• hj82
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Topic: RME Reference PC, recommendations ?

Dear RME-friends,
I would like to ask for official recommendations for new desktop PC hardware to be used with AIO card?

I see there used to be a web page for this topic, too bad there has been no update since 2003. Hardware has certainly moved up a bit since then smile
https://www.rme-audio.de/english/techin … _index.htm

PS: I have had a great time with the HDSP(e) AIO card. Sound quality is 5/5.

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2018-07-24 17:15:20)

  • ramses
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Re: RME Reference PC, recommendations ?

Get a Xeon-W based machines for reliability and a good price / performance ratio.

Xi machines updated the X2 series last recently, in this series you find the actual CPU designs:
http://xi-machines.com/en/systems-vsl-x2.php

If you still want to be able to run Win7 and save some money, then you could think of trying my build based on Broadwell EP: E5-1650v4.

It has still an excellent price / performance ratio and the v4 of the CPU stays much colder compared to the v3 which I have.

I made a calculation of Passmark Performance per Euro for each CPU.
If you multiply this with the Price of the older CPU designs, then you see, that you do not reach their performance.
This simply means for the higher performance of the newer CPU models you need to pay much more.
I think €600 is still a payable / reasonable price for a Xeon CPU.
And the Supermicro X10SRi-F is a nice reliable and expandable server board with IPMI.
For a very small license fee of maybe €10 you can enable the feture to flash the BIOS from IPMI.
If flashing went wrong then you can reflash from IPMI as often as you want .. thats more secure than having to send back to repair.

https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … mponenten/

Here a benchmark with a large project (I am running the E5-1650v3): https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … s-de-en/##

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xqn6wde03g96ftn/2018-07-24%2018_08_20-Xeon-W%20Comparison.xlsx%20-%20Excel.jpg?dl=1

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • hj82
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Re: RME Reference PC, recommendations ?

Thanks for sharing information. I know Davinci recommends Supermicro computer in their manual so they must be a good manufacturer.
But could you give recommendations for cheaper Xeon processor please? For example E5-2609 v4 costs 322€ where I live.

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2018-07-25 06:31:47)

  • ramses
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Re: RME Reference PC, recommendations ?

Regarding the E5-2609v4. I wouldn't recommend a CPU with a base clock of only 1.70GHz.

For recording you setup a PC in a way, that it runs instantly with the highest clock on each core,
to avoid latency by instant clock changes.
i.e. with an E5-1650v3 I can reach instantly 3.6 GHz (+100 MHz over Base)
i.e. with an E5-1650v4 I can reach instantly 3.8 GHz (+200 MHz over Base)
But both CPUs fall down with the clock to 3.5 GHz when they execute complex AVX, AVX2 instructions, which produce more heat. This is the case with Cubase Pro.
The E5-1650v4 is an excellent CPU, produces fewer heat compared to the v3.
With my setup (cooler, blower, etc) I got even more lower temperatures with it, that was amazing.

The CPU that you mention has only 1.7 GHz base clock and no turbo.
For recording you need IMHO also a high single thread performance.

I wouldn't take a CPU for a Desktop System under 3.x GHz. The higher the better.
The E5-1650v4 is the best compromise between High Base Clock and and number of cores (6/12) and still payable.

Sorry I can't recommend other CPU types, because I can only recommend the 2011-3 mainboard which I use.
This is at least a design that also allows for x4 memory channels, you need to use 4 DRAM modules.

And as I said .. be careful in your selection. Most modern mainboards and CPU do not support Windows 7 anymore, so the mainboard has no Win7 driver support. This is a pity.

Therefore I still recommend my build even with the older CPU types. Then you still have a plan B, shall you be dissatisfied with Win10. See also here: https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … ing-EN-DE/

Additionally you might want to pick a CPU with a little bit higher performance, because the Intel Microcode upgrades against Spectre and Meltdown will slow down the CPU to a certain degreee depending on the type of application. https://www.tonstudio-forum.de/blog/ind … tre-EN-DE/

The good thing with the X10SRi-F mainboard that I have is, you still get from Supermicro BIOS upgrades containing Intel Microcode upgrades. Microsoft doesnt support delivery of microcode upgrades with Win7.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14