New redesigned Creation Station

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Westside Steve
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2012/11/21 10:13:05 (permalink)

New redesigned Creation Station

http://www.sweetwater.com/creation_station/CS450x
 
So anyone have anuy experience with Sweetweaters computers?
Seems as they've gone from an i7 6 core to a Xeon 4 core and swapped the boot drive with a SSD.
 
Also the MB has a PCI slot which shoulf accommodate my UA card.
Opinions anupne?
Cheers
WSS
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    fireberd
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/21 10:41:18 (permalink)
    On many new/newer motherboards the PCI slot is just a bridged slot from the PCie bus.  Some older PCI hardware will not work or work correctly with these "bridged" PCI slots.  I have a Gigabyte Z77 chipset motherboard on my new build and the PCI slot on it is a bridged type.  I didn't see any listing of the actual motherboard that is used.
     
    What is "audio grade" RAM?  That is a new marketing ploy.

    I buy a lot of stuff from Sweetwater, but if I were looking for a DAW PC, and not going to build one myself,  I would first consider Scott or Jim for a custom built.  Probably around the same price.

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    #2
    jcschild
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/21 13:53:57 (permalink)
    fireberd


     
    What is "audio grade" RAM?  That is a new marketing ploy.

    I buy a lot of stuff from Sweetwater, but if I were looking for a DAW PC, and not going to build one myself,  I would first consider Scott or Jim for a custom built.  Probably around the same price.
    yeah "audio grade ram" made me laugh..
     
    and price? much less..
     
    thanks for the props!
     

    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
    #3
    fireberd
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/21 15:11:51 (permalink)
    I should have said "probably less".... 


    "GCSG Productions"
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    noldar12
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/21 18:33:04 (permalink)
    In the past, the only thing exceeding the quality/value of a Sweetwater PC was their actual price (no clue if that has changed).

    Honestly, if buying an audio computer, I would strongly suggest going with either Scott or Jim (who IIRC used to build the PC computers at Sweetwater).  For my own situation I ended up going with Scott (and when I've needed help, Scott and the staff at ADK have been excellent).  Many have also been very satisfied with Jim.

    Note that I also have bought stuff through Sweetwater, just not computers.

    Jim
    #5
    Westside Steve
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/25 12:34:06 (permalink)
    Hi guys.
    I'm by no means married to the Creation Station.
    I would like a new recording computer but I may replace my HD and add RAM to the old one.

    Question: if the PCI slots are just bridges and some stuff may not work how about the UA DSP card?
    If it would I'd like that a lot.
    If not do you think a hot processor would eliminate the need for a DSP accellerator?
    Also is a 6 core i7 as good as a 4 core Xeon?
    And is a SSD good for a boot drive and programs?
    I've heard they are a little unreliable. Yes no?
    I'd like to see the spec sheets on the ADK or Studiocats. How many USB 2 and or 3 FW Thunderbolt etc where they're located etc.

    And if you guys chode one of our guys over the other maybe send me a PM as to what made you decide that way.

    Cheers
    WSS
    #6
    slartabartfast
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/25 16:57:10 (permalink)
    I didn't see any listing of the actual motherboard that is used.



    That is industry standard. If they told you what motherboard they were using, you could just build your own.
    #7
    Kev999
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/25 20:05:47 (permalink)
    Westside Steve

    Question: if the PCI slots are just bridges and some stuff may not work how about the UA DSP card?

    Check UAD compatibility here:

    http://www.uaudio.com/sup...herboard-compatibility


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    fireberd
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/26 06:51:35 (permalink)
    I've seen "commercial built" computers that list the motherboard in the spec's.  Not all hide what motherboard is used.  Some, like Dell, use custom OEM motherboards.  But most consumers (not techies) that buy the Dell's, HP's, Acer's, etc are not concerned about what motherboard is used.




    "GCSG Productions"
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    #9
    jcschild
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/26 08:43:12 (permalink)
    Westside Steve


    Hi guys.
    I'm by no means married to the Creation Station.
    I would like a new recording computer but I may replace my HD and add RAM to the old one.

