Which CPU for Music & 3D graphics.

[Koalaboy]

Hi,

I'm currently running an AMD X2 4200+ on an old board (pre-AM2), and want to upgrade.

I run music software (Reaper, Ableton Live) and 3D software (Modo) and need the best multi-core performance, but with value for money - I don't want the absolute fastest if it's stupidly more expensive for little gain.

I won't be overclocking, and stability is vitally important.

Budget (for CPU/Mobo/RAM) is ideally around £400, but would go to £650 if it would make a decent difference. The old mobo/chip can't be traded as they're going elsewhere.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[ConnectionFX]

Good quality motherboard
I can personally recommend the CPU i also do lots of photoshop work and quite abit of gaming. i render images of 3360 x 2100 @300dpi quite easy
4GB ram is enough just make sure your running 64bit windows.

 

[gurusan]

For your purposes I think this is actually a little better bang/buck. :/ Been awhile since I've recommended an AMD setup. You might even want to get 2 of those kingston kits for 8gb total.

 

[dante6491]

Tut tut Gurusan. DDR3 mobo and DDR2 memory?

 

[Koalaboy]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I should have also asked for recommendations on a cooler, or will the retail stock be quiet enough ? I'm used to running a scythe ninja on my current rig, and it's just about silent so I wouldn't want an increase in noise.

(I'm currently using a seasonic 450W silent, and a zalman passive-heatsink-cooled 9800GT, with only 1 big fan on the scythe)

I'd be running XP64 - I'm not going near Vista 64 (too many driver problems still with my audio cards.)

 

[Quixote]

If you're not overclocking, then the retail fans should be fine and I would try to keep the motherboards well below £100 too. For the Phenom setup shown, you could happily pair it with a :

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-180-GI&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=805

and save a bit of cash. As dante6491 noted, the listed motherboard would need DDR3 and wouldn't take that chip.

 

[Koalaboy]

Just as a follow up, I blew the budget and went core i7. I'm glad I did, as the performance is amazing and runs great as a DAW.

i7 2.66, UD5, Be Quiet 650, 12GB Patriot Viper, Noctua cooler.

 

[icey_haj]

Just as a follow up, I blew the budget and went core i7. I'm glad I did, as the performance is amazing and runs great as a DAW.

i7 2.66, UD5, Be Quiet 650, 12GB Patriot Viper, Noctua cooler.

Lol. How random. Nice rig though.

Got any pics?