My new Build

My DAW system's motherboard bit the dust so I'm having to build a new system sooner than I expected. 
 
Here is what I've settled on (and have the parts ordered from newegg):
 
ASRock Z77 Professional Motherboard
i7, 3770 CPU (I'll be using the Intel supplied cooler initially)
16 GB of G-Skill Ripsaw memory (compatible version as listed by motherboard vendor).
OCZ Vertex4, 128 GB SSD
Corsair Carbide 500R case (the 400R case is equal, just decided to spice it up with the white color).
Win 7 home 64bit OEM
Arctic Silver 5
 
Parts that I'll be reusing:
XFX 750 watt modular power supply
Seagate 1TB, 7200 RPM hard drive
WD 1.5TB hard drive (used for Acronis True Image backups).
 
I'll be using the built in Intel video initially and like the CPU cooler, may have to go to something else later after I get the system up and working properly.
 
This will be my introduction to UEFI and SSD so wish me luck.
 
Jack

I failed to list the Optical Drives, Two LG GH24LS70 SATA CD/DVD burner drives (they will burn audio CD's at 8X - my audio CD burning standard).

Yes, the SSD will be for the OS and Sonar X1, and possibly a few others.  Everything else will be on the 1TB drive (including the Cakewalk Project files folder.

I've been salting away "pickin' money" and will be using that for the new PC.  

I wouldn't part with an Emmons, especially if its an old PP.  I had a 71 D-10 Emmons PP (Black of course ) before I got the Franklin.

Jack

The Friday "smoke test" will have to wait.

The 24 pin and 8 pin power cables for the motherboard are not long enough to be routed through the back of the case (and make a clean power cable install).  I've ordered a cable extension kit from newegg. 

Along with the cables, I decided the stock cooler isn't going to cut it so I orded a Corsair liquid cooler from newegg, too.

Well my build took a nosedive.  I powered it up this morning and immediately got an Error 55 (no memory detected) with 4 memory modules (16GB) installed.  As it turns out the first two memory slots are bad and memory in either slot causes the error.  The other two slots are OK and all 4 memory modules tested in those slots work OK.  The memory is GSkill Ripsaw and a part number that was listed in the ASRock motherboard's memory compatibility list. 

I have an RMA authorization from newegg.com to return it for a replacement.  Just have to disassemble everything. 

I have a Corsair 80 liquid cooler.  Seems to work OK with the little I've used it but the fans are a little noisy with the case open.  Not sure how it will be with the side panels installed. 

I was able to install Windows 7 and all the ASRock motherboard drivers without problems.  I have an OCZ Vertex 4 (Sata III) 128GB SSD drive for the OS (and will eventually install Sonar on that drive).

System is up and rockin'.  I loaded the largest demo project from Cakewalk that came with X1 Producer Expanded and CPU status show so little activity that I should be able to handle any project I might need.

Next opportunity for upgrade, I will be ordering the DVD install discs as that has been the biggest pain having to download and install from Producer-X1 Producer-X1c Producer-X1d Producer-X1d Producer Expanded.

This forum has been a priceless tool for getting this done and having it work!  Thank you all!

@fireberd
Any update on the new build?  How's the new MB working for you?

Thanks Jack - glad to hear it's going well.

XP is basically a non issue for new hardware systems.  Some new hardware doesn't even have XP drivers.  There are still some XP hold ons but they are slowly upgrading. 

I've been on 64 bit OS (Vista and now Win 7) for many years with both Sonar 8.5 and X1.  There are some issues with add-ons for Sonar, but in my applications I have not had any problems.  Some have both 32 bit version and 64 bit version of Sonar installed on their PC's.  When I first installed Vista 64 bit, I kept my Vista 32 bit system in case I had Sonar problems, but I never had any problems in Sonar that required me to go back to it. 

I also have Pro Tools MP9 which is 32 bit and it runs under Win 7 64 bit without problems.