Need a new PC for my studio?

[jruberto]

Originally Posted by Jomox

Actually at the right store you can buy a fully build PC for around £20 more then you would pay by building it your self.

How true this is actually fluctuates with time and market conditions. The prices of components are fairly volatile, and the price of pre-built systems necessarily lags behind a little bit. Sometimes this works in the system builder's favor and sometimes it works in the pre-built purchaser's favor. When it's time for a new machine I always price out a few options. Building yourself is usually cheaper but I've occasionally seen pre-built deals that I couldn't come close to beating (full systems for $299 and such)

[shanabit]

IF you want to build your own to run ONLY Protools, heres a nice thread for your reading pleasure.

i7 Builds - Specs and Results - Avid Audio Forums

Otherwise you would be wise to check AVIDs approved PC list

[Prahlad]

I once built a pc, copied the part list from a pro daw building company and voila, worked perfectly.

I remember a few months ago there were some asus mobos officially not supported under pro tools..

If youre using W7 get a small SSD drive, 80 gb just for OS should do it, huge performane boost, then 2 hds, one samples, one audio. Samsung have been flawless for me.

Good luck

[Syncamorea]

Originally Posted by jruberto

The first time around its just too easy to (for instance) manhandle the motherboard while installing it & scrape a trace or bust a cap off the board.

Is that the way you handle your mics? Guitars?

[TheArk]

After thinking about it
I am thinking of making a switch to mac and changing my DAW
i think the problem is that freaking Pro Tools makes RTAS a god damn computer spec rather than a damn tool for musicians to use.
Currently, I have a Macbook laptop, which isnt mine but actually my mother's (im only a teen so its acceptable lol). The problem is that it is on Mac OS 10.4.11. I was thinking about upgrading that, install Pro Tools there, record and mix on the MacBook until I get Logic 9. Make music on the laptop until i get money to buy my own mac. How does that sound?

[jruberto]

Originally Posted by Syncamorea

Is that the way you handle your mics? Guitars?

I tend not to, no. Thanks for asking.

If it was the first time I ever handled a guitar or a mic, I wouldn't want to have to daintily navigate it through an unfamiliar tight space with sharp metal corners.

[Distelfeld]

Originally Posted by jimmys69

So how do you get experience? By paying someone to do it for you?

Big questions is if you want to get this experience and if you have a chance to use it, so it won't slowly fade away..

I would argue that for the vast majority of users, buying a PC is a much better choice.

[bigden]

Originally Posted by jimmys69

I actually run two 1TB internal drives in RAID 1 mirror configuration, meaning that my OS and all programs are stored on two drives simultaneously. If one crashes, I have the second one to boot from thus eliminating reinstalling and re registering software (once was enough of that crap). Audio files get backed up weekly to external drives. I myself have not found a need to place plugins and samples on a separate drive, though I do mostly audio and drum samples.

Originally Posted by shanabit

The OP is strictly using Protools. Does Protools work with RAID? If it does now thats news to me.

Raid has nothing to do with the software, Raid is invisible to it. It is a function of the operating systems who handles it. For the user and the applications they only see 1 drive. I have used raid often as I work in IT with servers.

[shanabit]

Originally Posted by bigden

Raid has nothing to do with the software, Raid is invisible to it. It is a function of the operating systems who handles it. For the user and the applications they only see 1 drive. I have used raid often as I work in IT with servers.

Thats interesting because I specifically remember Protools not being able to work on a RAID system. Once again, what do I know.

I hear what your saying and I agree. BUT, DIG/AVID has said in the past that Protools did not support RAID setups. Hopefully that has changed

[Cap'n Spanky]

My plan is to do some research and have these guys iBUYPOWER Custom Computers (or someone similar) build it for me. Just make sure I get an appropriate motherboard, video card, and hard-drives.

It's comes with a warrantee and is not much more $$ than building one myself. Besides, I don't have the time or inclination for that. It's also whole lot cheaper than going to a specialty DAW builder.

