Anyone interested in a studio PC build thread?

AlanRatcliffe

The time has come, the Walrus said, to speak of many things. Of chips and RAM and thermal paste, of processors and networkings. (With sincerest apologies to Lewis Carrol).

Seriously though, the time has come for me to invest in a new studio PC. My old P4 3GHz with it's paltry 2GB RAM is hitting the wall more and more lately. An added bonus to this is that my old studio PC will now become my work machine (upgrading that old P4 1.8GHz, which in turn becomes my "new" mail/Internet gateway machine). This also means that both machines I sit next to all day will be quiet studio types, bringing the ambient noise level down a lot.

Anyway, would you guys want me to post all the details as I go along with the planning and building of this?

Riaan

Alan
Please do, I would appreciate that. I will probably be going this route also, once I get my little home studio sorted out. I've been looking at the specs of http://www.musicalcomputers.com/ after seeing their PC's on EBay. Their prices start at about $1600 for an entry level machine ... ?, ...and that's without import tax and shipping. It can probably be done cheaper locally.
Cheers
Riaan

NorioDS

I would love that. Been thinking a lot about recording on a PC after all your guys' comments about it ?

AlanRatcliffe

Righto!

Riaan, I've also been scouring the various manufacturer's websites (Carrilion, Sweetwater, etc.), and the silent PC manufacturers, just to see what they use. It doesn't make sense to import - our local prices are in line with overseas ones. Shipping is an absolute cow - aside from the cost, the chances of getting a PC here intact are small as most decent CPU coolers are way above the weight limit for shipping such things. I've also noticed that most of these guys tend to be slightly behind the curve, probably as prices and technology is changing on a weekly basis.

I'm also in a fortunate position that I can buy most parts wholesale, which brings down the price a bit. I should be able to keep things under R10K (sans case and soundcard) and get a very capable machine - fast and quiet.

Norio, I'll post it here under general discussion, as it doesn't really fit anywhere else.

Gareth

Hi Alan,
nice one, thanks for offering to share this mission with us, I'm really keen.
My take is that it is more a technical, than general discussion, and might open up other technical issues eg. merits of soundcards, types of RAM, software setup etc. and if it's under "Setup, Mods and Repair" it may be easier for you, then again maybe that board is best kept guitar only, but in this digital age a PC/DAW is probably as important as an amp and they sure do need setup.

Again yes please post/blog this as you go along
thanks
/me

AlanRatcliffe

My take is that it is more a technical, than general discussion, and might open up other technical issues eg. merits of soundcards, types of RAM, software setup etc.

That's kinda what I'm hoping for. I know many musicians are also in the IT industry and other people's opinions on hardware are always good. I've been doing a lot of research and already I know that If I'd stuck with my old favourite brands, I would have lost out. The hardware business is so changeable.

I'll start a thread later.

glug

I'm a software developer/I.T In the next couple of weeks i'm signing up our company with Rectron. So we can get our hardware at cost price. I'll also allow you guys to buy from there. So if you need quotes send me your specs and I'll get you a quote. Once i got it signed up ill let you know. Don't ever use vista for your composing. My cousin is a composer and composers music for some dstv channel. We tried out vista and there are to may bugs in the compatibility side of things.

AlanRatcliffe

Thanks Gerald, but I buy wholesale anyway. My friend has access to Rectron, Frontosa and Pinnacle and I buy under his company name, just paying COD.

Doesn't make a huge difference in price - it's amazing how narrow the margins are for most of these computer shops, especially the smaller ones.