Semi-extreme Audio Production spec-in-progress - what do you think?

[beatsystem]

Okay, as @sck451 and @SpyderTracks invited me to post, here's my spec-in-progress.

This is primarily for audio production, working on very large projects (both in tracks and duration), some live / midi recording (only one or two tracks at a time tops); but tons of plugins per track, instruments and FX. I do a little video editing also, but pretty simple stuff - if it gets more complex in the future, I would look at a video card upgrade, but for now, it's low priority. This will not be a gaming machine, ever.

I'm basing this spec on the fact that my current setup was running my projects happily 25% five/six years ago, and is now hitting 90/100% (thanks to new plugs, the march of tech time, and also me learning to make good use of extended capability!) so what I am aiming for is the 25% that will keep me safe for the next 5 years, if you see what I mean. I need a future proof rig.

Anything not listed (sound card, hard drives, monitors and bits) is being migrated from current setup.

Also from what I have seen online, the B550 is stomping the competition with regards to DSP latency, which is a big plus for me, more important than extra bells & whistles. If you know of an alternative, let me know!

So... (missing out the vanilla stuff)

Enclosure
FRACTAL DEFINE 7 BLACK SILENT HOUSING - MID TOWER
Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X Processor with 16 cores (3.4GHz-4.9GHz/72MB CACHE/AM4)
Motherboard
ASUS® STRIX B550-F GAMING (DDR4 , USB 3.2, 6 Gb/s) - suitable for ARGB!
Memory (RAM)
64 GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200 MHz (4 x 16 GB)
Graphics card
2 GB AMD RADEON ™ RX 550 - HDMI, DP, DVI - Dx® 12 (only because it's on offer and it's an AMD, if not, a GX710 would be sufficient for me)
1 e M.2 solid state drive
1 TB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 7000 MB / R, 5000 MB / W)
Power supply
CORSAIR 750 W RMx SERIES™ MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA STYL
Processor cooling
Corsair H115i ELITE CAPELLIX RGB Hydro series high power CPU cooling
Wireless Network Card
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2.400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
2 PORTS (1 x TYPE A, 1 x TYPE C) USB 3.1 PCI-E CARD + STANDARD USB PORTS
Operating system
Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit - incl. single license [MUP-00003]
Warranty
3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Years pick up and return, 2 years parts, 3 years labor)

I've reached the limit of my own research, open to suggestions... Let me know what you think!

 

[SpyderTracks]

For this level of build B550 just won't be able to support the CPU. Yes that board is the best for DPC latency, but it just can't handle that chip.

What's your max budget?

Can you include the full spec including configurable link so we can edit it?

 

[beatsystem]

You don't think a B550 can support a 5950X? Interesting...

Link: https://www.pcspecialist.nl/opgeslagen-configuraties/amd-am4-gen3-pc/WXGKvKFvW7/

 

[beatsystem]

Also worth noting that the PCS site offers that combo as a starter config for "AMD Rysen Extreme", although I came to the decision independently...

 

[SpyderTracks]

You don't think a B550 can support a 5950X? Interesting...

Link: https://www.pcspecialist.nl/opgeslagen-configuraties/amd-am4-gen3-pc/WXGKvKFvW7/

It's well documented, it will "support" it as any motherboard with the same socket would, that doesn't mean you'll get the performance it's capable of out of it.

Not sure what you meant by linking the configurator? All that shows is compatible products with that specific socket, it has no relevance to what works together, you have to know how to configure an optimised system.

It's up to you, for audio work the B550 strix is definitely the best board available related to DPC. It also has better USB support generally. It's likely you'll see turbo clocks reduced as the VRM's just won't be able to keep the sustained clocks, but that may not be so important to you. For audio work it's arguably not so important so could be a worthwhile tradeoff for the DPD performance.

 

[beatsystem]

Sorry, you asked for the configurable link, that was it - https://www.pcspecialist.nl/opgeslagen-configuraties/amd-am4-gen3-pc/WXGKvKFvW7/

Regarding the B550, I have to be honest. I don't understand the following:

"It's likely you'll see turbo clocks reduced as the VRM's just won't be able to keep the sustained clocks, but that may not be so important to you. For audio work it's arguably not so important so could be a worthwhile tradeoff for the DPD performance."

Forgive my ignorance, can you explain in slightly simpler terms?

Also if you personally wouldn't go for the B550, what would you suggest as an alternative for a 5950X?

Thanks for the help, it really is good to discuss this with someone who knows their onions

 

[SpyderTracks]

Sorry, you asked for the configurable link, that was it - https://www.pcspecialist.nl/opgeslagen-configuraties/amd-am4-gen3-pc/WXGKvKFvW7/

Regarding the B550, I have to be honest. I don't understand the following:

"It's likely you'll see turbo clocks reduced as the VRM's just won't be able to keep the sustained clocks, but that may not be so important to you. For audio work it's arguably not so important so could be a worthwhile tradeoff for the DPD performance."

Forgive my ignorance, can you explain in slightly simpler terms?

Also if you personally wouldn't go for the B550, what would you suggest as an alternative for a 5950X?

Thanks for the help, it really is good to discuss this with someone who knows their onions

Apologies, totally missed that was the configurable link, thanks for that.

The higher up you go with CPUs, the higher and tighter voltage regulation and heat support they require. This isn't just at the CPU level, but also the motherboard, and it's supported by the VRM layout (Voltage Regulator Module). The 5950x is the top tier chip and as such needs really really good VRMs to be able to sustain the clock frequencies that it's capable of. Basically the better the boards VRM's, the better frequencies you're going to be able to sustain over longer periods.

B550 while being substantially better than B450 (to the point it has merged high end B550 boards with lower end X570 and even beaten it in some instances), it's still a mid range board. X570 is a top tier motherboard and as such has far greater support for the top end chips.

Now the way audio loads are on the CPU, I'm not sure how relevant this is going to be compared to the tradeoff of lesser DPC and USB support, plus missing out on the Thunderbolt header which is likely going to be extremely handy to any audio workflow. My guess is, the work load will utilise cores over frequency.

What DAW do you use out of interest as that would greatly factor into the kinds of CPU loads?

 

[beatsystem]

Thanks for the clear explaination - makes perfect sense. Time for some more reading up!

I agree this all ends up being a tradeoff issue, which is always very personal - for me thunderbolt is not important, my workflow has never required it, whereas solid low-latency performance and good network / USB is far more important, especially because that's where I've had problems in the past.

DAW for me these days is mainly Ableton Live, sometimes Pro Tools if the project requires it.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Thanks for the clear explaination - makes perfect sense. Time for some more reading up!

I agree this all ends up being a tradeoff issue, which is always very personal - for me thunderbolt is not important, my workflow has never required it, whereas solid low-latency performance and good network / USB is far more important, especially because that's where I've had problems in the past.

DAW for me these days is mainly Ableton Live, sometimes Pro Tools if the project requires it.

Both Ableton and Pro Tools would spread the load over the cores, so overall boosts are less important I think. The 5950x is such a monster, the performance impact would be really minimal anyway unless the CPU was maxxed out which I doubt you’ll achieve in its lifetime.