The RME Reference PC: Hardware recommendations

The RME Reference PC - Hardware recommendations
The RME Reference PC AMD - Standard (4/2001)

The RME Reference PC standard version has a very practical and nicely designed case, a fast AMD Thunderbird processor, a motherboard with 5 PCI-slots, 128 MB RAM, an IBM hard disk with 20 MByte constant data transfer rate, an unbelievable 50x CD-ROM drive with Hi-Fi like digital output, and a dual monitor graphics card. All this does certainly cost a lot of money, doesn't it? It doesn't. The complete system including 19" monitor, keyboard, mouse and pre-installed Windows Millennium (ME) costs around DM 3000 (German price, around 1500 US$). This is probably more than you would pay at your local discounter - but it will run fast, reliably and with outstanding performance - but without unpleasant surprises.

The Case

A compact mini-tower with clever features and an appealing design. Portable, thanks to its size and an integrated handle on the top. Like with the new Macs, the side panel including mainboard and PCI cards can be folded down after moving two latches. Servicing, reconfiguration and test turn into real pleasure.

The user is thrilled by a temperature controlled 330 watt Enermax power supply, screw-less mounting of CD-ROM and hard drives. The complete plastic enclosure damps the internal PC noise, lowering the audible operating noise.

The Motherboard

The ASUS A7V has already been a reliable and highly compatible component of our Athlon PCs, the A7V133 now continues this rule. As to our experience ASUS' special BIOS offers the best memory detection and handling around. This is the base for a stable operation. An additional RAID-capable Promise ATA100 controller allows to use up to 8 hard drives, an integrated USB hub offers 7 USB ports. Five PCI slots offer much room for additional cards.

The CPU

Finally it happened: For the first time an AMD processor is faster than an Intel one, not only in specialized benchmarks, but in real life operation. Based on the same concept as the Coppermines (integrated 256kB full speed cache), but with a faster calculation unit, the AMD Thunderbird offers at least the same performance at a much lower price. Note that the 'Reference PC Intel Standard' is 100 MHz slower, has less features, but is 100 DM expensive...

Currently the 1 GHz Thunderbird offers the best value for money, thus is the ideal processor for the Asus A7V133 motherboard. Fitted with PC133 2-2-2 memory this dream team satisfies even the most critical user.

Hinweis: Im Herbst 2001 wurde auf das A7V133A gewechselt. Aufgrund der günstigen Speicherpreise wurde schon das Standard-Modell mit 256 MB Speicher bestückt.

The Hard Disk

Modern hard drives have become so unbelievable fast, even cheaper models are sufficient for the majority of multitrack recordings. Nevertheless we still recommend a top model: The DTLA-307030 Deskstar 75GXP from IBM with ATA100 interface, average data transfer rate 20,7 MByte per second (c't 16/2000). This hard disk raises only an eye-brow when performing 96kHz/24bit multitrack recordings. Further specs: 30 GByte, 7200 RPM, 2MByte cache, average current consumption and thus no critical temperature reaction. Very quiet. SCSI? Never...

The CD-ROM Drive

More or less by accident we ran into the ASUS CDS-500. Briefly: a dream came true. This is definitively the most perfect CD-ROM drive we ever tested. And we tested a few... For us simply the Hammerfall among CD-ROM drives! The differences in comparison to many other drives are:

Like most others this drive is not inaudible, but the speed of rotation is being reduced in several steps after few seconds without access.

The drive handles the wait command properly. The infamous dialog box 'drive not ready' when reading in the CD's content thus doesn't show up.

With an audio cd inside, the drive doesn't even go to maximum rotational speed, shortly: silence.

Grabbing works properly and bit-accurate at 8- to 18-x (average 13-x).

The only drive known to us with a proper digital output, perfectly suited for internal connection to our cards. Other drives maintain the digital output signal only after inserting AND playing an audio CD, even at pause the carrier is lost. Here we have a constantly valid S/PDIF signal, which contains digital zero for data CDs.