I did this on my current DAW and it has worked great.

[TheArk]

Apple® - Mac mini / Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor / 2GB Memory / 320GB Hard Drive - MC270LL/A

Im just thinking of getting a mac mini, load it up STRICTLY with pro tools 9 and logic 9, some plugins and thats it. You think it will hold up? If anything i can just buy a seperate hardrive yada yada yada. Any experience with it?

[Distelfeld]

Originally Posted by TheArk

Apple® - Mac mini / Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor / 2GB Memory / 320GB Hard Drive - MC270LL/A

Im just thinking of getting a mac mini, load it up STRICTLY with pro tools 9 and logic 9, some plugins and thats it. You think it will hold up? If anything i can just buy a seperate hardrive yada yada yada. Any experience with it?

That's a completely different league from what was discussed earlier in this thread.. It's about what I had for a DAW 4-5 years back...

[TheArk]

Originally Posted by Distelfeld

That's a completely different league from what was discussed earlier in this thread.. It's about what I had for a DAW 4-5 years back...

I know but how was your experience with it? I dont want to buy a 1K build, for that why not just buy a mac?


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[TheArk]

Bump


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[Distelfeld]

Well.. my new Core i7 2600k is at 25% CPU with 10 plugins @96kHz and 128 samples buffer.. and its almost 4 times faster than the 2.4 Core2Duo

@48kHz with Cubase SX3 the 2.4 Core2Duo was ok.. but I quickly moved to a 2.4 Core2 Quad to have some more headroom

[MacMacMac]

Originally Posted by jrides

There is a lot of unnecessary and bad advice in this thread. Especially since the OP never built a computer before.

Quite so. If you know what you're doing, ok. But the OP says he "not into" building. So why push him into it?

Also, the notion that you can build for half the price of buy is pure nonsense. You can't even build for the same price as buy (unless you're stealing the O/S). The Dells and HPs have supply chain efficiencies that you can't match.

One poster mentioned his purchase of mobo, CPU, RAM, optical, and enclosure for around $500.
What about drives? Another $100 for a pair.
What about the O/S? Another $100.
What about the graphics card? Another $30 to $80, depending. (Or does the poster's mobo have an on-board graphics card?)
Cables?
Shipping charges?

For that money you can buy an HP with a warranty.

If you want a box with the most expensive, high-end components ... the Dells and HPs probably don't offer that. And what they do offer at the extreme high-end comes at an inflated price.

Otherwise ... the days of build-it-yourself economy ended years ago.
If you want a computer for pride-of-build, fine ... build it.
But if you want a computer for utility, just buy it.

[Itsmorning]

Originally Posted by MacMacMac

Quite so. If you know what you're doing, ok. But the OP says he "not into" building. So why push him into it?

Also, the notion that you can build for half the price of buy is pure nonsense. You can't even build for the same price as buy (unless you're stealing the O/S). The Dells and HPs have supply chain efficiencies that you can't match.

One poster mentioned his purchase of mobo, CPU, RAM, optical, and enclosure for around $500.
What about drives? Another $100 for a pair.
What about the O/S? Another $100.
What about the graphics card? Another $30 to $80, depending. (Or does the poster's mobo have an on-board graphics card?)
Cables?
Shipping charges?

For that money you can buy an HP with a warranty.

If you want a box with the most expensive, high-end components ... the Dells and HPs probably don't offer that. And what they do offer at the extreme high-end comes at an inflated price.

Otherwise ... the days of build-it-yourself economy ended years ago.
If you want a computer for pride-of-build, fine ... build it.
But if you want a computer for utility, just buy it.

Agreed. I dont understand why people want to spend so much time building computers when there are already many aspects of producing music that take time to master. It will at least take you a full day to build and probably much longe if it's ur first time. Skills in computer building may be useful if u want to constantly switch out parts when te next greatest audio card or drive comes out. But you can get more than enough out of a pre built pc with a USB audio drive.

