Best PC for use with Flex 6700

Bob - N7RJN

I am just about ready to order a FLEX-6700.  I am looking for recommendations on a good PC for running the 6700, that will also support use of two separate monitors.

73,  Bob - N7RJN

Neal_K3NC

Bob, I sell custom-made computers where every part is chosen for optimal usage in Software-defined Radios. I also install and configure any programs you life so that you only have to unbox and turn on your computer to start enjoying your new radio!

http://www.abrohamnealsoftware.com/products.php

If you wait a few minutes, you can see our Easter sale prices!

Gene - K3GC

Congrats Bob,
I hope you enjoy your 6700 as much as I do mine.
I am running an i7-4790 processor, 8gigs ram, and an AMD R7 260X and an AMD 4670 video.  I have four monitors running my 6700 , logger (Logic 9) and various email, browser and other programs. I do have an 850w psu.
All this doesn't even make the system break sweat
Gene K3GC

Bob - N7RJN

Gene,

Sounds like you built your own PC. What mother board are you using?

Thanks,

Bob - N7RJN

Bob - N7RJN

Neal,

Thank you. I will check out your web site.

73,

Bob - N7RJN

W4WHL

Look at gaming PC's.  They usually have fast processors, lots of memory, and nice videocards that natively support multi-monitor.  Hard to say which model, as people have very personal taste.  But any modern gaming PC should be sufficient. 

But with that said, smartsdr runs fine on my 189 dollar AMD fan-less netbook.  Buy the best you can afford I guess.


 

Gene - K3GC

it is a gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H and yes it is a homebrew with a pair of 240gig Samsung SSDs.
Kicks ****

Mark Erbaugh

The difference between the 5000 series and the 6000 series is that most of the processing in the 6000 series is done in the radio, rather than the computer, thus the computer requirements are not so demanding for the 6000 series. I am running Windows 7 on a AMD Phenom Quad-Core 2.4 GHz with 4 gB of RAM. It has a NVIDIA graphics chard with a GeForce 8400 processor. It is driving two 1920 by 1280 monitors, one connected to the DVI port, one to the VGA port. I think having a dedicated graphics processor is more important that a faster main processor. This was a computer I had for another purpose, not one bought for the Flex, but it works fine. I am usually running other software while running the Flex, such as checking email or the web while participating in a net.

If you have a spare computer, I'd try that before buying a new one.

Tim - W4TME

"The difference between the 5000 series and the 6000 series is that most of the processing in the 6000 series is done in the radio, rather than the computer, thus the computer requirements are not so demanding for the 6000 series."

That isn't entirely correct.  We do not do any DSP or other signal processing in SmartSDR - it is all done in the radio.  We are however streaming audio, both DAX and with the release of SmartSDR v1.4, remote audio from the radio through the PC.  We do not do any DSP processing of that streamed audio in the client software, but we do have to shuffle it through the Windows sound system, so real time bitstream processing happening, therefore DPCs are a concern.

The generalization that the PC requirements are less demanding that for a 5000 is also not entirely correct either.  The subsystems that are utilized most are different; SmartSDR is graphics, threading and RAM centric, whereas PowerSDR is more IO throughput centric.  We are finding that the basic hardware requirements from a CPU standpoint are about the same.  

However, you are absolutely correct in your statement that having a decent graphics card is more important on a SmartSDR system than PowerSDR.  SmartSDR uses the hardware acceleration capabilities of the GPU whereas PowerSDR does not.

And the advice to try out what you have first before buying a new PC is very sound advice.  A "honking fast" i7 machine isn't necessary, but having the additional headroom it affords is nice to have.

Walt - KZ1F

If you have any Dell purchased in the last few years that should do just fine. I agree with Mark on the 4GB although I don't believe Dell even sells PCs now with less than 8GB. I wouldn't get all **** on the video card. I haven't seen a desktop model where you couldn't very easily replace the video should it prove to be an issue. Having said all that, should you end up going full bore with SSDR, HRD, CWSkimmer, SDR-Bridge etc, maybe look to 8GB, again, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a recent PC with less than 8GB but with all that runing you will find you'll need 2 perhaps 3 monitors which means a minimum of one dual head video cards . The video card(s) should have good video memory. For two monitors you might want to find a dual head card with 1GB of video memory.Good video cards are WAY less expensive than a new PC.