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  3. Slave PC for VSL/VEP

  • Slave PC for VSL/VEP

    T
    T

    Hi all,

    I've been using Macs for years now and I'm a bit out of touch with the current PC world. I've been looking for a Mac Pro to use as a main computer instead of my aging iMac, but the prices on the new Pros are starting to wander into ridiculous territory for me. Especially when I've found the time to do some serious calculations for a custom-built PC. If I go this route, I intend on using it with VEP slaved to my iMac running Logic. The PC will hold everything that's being played, the iMac will do the editing.

    Here's what I've gathered for what seems to be a good Quad-Core slave:

    • CPU : Intel Core i7 960 (3.20) — 439 €
    • Cooler : Zalman CNPS 9900 NT — 52 €
    • Motherboard : Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD7 — 264 €
    • RAM : Kingston HyperX DDR3-1600 CL9 8Go (2x4Go) — 322 €
    • GPU : ATI Radeon HD 5770 1Gb GDDR5 — 119 €
    • Case : Zalman GS1000 PLUS (Black) — 179 €
    • PSU : Be Quiet! 650W Dark Power Pro — 119 €
    • Storage : 2 x WD 1To S-ATA III 64Mo (Caviar Black) — 164 €

    Everything comes down to around 1650 euros. This is before adding memory (up to 24) and more hard drives. Since I'll be doing the same with the basic Mac Pro I don't add this to the total price. I can push everything to six cores with an Intel Core i7 970 (3.2) and barely hit 2000 euros. The comparison with Mac prices is so painful that I'm wondering if I've forgotten something (yes, I know Mac Pros are Xeon-based). Plus, with this motherboard, I get USB 3 & eSATA.

    I would like to know what serious VSL users running PCs think of this setup, not as a future proof investment (because that's impossible), but as something powerful enough to handle serious VSL/Kontakt streaming with VEP without choking too quickly, and as an interim (1-2 year solution) while waiting for Apple to get their act together, update Logic for 6-core use, that kind of thing...

    Thanks for your input.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    You compare carot and potatoes

    Intel in Mac are Xeon http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=37109 it is worth 1100 euro

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC

    to my knowledge the Intel Xeon Nehalem Prozessor (4x 2,8 GHz) in the macPro (4 cores) is the W3530 which is below EUR 300.-

     

    @Talino: looks good so far - you could reduce memory speed to 1333 in case you get 3 memory modules, even to 1066 if you get 6 memory modules and should double check the motherboards memory compatibility list to be sure the combination is supported.

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    You forgot to add Window 7

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Hi Christian

    W3530 is not a Westmere, it is a Nethalem 

    This is the problem with Intel, Intel has so many models that you get lost

    So you will say that I can run as many instruments on a I7 than on a Macpro Xeon with a W3530

    I have a Macpro 8 core 3 ghz early 2008 2,1, 24 GB with Talino's configuration will I get more or less instruments ?

     Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    last edited
    last edited

    @Cyril said:

    W3530 is not a Westmere, it is a Nethalem 
     

    i didn't say it would be a westmere ...

    regarding your question: you didn't say which i7 you are referring to and i'm ssuming now your 8-core is some 55x model ...

     

    i'm really pleased here with the new i7 models, even with their mobile versions ... as long as the rest of the system is also good.

     

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • K
    K

    Looks very good.

    As Christian already said I also think that you can go easy on memory.

    Cooler and power supply are perfect, excellent choice. The UD series from Gigabyte is very good. Gigabyte really improved in quality recently. Years ago I considered them mainly as a budget solution, but nowadays they sometimes offer even better quality than Asus. They also are one of the few vendors, that give you original Texas Instruments Firewire Controllers, in case you need it.

    If you have another 100 Euro left, I´d think about an SSD, at least for the boot partition. This can be a real life performance boost, which you feel much more than other expensive tunings.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Christian

    You did not say how many instruments you can load and play with your I7, how can I compare with my Macpro 

    Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC
    last edited
    last edited

    @Cyril said:

    You did not say how many instruments you can load and play with your I7, how can I compare with my Macpro 

    no, i didn't say 😉 i also wouldn say how many stones i can put into my 4-cylinder car - depends on the cubic capacity of the engine, the size of the luggage space and weight of the stones ...

     

    at least i can play zarathustra in MIR on a i7-950 with 12 GB at a reasonable latency.

     

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • R
    R

     Hi there!

    Interesting...

    I had the same thoughts as you using Logic on a iMac I7 for editing and a PC doing the rest. I've still got trouble understanding the concept of VEP though. So my question - Can I put all sample content and MIR on a PC using its CPU and Ram and just doing the editing within Logic? How complicated is such a setup? Could I still use Logics internal effects?

    Many thanks and Best Regards!

    Rafl
  • cmC
    VSL Team
    cmC

    MIR currently does allow only MIDI input and the result is mixed audio (on the MIR computer).

    however you can route a track from logic to a PC using VE PRO (forth and back over network) and do editing resp. use internal logic effects within logic.

    and remember: only a CRAY can run an endless loop in just three seconds.
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    Hello Christian

    Do you have a diagram with Logic running on a Mac with a Motu PCI system, and MIR on a slave PC

    Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC
    last edited
    last edited

    @cm said:

    at least i can play zarathustra in MIR on a i7-950 with 12 GB at a reasonable latency.

    Do you have the Logic or the Midi file so I can try it my Macpro ?

    Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC
    last edited
    last edited

    Hi Christian

    Can you answer to my to previous postages ?

    What I have read in Macbidouille

    "Aujourd'hui, le billet d'entrée du catalogue est symbolisé par un Mac Pro Quad 2.80 GHz "Nehalem" (une puce Xeon W3530 4 coeurs)... Et quand on y regarde d'un peu plus près, même si l'on peut se commander une machine sur mesure, accéder à une puce "Westmere" 3.33 GHz gravée en 32 nm (contre 45 nm pour les "Nehalem") ça se paie 1199 euros (aïe !). Une option dont le coût nous apparaît carrément prohibitif ! D'autant qu'un Xeon W3680 "Westmere-EP" se négocie actuellement sur la Toile en deçà de 1100 euros ttc, alors qu'un Xeon W3530 2.8 GHz "Nehalem-EP" se dégote aux alentours de 300 euros ttc, tous deux en version boîte.

    The Macpro starts with the Quad 2.80 GHz "Nehalem" ( Xeon W3530 4 core)... if you want to have a "Westmere" 3.33 GHz in 32 nm (the "Nehalem" is 45nm ) you have to pay an extra 1199 euros (wow). A boxed Xeon W3680 "Westmere-EP" is sold on Internet 1100 euros ttc, a Xeon W3530 2.8 GHz "Nehalem-EP" is 300 euros ttc.

    So your I7 is equivalent to what Xeon ?

    Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic
  • Cyril BlancC
    Cyril BlancC

    I have found an equivalence to the Mac xeon on the Dell site, they call them Workstations

    The configuration : 2 x Xeon Westmere 2.93, 16 GB, 1 TO

    The price at Dell and at Apple are about the same, it depends of the video card ; Dell do not sell Radeon, Apple do not sell NVIDIA

    Dell is a little bit more expensive 7058 Euro and you have to pay delivery Mac is 6848 Euro (the price includes Apple Care)

    Best

    Cyril

    MacBook Pro M3 MAX 128 GB 8TB - 2 x 48" screen --- Logic Pro --- Mir Pro 3D --- Most of the VI libs, a few Synch... libs --- Quite a few Kontakt libs --- CS80 fanatic