[TheArk]

Okay I came to the conclusion i refuse to spend over $700 in a computer.
I have two options:

The New Mac Mini with the specs:

2.3GHz : 500GB

• 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
• 2GB memory
• 500GB hard drive1
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• OS X Lion

Then an HP XW4000 which is an avid qualified system. Its used and im getting it for $250. The specs are below:

• Intel Core2Duo 3.00Hz Dual Core Processor
  
• 1GB RAM (total)
• Nvidia Quadro FX570 - Dual DVI 256MB PCIe Graphics 456138-001
  
• 750GB SATA Hard Drive
  
• DVD-RW
  
• Windows Vista Business COA sticker - NO MEDIA INCLUDED
  
• Keyboard / Mouse / Power Cord included. (USED)
  
• No software installed or included. - you will need to install the OS with your own media.

[TheArk]

Bump


Posted via the Gearslutz iPhone app

[TheArk]

Okay lets scratch the mac thing for good. After two months of saving, I was getting no where, prices are just to scary. i went out to best buy bought two hp monitors and a computer, however, me being impatient, i bought a SHITTY computer (AMD some shit 1.6GHZ), so I am going to return it and have about $250 in my pocket. I really do NOT want to spend an arm and leg here. $500 and below is my budget but I believe there is hope.

[Todd]

You start by saying you want a new PC, and by page 2 you're talking about
using your mother's laptop?????

Now you're saying your budget is 500 bucks??

If i were you, i'd be more concerned with moving out of mommy's house
and getting a job.
Till then, this is a joke.

[peachboy]

The computer is the heart and soul of the studio. Why cut corners and spend a lifetime suffering pulpitations?

Get yourself a decent iMac.

[Finnish]

Go through that thread:
the "today we build our studio pc"-thread

If there's no builds for successful Pro Tools setups, check AVID-forums (DUC-forum?). I just built my first desktop PC and it runs Pro Tools (not my main DAW) flawlessly with ProFire 2626, using it powerhouse with Reaper is just so smooooooth...

You save money, learn to build your own PC and you get so much power (i5 or i7 SB CPU) it's hard to believe.

[Ace_TX]

save up some cash homie and quit being cheap

nowadays folks "studio" IS the computer, so you can't cut corners

$250 is overpriced for that used rig you talkin bout

---
budget build cost

decent "silent" case $100
650-750w decent "quiet" psu $100
decent 1155 mobo $100
1155 cpu $250
4-6-8GB ram $100
nvidia appr card $150
hard drives (we've gotten by w/o ssd) $60 x Qty 2 + ext backup $100
wireless kb/mouse $60
firewire card if needed $50

os $130


so bottom line you need to spend ~ $1000 for a solid system

[Masaaki]

Originally Posted by TheArk

Okay lets scratch the mac thing for good. After two months of saving, I was getting no where, prices are just to scary. i went out to best buy bought two hp monitors and a computer, however, me being impatient, i bought a SHITTY computer (AMD some shit 1.6GHZ), so I am going to return it and have about $250 in my pocket. I really do NOT want to spend an arm and leg here. $500 and below is my budget but I believe there is hope.

I thought you were going to buy a Mac.

So I Am Moving To The World Of Mac...

In the opening, you mentioned:

Originally Posted by TheArk

I have been using PCs (well Windows Based Computers) for music production for quite some time, and I must say it ISN'T as bad as what most Mac Users say it is, but I agree on one thing, all those unnecessary technical problems really does destroy one's creative process.

What happened?

[TheArk]

Originally Posted by Todd

You start by saying you want a new PC, and by page 2 you're talking about
using your mother's laptop?????

Now you're saying your budget is 500 bucks??

If i were you, i'd be more concerned with moving out of mommy's house
and getting a job.
Till then, this is a joke.

Im 17.