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Computer advice
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| davidjames |
Hi,
I know there are a regular trail of these threads but i could really do with some up-to-date advice on PC specs/Good outlets/Brands for music PC's from the technical minded.
I have just had a funeral for my alienware laptop (accident) which i used for producing, It ran a Pentium P4 3.06ghz HyperThreading with 1 gig of ram.... which was fine running Reason 3, most of the time.
However, I fancy a nice desktop this time.
Im prepared to spend around �1500-�1600..
Im kinda confused with the amount of processers around now with Pentium D, Dual core, Turion, Celeron etc etc....
I can google Specs for the above, but i want to know how you lot rate them for music apps..
Im fancying 2 to 4 gigs of ram btw.
Where and what brand is good to buy from?
I had no problem with alienware, infact it was a damn good computer. Its just they are overpriced, and if i can get something as powerful a few quid less, i will..
I dont fancy building myself and I'm kinda unsure about Macs..
Any help/advice is much appreciated
ta
:) |
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| Icone |
Hey David,
in my opinion it might still be best to go for a single core processor, though perhaps take the fastest one you van get (e.g. the AMD FX ones). I own an AMD 4600+ X2, though I have my doubts to how useful it is nowadays when almost every program is still running singlethreaded... For example FL Studio, my sequencer, will only use one core, in which case it seems silly to buy an expensive dual core processor for my music if it is only used by half :)
For RAM I have always been very pleased with my Dual Corsair 1GB PC3200 bars. They aren't the most expensive ones (if you could relate price to quality), though are still very, very reliable. If you'd really want the best of the best though, you could always go for 2 x 2GB Crucial Ballistix PC8000 bars, which will cost you about �1600 in total :)
I'd also pay attention to the motherboard itself. What I would recommend, if you would go for an AMD, is to go for the "ASUS A8N32 SLI DELUXE". Nothing tips that one for me so far.
Perhaps a good graphics card can also help to get you running two decent LCD monitors at once. Since I have my dual setup, I cannot imagine working without it anymore. The graphics cards have taken a huge leap lately, so you'll be able to pick up a very decent one for a good price already.
Last, but definately not least, you also need a good sound card (unless of course you already have one). My pick for now would either be the Creative X-Fi Elite Pro (bear in mind it it still lacking for professional music production though as it has no real professional outputs), or the Audiophile 192.
I'd also very much advise to get two separate hard drives (personal experience), one to place all your data on, and one for all your programs.
So my picks would be the following (average prices based on my local store):
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi32 Deluxe [�180]
Processor: AMD FX64 [�850]
Soundcard: Audiophile 192 [�190]
RAM: 2048 (2x1GB) Corsairs Twinx PC6400 800MHz [�280]
Graphics card: GeForce 7800GTX 256MB [�350] (brand-dependent)
Would get you at about �1850 = +/- �1300
You can even get some more things for this price hehe. Hope this helps you on a bit ;)
// Wim |
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| davidjames |
Hey Icone!
Thanks for the Info, thats exactly what i wanted...
Im fine for a soundcard, i ran an external Edirol ua-5 with my laptop and never had any problem with it, so im gonna stick with it for now..
Theres some interesting points in there, thanks. Thats all pretty pretty much within what i wanted to spend as well. |
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| Mane |
Hello
Ive just got an idea, if there is website which shows all tests and so on for music producers i mean there is plenty of sites showing all kind of tests of cpus, rams ect but for games, graphics, 3d ... ? |
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| davidjames |
Ive had a nose about, and im kinda struggling to find one outlet that sells all the components in a built tower that Wim reccomended.
This is kind close from www.music-pc.com, weighing in at around �1500 with a few other fixtures and fittings..
