe fanless CPU cooler, with rubber grommets on case fan with air filters for air dispersion.
rubber grommets on the mounts for the hard-drive. sound damping material on the two sides,of the computer case. Anything that could make a sound, or vibrate with the computer got silenced. It was cheaper to build a quiet computer than building a sound booth
I use a cool master case with custom handles for carrying.

[Frank Carvalho]

Hi

I can't find the exact cabinet I bought. It was a fairly cheap one though with built in fans and no power supply. Here are a number of very similar ones, and like mine in the price range around £100/$120
http://www.proshop.dk/Kabinet/Inter-Tec ... 78076.html
http://www.proshop.dk/Kabinet/Inter-Tec ... 97989.html
http://www.proshop.dk/Kabinet/Ultron-Re ... 98345.html
http://www.proshop.dk/Kabinet/Inter-Tec ... 97989.html

My processor is an FX 8320 and I belive my motherboard is an ASRock 990FX-extreme3. I have 16Gb RAM on the board.
These things change all the time, so my solution, which is already 6 months old, may have been surpassed by other and better offers.

/Frank