The Graphics Card

The Matrox G400/450 Dual Head with 32MB memory, capable of feeding up to 2 monitors and TV, had no competition so far. Meanwhile the Asus V7100 V2D1 showed up as interesting alternative. Its Geforce MX chipset offers full 3D and DVD acceleration at a maximum resolution of 1024 x 768 per monitor. The Matrox can even run two 17" flat panels at full 1280 x 1024 resolution each. Both cards are working very well and come with up to date drivers, even under Windows 2000.

You don't need a second monitor? Everyone who has worked in 'stereo' for at least 1 hour knows it better. A second monitor is no luxury, but actually worth every single penny. Considering the cost for a complete system (computer, RME DIGI card and software cost around 5000 DM / US$ 2500), another 700 DM / US$350 for a 19" monitor is not that much more. Even when it is required later or when you intend to use an additional monitor that you already own, the Matrox Dual Head will be the basis for flexibility and sensibility.

The RME Reference PC - Professional

The professional version differs from the standard version in a couple of points. When you work with audio, you usually need a CD writer, lots of space for projects (including a backup possibility) and lots of memory. Voilà...

The CD Writer

Our new reference: the Teac CD-W512E! Already announced in mid 2000 it now hits the market 6 months later. The good news: it comes with 3 MB internal memory and Burn-Proof* (don't get fooled from Teac's website or the packaging - it's both true!). Besides 12x write CD-R, 10x write CD-RW and 32x read CD-ROM it also grabs audio with bit-accuracy and up to 24x. Compared to the Plextor 12/10/32A the Teac offers an UDMA2 interface, handles the wait command correctly and has a much shorter read-in time (CD content). Operating noise is very low under all conditions. The writer comes bundled with the latest Nero 5.0, a powerful, professional writer software, which excited us already after the first minutes of usage.

*Even when the internal cache runs empty (Buffer Underrun) and Windows freezes for minutes the writer will continue with highest precision at the exact sector where it stopped. Thus this device can guarantee to finish the CD-ROM writing and to produce a valid CD, no matter what you do with your PC while in the writing process. A must have for professionals.

The Hard Drives

The professional version contains already 2 IBM 30GB drives. In addition, there is another (empty) exchangeable frame below the CD drive behind a lid, which can be supplied with a hard drive at any time in order to move data from or to the computer.

The Memory

128MB is pretty nice to start with. Using many tracks, or a RAM sampler like the LM4, requires significantly more. Therefore the Pro-version is equipped with 256MB PC133 2-2-2 RAM, for 133MHz memory clock at lowest wait states. This gives 25% more memory throughput than usual PC133 modules (3-3-3 or 2-3-3). The modules used even pass the famous memory test of the German magazine c't (ctspd: no error).

Please note: Although we have set up and tested everything ourselves, we can still make mistakes. We would like to clarify that all information included in this Tech Info is both our subjective opinion and subject to permanent change. This Tech Info is not to be understood as a do-it-yourself instruction, any request on this behalf can not be responded to and will be deleted immediately.

RME is not selling computers and will not be. In case you want to avoid buying and assembling of all the parts our German based customers can get in touch with:

Retail source

All RME Reference PCs are available completely assembled and pre-installed. Tillmann Computer in Hannover are assembling the systems strictly according to our instructions and test them prior to shipment. Even the drivers for all RME cards and DIGICheck are preinstalled. Note that RME digital cards are only available through authorized dealers, thus not included in these computer systems.

Prices

- Standard, parts as described above, incl. mouse, keyboard and Windows ME: 2600 DM incl. VAT

- Same, plus 19" monitor: 3300 DM incl. VAT

- Professional, parts as described above, incl. mouse, keyboard and Windows 98 ME: 3800 DM incl. VAT

- Same, plus 19" monitor: 4500 DM incl. VAT

Attention: prices of 04/30/2001, subject to change

Address:
Tillmann Computer
Krumme Str. 3
30559 Hannover

Tel.: 0511 / 952 62-97
Fax.: 0511 / 952 62-98
Email: info@ticomsys.de
Web: www.ticomsys.de

Please note again: This offer is limited to residents of Germany!

Copyright © Matthias Carstens, 2000/2001.

All entries in this Tech Infopaper have been thoroughly checked, however no guarantee for correctness can be given. RME cannot be held responsible for any misleading or incorrect information provided throughout this manual. Lending or copying any part or the complete document or its contents is only possible with the written permission from RME.

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