Hi.
 
I decided to build a new rig as my projects are becoming more intense and complex.
Cpu spikes up 70~80 percent with 1024 samples buffer setting in my TC Electronic Control Panel.
 
My usual project consists of
 
8~12 VSTi's At most. Some of them are like Akoustik Pianos or intensive sampler instruments.
40 ~ 60 Aux tracks with average 2~3 (waves) plugins in each of them. I import A LOT of samples from the browser.
All of my sequencing of samples are done right on the sequencer. I just use midi for VSTI's.
A lot of complicated routings and side chains along with automations.
 
Thats about it but i'm hitting the harddrive and cpu on the near end mark and i decided that my system is just too old now.
 
I do think the driver for my interface isn't the best thing ever made also.
 
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Equipments related to PC
 
TC Electronic Impact Twin
PCI Firewire TI Chipset
 
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Parts I've chosen
 
Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - (Two of these)
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-D3H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i7-3770 Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 4000
Kingston HyperX SH100S3B/120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) (HyperX Upgrade Kit)
 
All of these add up to around $1050 with tax and everything
 
I haven't thought about case and i have a 700W power supply that i'm using.
 
I'm trying to keep things under a grand but with future proofing my computer and things like that, it just added up so fast.
 
I still think i can decrease the price but these are the specs i hope to get
 
SO
 
My main questions come down to
 
Do i really need 1tb X 2 for storing and will SSD help me?
I'm planning to put samples in one of them and project's in the other place.
I don't know where i'm supposed to place plugins, vsti 's and their extra core files.
SSD is where i'm gonna put Sonar X1 and Windows 7
 
Is this build efficient and good enough for another 2~3 years?
 
Also, I would love to know how the performance is if someone has a similar setup.
 
Thank you.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I just finished a new build and am in the process of loading software including Sonar X1.

My build is similar to yours
Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H motherboard
16GB GSKill Ripsaw Memory
i7 3770
OCZ Vertex 4, 128GB SSD
1TB 7200 RPM hard drive (and 1.5TB hard drive for Acronis True Image backups)
OCZ 750 watt fully modular power supply
2 LG CD/DVD burner drives (the only SATA drives that will burn CD audio at 8X)
Corsair Carbide 500R Case.

I'm using the stock Intel CPU cooler right now.  I have an OCZ liquid cooler but I've got to tame the fans as they are too noisy for a recording studio.

Initial testing with DPC latency checker is very good - 10 to 11MS at most.   I don't do much with MIDI like you, but I'm practicing what I preach when someone asks me about a new computer - "buy as much as your wallet can stand" or "buy overkill".  My system is overkill right now but down the line I'll be glad I did it.

Hmm. I like the case you have. It looks very nice. I have an antec 900 but i think it's a bit rusty. How is the noise and the overall space inside the case? Also, do you think i should get a new PSU instead of using my 700 Watt? 

I have a problem with the case fans.  I'm working with Corsair support on this and it may be the front panel fan speed switch is bad (I have to do one more check and if its still bad they are going to send me a new front panel assembly).  The fan problem is, the fans speed control is not doing anything, they run at full speed all the time and they are noisy at full speed. 

As long as the power supply is OK there shouldn't be a problem.  The one I used is completely modular (some modular power supplies still have extra/unused permanently connected leads) and that allowed a cleaner install as there were no unused power leads to stuff in the case.

My old system is using an Antec ninehundred case.  Its a quiet case, but I don't like the way the hard drive bays are mounted and how hard drives are mounted in them (a hassle).  Same way with the optical drive bays - still must use screws.

I totaled up what I spent on the new system, $1054, which included Windows 7 Home Premium (OEM).

Did your new system show a lot of improvements? I am deciding if i should get a SSD or not.

I just completed a new build and am working on an 83 track project with zero problems and low latency.  I opted to install a 500 G on C: and all samples and audio files on a 1TB on D:.  Both drives are SATA 6's are fast and silent.  I see no need for the SSD.
Antec P183 case w/Nexus 630w PS
Gigabyte GA-Z77X and Intel i7-3770K 3.5 GHz quad
Cooler Master TPC-812
16GB Corsair DDR3-1600MHz
1 Seagate 1TB SATA 6Gb/s
1 Seagate 500G SATA 6Gb/s
Windows 7 Pro 64

Hmm. Thanks for the response Bret and fireberd. They are helping me decide better. I'm wondering though, if anyone uses a lot of VST's along with tracks and plugins like me? How is the performance with that?  I'd appreciate any more responses. Thanks

I use a lot of VST's along with audio tracks and IMO there is really no need for a SSD.

I'm running 3 HDD's inside my pc, all 1TB and so far zero problems (apart from a couple of HW glitches previously reported and now rectified)