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AMD FX-8350 or Intel i5-3570K for DAW


sslow235comp

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edit: This solves most everything
games playable with with built-in Intel HD4000/25000 graphics:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/in...033387.htm

HD video play/editing depends on CPU more than GPU.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html
DAW music production software benchmarks:
http://www.adkproaudio.com/benchmarks.cfm

"Those are PassMark benchmark scores. PassMark is a benchmarking software which runs the CPU through many stress tests like
read/write operations, math calculations, and graphics processing. People who run PassMark can submit the score they got with
their processor so those charts are showing the average submitted scores for each processor. I wouldn't read into the overclocked processor charts much because they include mild overclocks as well as extreme overclocks, and there's no way to know how overclocked the processor was when it got the given score. If you really want to see specific scores, you can click a processor from the list and it will show the last 5 submitted scores along with information like RAM, measured speed, hard drive, graphics card, etc."

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Check the computer setup and system configuration forum at kvraudio.com

You are correct that you will not be able to get everything you want. Lenovo's Y580 has what you want but is a few hundred more than you want to spend. I would consider Lenovo's consumer grade laptops first.

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edit: This solves most everything
games playable with with built-in Intel HD4000/25000 graphics:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/in...033387.htm

HD video play/editing depends on CPU more than GPU.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html
DAW music production software benchmarks:
http://www.adkproaudio.com/benchmarks.cfm

"Those are PassMark benchmark scores. PassMark is a benchmarking software which runs the CPU through many stress tests like read/write operations, math calculations, and graphics processing. People who run PassMark can submit the score they got with their processor so those charts are showing the average submitted scores for each processor. I wouldn't read into the overclocked processor charts much because they include mild overclocks as well as extreme overclocks, and there's no way to know how overclocked the processor was when it got the given score. If you really want to see specific scores, you can click a processor from the list and it will show the last 5 submitted scores along with information like RAM, measured speed, hard drive, graphics card, etc."

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multithreading gives you virtual cores so yeah if the D.A.W and it's VST/AU plugins support multithreading you can run more stuff...

for example makes a dualcore into a quadcore cpu when multthreading is up and running in the app/vst plugin
i7 quadcore will get 8 threads when multithreading
i5 quadcore has no multithreading so only 4 cores max.
h.p. do a i5 dualcore cpu for a few laptops, that DOES have multithreading so will get 4 cores from the dual cpu

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Having 2 threads per core is Hyperthreading, an Intel technology. Multithreading occurs at an OS level and/or application level. Normally there is one thread per core. Hyperthreading is sort of a hack to run two threads per core.

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The mobile versions of the i5 and i7 CPUs (ie, what they put into laptops, cpu model number ends in "M") are significantly less powerful than the non-mobile CPUs. Don't buy a laptop if you want a powerful system. Laptops are for portability, not speed/power. Buy a desktop PC (or rackmount server if you need it for gigging). If you need a small form factor, you can get a case such as what Shuttle makes.

The i5's don't have hyper-threading. The i7's do, and most E3 Xeons do. (The E3 Xeons will work in most i7 motherboards). This doesn't mean the i5's are not good chips.

If you don't plan on overclocking the CPU, don't waste money on an unlocked CPU (model number ends in "K" such as 3550K). Buy the cheaper non-K version. You can also save money buying a motherboard with a Q77 or H77 chipset, instead of Z77.

If you plan to add a video card, then you don't need the integrated graphics (GPU). Buy a chip without the GPU, or better yet, one of the E3 Xeons (which essentially gives you i7 power at i5 prices).

Assuming you plan to re-use your current monitor, mouse, and keyboard -- will not overclock, will use integrated graphics. and you have someone to assemble the system, here are the parts I would buy with that $650:

Motherboard = $88 with shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157304

CPU (with fan) = $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116501

16gb RAM = $50 (You can later add another 16gb for a total of 32)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231489

hard drive - $159 with promo code BLKFRIDAY50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820147189

case - $45, comes with $15 gift card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042

power supply - $40, comes with $10 gift card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171031

Use the gift cards and remaining dollars to buy a cheap blueray drive like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136252

This will be a powerful, high-end system.

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sslowar it all depend on what you're trying to accomplish. i always recommend people get more power than they need to remain somewhat future proof. other than that do you need mobility ? win 8 touch functionality ? etc.

when it comes to laptops i7 quad core mobile chips are so much more than powerful than i5s. over clocking is a little extreme for laptops with over heating a real concern and may be unnecessary with a decent i7. hd 4000 intel integrated graphics are fine for daw work but not ideal for gaming.

laptops aren't ideal for gaming in general. the high end discreet graphics available in some machines seem pretty expensive. the price/performance ratio is much better with desktops for gamers and power users

i don't have any specific recommendations for black friday there's just too many options, price points and everything to consider

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Quote Originally Posted by sslow235comp View Post
Wish they made something portable in between a laptop and desktop.
You can get a micro ATX motherboard and case. But you still need to attach a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, and run it off of A.C. power.