    Question: if the PCI slots are just bridges and some stuff may not work how about the UA DSP card?
    If it would I'd like that a lot.
    If not do you think a hot processor would eliminate the need for a DSP accellerator?
    Also is a 6 core i7 as good as a 4 core Xeon?
    And is a SSD good for a boot drive and programs?
    I've heard they are a little unreliable. Yes no?
    I'd like to see the spec sheets on the ADK or Studiocats. How many USB 2 and or 3 FW Thunderbolt etc where they're located etc.

    And if you guys chode one of our guys over the other maybe send me a PM as to what made you decide that way.

    Cheers
    WSS

    depends on which system, the Z77 systems like the SW system has bridged PCI and only a few things work (RME)
    the X79 systems have native PCI (sw does not sell them)  honestly i would dump the older PCI card and pick up a solo UAD 2.
    today you buy a UAD for the quality of the effects not for DSP power.
    on my site if you click the "more info" link to the right of the motherboard it will tell you about it (just not what brand)
     
    Xeon vs desktop. they are the exact same processor.
    dont buy the marketing hype.
    the Xeon in the SW is a 3770k renamed.
    in the 6 Core systems (SW does not sell) they are Sandy E and much faster (about 40%)
     
    SSD: nice as an OS drive will make windows a bit snappier and programs open a bit quicker, will have NO performance gains for audio. buying a good one they are actually more relaible than a standard sata. SSDs best use is for samples drie.
     
     

    Scott
    ADK
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    #10
    Goddard
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/27 03:15:48 (permalink)

    jcschild
    Xeon vs desktop. they are the exact same processor. 
    dont buy the marketing hype. 
    the Xeon in the SW is a 3770k renamed. 

    Not the exact same/renamed processor. Maybe based upon same die, but several significant differences between the xeon E3 1270v2 and Core i7 3770k:

    Xeon E3 1270v2 supports ECC DRAM, 3770k doesn't. 

    3770k can be overclocked, Xeon E3 can't. 

    3770k includes an IGP, which E3 1270v2 lacks.

    E3 1270v2 supports VT-d, 3770k doesn't.

    Closest corresponding Xeon to 3770k is E3 1275v2 (w/ same IGP). 
     
    That said, no real performance difference between E3 1270v2 and 3770k at stock.

    Dunno why Sweetwater would spec a Xeon E3 for a Z77 board when Z77 doesn't support ECC. Also odd that the two higher priced PCs lack DP video which the lower priced models offer.

    B75 and Q77 support 3770k and "native" (non-bridged) PCI, but may not offer much if any support for overclocking (varies between brands/boards). B75 also has only 1x SATA 6Gb/s and no RAID support.

    UA were offering a UAD-2 upgrade trade-in deal on UAD-1s a while ago but dunno if it's still on.

    post edited by Goddard - 2012/11/27 04:22:29
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    Goddard
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/27 04:09:03 (permalink)
    slartabartfast
    I didn't see any listing of the actual motherboard that is used.
    That is industry standard. If they told you what motherboard they were using, you could just build your own.

    Oh please. Don't be such a rube. What so-called "industry standard"?


    Plenty of DAW builders/vendors' listed system specs identify what motherboards they are using, e.g.
    http://3xs.scan.co.uk/Cat...stemMasterCategoryID=2


    http://www.reyniersaudio.com/


    to list just a couple.


    Time was, even the DAW vendor "gurus" who frequent this forum used to be a lot more sharing with info like what motherboard worked with what, e.g.


    http://groups.google.com...3zRWsyKq9C4/discussion







    post edited by Goddard - 2012/11/27 13:37:34
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    RandallB
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/27 07:06:18 (permalink)
    Here we go again...
    #13
    jcschild
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/27 10:19:55 (permalink)
    Goddard,

    really? ECC support? oc vs no oc  get a freaking life dude  they are the exact same procesor
    VT-d ? what anality. next you are going to describe the box they come in

      exact same with a few things turned on or off that dont make a hill a beans difference in this forum or with concern to Audio

    Scott
    ADK
    Home of the Kentucky Fried DAW!
    #14
    Goddard
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    Re:New redesigned Creation Station 2012/11/27 11:12:10 (permalink)
    You just really can't ever admit when you're wrong about something, can you Scott? Which seems to be rather frequently.

    Yeah, VT-d. For VMs. And ECC, for servers where memory booboos matter. And no IGP. I could go on, but....

    If you wanted to say, no practical performance differences for a DAW, then yes. But that does not make them the exact same processor.
    #15
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