Studio PC build

AlanRatcliffe · 2008-03-30T16:34:29+00:00

It's time for me to build a new studio PC. My current machine (a P4 3GHz) is still a very capable machine, but I'm running more and more software synths and samplers and I'm now beginning to run into situations where the processing power is limiting what I can do. My main criteria for the machine is it must be as powerful as possible, while still remaining silent, reliable and affordable. Bearing that in mind, this is what I'm thinking: Dual core processor 4GB RAM 320GB System hard drive 320GB Audio hard drive Passive processor cooler Discrete Motherboard with passive cooling Dual Head graphics card, passively cooled "Silent" case 500W power supply CD/DVD Writer Over the next week or so, I'm going to list my choices for each of these parts. As always, there will be a fine balancing act between price, features and performance, and I'll try and give you an idea of why I've chosen one specific model over everything else available on the market. There will no doubt be a few choices which I would make differently if my budget were unlimited, but otherwise no serious corner-cutting. I generally expect my machines to be right from the get-go, and need no further upgrades aside from the occasional extra memory or drive. I also expect them to give me reliable service for years, as once they no longer cut it for the task they were built for, they usually end up being repurposed as my work machine or mail server or even Internet browsing PCs for visitors. Bear in mind that this machine is an AUDIO ONLY computer. I learned the error of my ways long ago and stopped trying to build a machine that would do other tasks like gaming and/or Internet browsing. If you want a reliable and high-performance audio or multimedia PC, it has to be a dedicated machine. Please, If anyone has any opinions on any part or choice I make, feel free to chip in. Similarly, If you want to get some clarification on anything at all, go right ahead - this is a discussion forum after all.

Riaan

Alan
The link to the Tascam PDF draws a 404 error message...

AlanRatcliffe

Whoops! OK fixed the link now.

Riaan

Just to continue on the topic of XP vs Vista and crashing computers discussed in another thread: To you guys in the know about IT and software: how long - if you had to estimate - before Vista's problems are sorted out and it becomes the new standard for music production and recording applications? Months or a year or two? Longer even? Or put another way: if you had to build a dedicated music PC today and installed XP, when would you expect to safely switch to Vista and how would that influence your choice of specs for this PC?

AlanRatcliffe

I wouldn't worry about installing Vista yet and any decent new machine will be able to run Vista when they get it up to speed for audio.

Renesongs

Or put another way: if you had to build a dedicated music PC today and installed XP, when would you expect to safely switch to Vista

In 2000 Micro$lop released Windows 2000 and Millennium, which when released were relative disasters in comparison to their predecessors Windows 98 and NT4. General consensus amoungst the uber geeks is that Vista has suffered the same fate and have dubbed it Millennium Mark II. In fact Intel, Micro$lops biggest partner in crime has not and will not convert there 3000 corporate computers to Vista (quite embarrassing for Micro$lop) Micro$lop is already gearing up tor the launch of Windows 2007 ... um I mean Windows 7 in 2010 which some analyst say is Vista with the bugs ironed out - so I will wait until then and if it doesn't work out I am sure that most DAWS will have embraced Linux by then

Riaan-Combrink

This

Riaan wrote Just to continue on the topic of XP vs Vista and crashing computers discussed in another thread:

This topic is scaring the willies out of me. I was unaware of the XP vs Vista audio problem. Although my stage laptop runs XP (based on when it was bought), the backup laptop I use came with Vista installed, as did my new (approx 1 year) desktop which I intend to use for recording (once I've figured out enough chops).

I wonder if dealers would install XP on those machines for free (seeing that, from their and Microsoft's perspective, it should technically be viewed as a "downgrade"). Both were OEM versions anyway.

Great thread BTW, Alan. I'm going to study it carefully before investing any more $ in any of my PCs.

Riaan C

AlanRatcliffe

This topic is scaring the willies out of me.

Don't let it do that. Just install XP on your other two machines. I have the same SP1 version (I have a 10 machine site licence) on all seven of my machines. It's actually quite nice on my laptop, as the Acer branded version of XP that came with my laptop used to shut down the USB ports to save power after a few minutes - regardless of whether I was using them or not. Then I'd have to reboot to get audio back. Now I have the standard version installed, I have it configured so it thinks it is a desktop and it never powers down anything.

I wonder if dealers would install XP on those machines for free

Oh, how we laughed! Desktop, maybe - if it was built by a smaller company recently, they may be willing to exchange one OEM version for another. If it's a Dell or something, I doubt it.

Both were OEM versions anyway.

There is a good chance that, even if they were willing, you won't find a manufacturer's install disk of XP for your specific laptop - they make each version specifically for each range of machines with all the needed drivers and laptop management software pre-installed. The "generic" and OEM versions doesn't have that, and works on a wider range of machines. You can then download any extra specific drivers needed from the manufacturer of the laptop.

Riaan-Combrink

Thanks, Alan.

Back to XP it is!

Riaan C

FenderBender

Regarding sound cards:

I bought a Maya 44 USB from Bothners in 2005. Brilliant card IMO. I left it with my ex as she had more use for it at the time.
Is this card still viable for recording or have there been upgrades or better cards released recently that won't break the bank?

sepheritoh

In my opinion there are some good reasons to install Vista. One such reason is the fact that it is a 64 bit OS. This will allow you to use more than 4GB memory. To get the benefit you obviously must have a 64 bit computer. 64 bit Laptops are too expensive to considder yet, but within 12 months we should see prices comming down. Desktop machines with 64 bit is common now and prices are getting in the affordable region.

I've placed my plans for a new computer on hold to wait for the 64 bit machines to become even more affordable, or even possibly 64 bit laptops to be available from the shop floors. For me it is not essential, but it will allow more freedom in working with large sample libraries without having to freeze all the time. Another benefit of the 64 bit computers are that it allows much more freedom in mixing. This is also not much of an isue yet, but it does make some difference in the long run.

On the other hand, if one always wait for the next generation machine that is so much better than this generation, you will wait forever. There will always be a much better thing just around the corner. ?

FenderBender

I fully agree with everything you mentioned in your post. IMO the installed software and machine configuration can also have a bearing on which OS platform performs better and this usually relates to (if we take it as a given that the OS itself is stable!) proprietry drivers written by the software/hardware vendor not being entirely bug free. These days the world is in such a rush, thanks to the internet primarily, that stuff sometimes gets churned out onto the market without adequate beta testing. So I wouldn't really worry too much about which OS to use as most of the vendors have got their ducks in a row when writing software for different OS', I'm only being practical when I consider that the Vista OS is new, therefore there is an increased chance of bugs, both within the OS kernel itself or within the program or driver written by a third party vendor for the particular OS.

I usually only start to worry when I discover a driver/software related issue as there usually (or eventually!) is help available from the vendor.

There is a 64bit version of XP Professional available, although I don't use it on my 64bit Core 2 Duo based notebook as I feel that a lot of software contains specific routines that would actually need to be written for a 64bit environment in order to take full advantage of the dual processor 64bit environment. Early days for Vista and 64bit IMO, but I know at least that my notebook will be able to comply with 64bit specific software running on a 64bit OS in future.

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