Or you can go even smaller with mini ITX:

case and power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112360

motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131841
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Quote Originally Posted by sslow235comp View Post
But, can I get some projects running smoothly with a 3rd generation laptop i5/i7 with soft synths (aparently nothing that needs CPU like u-he DIVA does), FX, etc, or will I need to do work arounds like saving parts as audio files to trigger in sequencer?
My guess is that an I5 will be good for most soft synths and FX, basically everything but the really CPU heavy ones.

Unfortunately, there is quite a few CPU heavy synths and FX these days. The i7 is better for those, particularly ones like Diva that can multithread.

I cannot compare directly to the laptop CPU as I have a desktop (an OCed i7-2600K), but I *never* have the crackling options other people have with Diva. (Alchemy, which does not have multithreading, will occasionally give me a crackling sound if its complex and a lot of notes).

I would say that you are fine for now with the i5, but modeling is becoming more complex; the i7 is more "future proof". If you can only afford an i5, however, you can do plenty. I would, in fact, prioritize an SSD over a bigger CPU.
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edit: This solves most everything
games playable with with built-in Intel HD4000/25000 graphics:
http://www.intel.com/support/graphics/in...033387.htm

HD video play/editing depends on CPU more than GPU.

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/common_cpus.html
DAW music production software benchmarks:
http://www.adkproaudio.com/benchmarks.cfm

"Those are PassMark benchmark scores. PassMark is a benchmarking software which runs the CPU through many stress tests like
read/write operations, math calculations, and graphics processing. People who run PassMark can submit the score they got with
their processor so those charts are showing the average submitted scores for each processor. I wouldn't read into the overclocked processor charts much because they include mild overclocks as well as extreme overclocks, and there's no way to know how overclocked the processor was when it got the given score. If you really want to see specific scores, you can click a processor from the list and it will show the last 5 submitted scores along with information like RAM, measured speed, hard drive, graphics card, etc."

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Quote Originally Posted by sslow235comp View Post
runs portable off batteries?
No. It has a normal power supply that runs off of A.C.

Why link an unlocked cpu if you said get that only if going to overclock?
Simply because newegg is running a special on the K version which currently makes it the same price as the non-K. Usually, the former is $10 more (which is only for the overclocking feature).

I'm suprised there aren't better laptops with bigger parts making them thicker and heavier.
Because when it comes to laptops, the vast majority of consumers are sold on "thin and light" (especially after Apple made it all about that with their Macbook Air advertising). And the vast majority of consumers know so little about the inner workings of computers, those customers don't realize the technical sacrifices made in order for something to be so thin and light (such as "mobile" versions of cpus). So the purchase decision comes down to what "looks" thinnest and lightest, and of course the price. The market has spoken.

As I said, laptops are all about portability, not performance, flexibility, nor frankly even reliability. For the same price, you get a lot more of the latter 3 qualities (at the expense of portability) from a desktop pc.
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Quote Originally Posted by soundwave106 View Post
My guess is that an I5 will be good for most soft synths and FX, basically everything but the really CPU heavy ones.
That's a pretty fair assessment (regarding the non-mobile versions of the i5).

I chose an i7 for the op because he's planning to spend $650, and after I picked out the other needed components, he still had enough to splurge on a fast i7 (ie, I even picked a model pretty high up the line). Just in case he really wants to get heavy with VSTs.

An i5 would have met a little more modest needs, and a tighter budget.
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The speed of the cpu doesn't have a significant effect on graphics. (But the different internal architecture of CPU gens can. And of course different GPUs will).

Both 2nd and 3rd gen Intel graphics are fine for everything except heavy-duty animation (basically graphic intensive "photo-realistic" games like Battlefield 3, or editing HD video with real-time effects like scene fades). It sounds like your game/video needs are on the modest side. 3rd gen should do, and maybe even 2nd would be fine to you.

The good thing about integrated graphics is that most motherboards have HDMI, displayport, and vga connectors to support the integrated GPU, perhaps even supporting multiple monitors via those connectors. If you go with a cpu without the gpu, then those connectors simply take up space.

But if you wanted a separate video card (or cards for a crossfire setup), then I would have instead picked out a current Xeon E3 CPU, and video card (rather than the 3rd gen i7 I picked in the other thread). I especially would have come up with an even more kick-butt system (not that the other setup doesn't already suit your needs) if I knew the budget was now $750 (rather than $650). Or, did it suddenly drop to $400?? You definitely need to set a budget.

But check with me if/before you go any mini ITX form-factor, as this requires special attention to details/specs.

P.S. Both 3rd and 2nd gen i7 do hyperthreading (with some exceptions). It's the i5 that doesn't.

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i just bought an i5 Ivy Bridge and a Z77 mobo and ram for ~$370. I needed to upgrade from my AMD Phenom 940 DDR2 mobo... i'm planning on using the Radeon 6790 with it and not use the built-in GPU... from what I gather it won't be an improvement. hope to have it in a a day or two... i can pm u if u r interested, but i don't know what I'd say other than it's an improvement over my old system.

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