Case
Antec SLK3000B Tower case NO Psu �33.31 more
Case Fan
AcoustiFan Case Fan C-120 �5.99 more
Motherboard
Asus A8V Socket 939 Mainboard AGP �57.26 more
Floppy / Card Reader
1.44mb Floppy drive (black)7 in 1 internal card reader with floppy �5.77 more
Hard drive 1
Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive �135.12 more
Hard drive 2
200GB Serial ATA Hard drive �69.03 more
Graphics Card
Radeon 9250SE 128MB dual head 8x AGP �33.78 more
RAM
1GB DDR RAM PC3200 400MHz �79.31 more
RAM 2
1GB DDR RAM PC3200 400MHz �79.31 more
OS
None selectedWindows XP HomeWindows XP Pro �71.97 more
Dual Boot
Dual Boot setup WinXP or Win2k only. �0.00 more
Optical Drive
Black CDRW 52x24x52DVD/CDRW Combo in blackDual Layer DVD-RW DVD-+R 16x �39.99 more
Cpu Cooler
Amd Stock coolerScythe Katana-775 Heatpipe Quiet CoolerScythe Ninja-PLUS Heatpipe Cooler �34.27 more
Processor
Athlon 64 FX57 2.8ghz S939 1024kb �722.54 more
PSU
300w Standard PSUOverhead fan bracket assembly with Fan FTagen 480w easy connect psu �73.44 more
Anybody had any experience with music-pc.com? |
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| Centra Spike |
| quote: | Originally posted by davidjames
Processor
Athlon 64 FX57 2.8ghz S939 1024kb �722.54 more
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Pfft. This is what I would buy, but if you really want to spend silly money, this is much better value than a �720 57. Although you might want to go with socket AM2 for future compatibility. |
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| davidjames |
Ok, Thanks to all who have helped..
I have decided im either going to go for the above or this one from http://www.vantagecomputers.co.uk @ �1642
System Case: Coolermaster Wavemaster Silver Case
Power Supply: 430W TR2 Quiet PSU (19dB)
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLi SE Motherboard (Skt 939)
Processor: AMD 64-Bit FX-57 (Skt 939)
System Memory: 4Gb DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory (4x 1Gb)
Hard Drive One: 160Gb Serial ATA300 7200RPM
Hard Drive Two: 80Gb Serial ATA300 7200RPM
Removeable Storage Devices: Floppy Disc Drive
CD Device One: CDRW Drive (52x32x52)
CD Device Two: None Selected
Video Card: GeForce 6200TC 256Mb DDR SILENT +DVI/TV PCI-X
Video Card Two in SLi: None Selected
Audio Device: 6 Channel Audio Integrated
PCI Devices: None Selected
PCI Devices: None Selected
Keyboard & Mouse Set: None Selected
Speakers: None Selected
Monitor: 19 inch TFT AMW Monitor (8ms/DVI)
Operating System: Windows XP Home SP/2 - OEM
Office Software: None Selected
AntiVirus Software: Norton AntiVirus 2006 (OEM 1 Years Update Subscription)
Utilities Software: None Selected
Additional Services: None Selected
System Warranty: Ad-Vantage 5 Years Return to Base Warranty
Additional Support Services: One Week Trial 24/7 Unlimited Telephone Software Support
Build Services: Standard 7 to 10 Working Day Build
Any thoughts, ideas etc? |
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| davidjames |
| quote: | Originally posted by Centra Spike
Pfft. This is what I would buy, but if you really want to spend silly money, this is much better value than a �720 57. Although you might want to go with socket AM2 for future compatibility. |
Hey Centra Spike, thanks for the reply. On this 2nd system there's an option to get the AMD Athlon 64 FX60 Socket 939 2.6GHz 2MB FSB1000 instead of the 57, and save a few pennies. Would this make a noticable deal of difference to performance? |
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| Eldritch |
| 4 GB RAM is overkill imo. |
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| davidjames |
I want your opinion.. ;)
Would it not be useful? I can always downsize to 2gb.. |
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| Derivative |
32 Bit windows currently has memory management problems with 4gbs.
The FX-57 is a waste of money with Conroe looking to kill it in about 3 weeks time.
Socket 939 is being phased out at the end of this year and replaced with AM-2 which will feature reverse HT for single threaded applications.
| quote: | | Audio Device: 6 Channel Audio Integrated |
No chance.
Also need to know the model and brand of the hard drives and the memory and the CD-RW and the power supply and the efficiency of the power supply. Because some of them are pretty crap. |
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| davidjames |
Hi Derivative, thanks for your help.
The model/brands of the hard drive etc, i really dont know as there is no more information on them other than what i have copied and pasted..
I take it that that is no a great sign?
You seem very clued up, is there a brand/setup you could suggest within the kind of budget im working to?
Thanks |
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