Which One

[Mcrob]

I am saving for a pc and I would like some suggestions on which one to buy. I want to be able to install chips and not notice anything lock up so I couldn't add anything..

would IBM be good?

 

[HaZwaiOh]

how much do you want to spend?`what would you like to use your computer for? i´m just building a new one for myself. by being able pick each component, i can make sure to only get what i want/need. you won´t need a 3d graphic card and a dvd writer for music production. I think building one´s own computer is the best solution. Make sure you buy products that have been around for a while. during the first 2-3 months after their release most components tend to have bugs and cause problems. Well known brands have good drivers, which play a significant role when it comes to a stable and fast system.
ibm itself sells computer systems that consist of several devices - ibm and non-ibm. I remember that IBM harddisks have a very bad reputation and some of their older models would just light up.

 

[Copenhagen]

I don't know where you're from and how the prices are compared to each other but in Denmark, it's cheaper not to make your own, but just buy a no-name/low budget brand. You can get some very good pc's very cheap. Mostly, they can be bought from internet shops...

 

[Mcrob]

I can explain..............

I went to a professional recording studio and I met this producer. He makes beats and notice his gear.... pc, korg trition, emu mo phat and logic platium. We were talking about recording music and I mentioned the mac. Now I realized that the mac doesn't make your voice sound any better than the pc....there both equal, it depends on the soundcard. Which means that I do not want a mac anymore because then I will lose all the opportunities on using my favourite programs like cool edit pro for example. And they say that the mac is stable, well, windows xp is just as stable too. So I am getting a pc with a expensive soundcard and expensive mic and other gears and I will get my production started.

and I live in canada

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

YES! Someone finally gets it!!!

However, don't get to excited about getting cheap computers just yet, you should choose your hardware wisely or else you will have all sorts of problems later.

My suggestion would be to build one from the ground up. That way you have complete control over what goes in and what stays out.

My favorite are Intel motherboards with Intel chipsets running Intel processors. I don't know if these are necessarily the best and fastest out there, but the fact that the mb, chipset and processor are all build by the same company means that the probability of them working together happily is increased. Also, there is no secret that Microsoft and Intel are probably in bed together...

However, there are other options out there. The biggest competitor to Intel is AMD, they make very fast processors as well, you will just have to make sure that you find a suitable motherboard. I have some friends who swear by them for reliability, speed and price (they are usually cheaper than Intel stuff).

You'll have to choose a soundcard as well, don't get stuck into the 'more expensive = better' trap because, frankly, it isn't always true.

You'll also need to find the right software. You mentioned CEP which is a fine editor and multitrack. But if you're looking for MIDI or virtual instruments etc., you'll have to look elsewhere. Be sure to get a program that works with your soundcard, things like drivers are inmportant for performance.

Good luck!!

Nick

 

[Copenhagen]

SiS motherboards along with AMD processors work fine (check the new AMD Barton), I have that in both my pc's, and they're cheaper than Intel.
However, Intel Celeron (not pentium), is almost as cheap these days.
Also, a friend of mine and I have experienced problems with the IBM Harddisks we bought and switched to Maxtor, don't know if we were just unlucky, but I heard that IBM harddisks can easily get overheated and need lots of fans, which is also the kind of trouble we we're getting.
Also, I heard that good RAM (read expensive) makes a big difference, you should check that rumour, unless someone in here can confirm...
That's all for now...

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

A few comments:

1. I like Western Digital drives. I've never used other brands, and I've never needed to.

2. Good RAM is always a good idea. It is so cheap now that I wouldn't worry too much about price. When I built my first machine 4 years ago, it cost me about $100 for 128MB...

3. Celerons are a great alternative to Pentiums, I think that the only difference is the cache size. I'm not too well versed in the importance of cache, but I'll bet that you can do some smoking tracks with a Celeron.

Take care,

Nick

 

[HaZwaiOh]

Originally posted by vitaminman
1. I like Western Digital drives. I've never used other brands, and I've never needed to.

True! I have my 2nd WD drive now and it is really nice.

AMD cpus tend to produce a lot of heat - i prefer intel - if it is celeron or p4 - it´s your choice, i´d go for a p4

 

[Mcrob]

what do you mean the most expensive soundcard doesn't always give you the best results??

 

[vitaminman]

Hey,

Think of it like this:

Q. If you need a vehicle to drive your family (which has your wife, 3 kids and a dog) from Bonn to London, would you buy Schumacher's F1 Ferrari car?

A. No

Q. But why not? That F1 must be one of the most expensive cars out there! I thought 'more expensive = better"!

A. Maybe so, but there's only room for one person in an F1 car, it doesn't take regular petrol, and they are not suitable for driving on normal roads.


My point is that some cards come with lots of features that you have to pay for that you don't need, or else it isn't designed to do what you need a card to do.

Example: word clock, multiple ins and outs, ADAT, AES-EBU, SPDIF, TDIF, SMPTE, etc. You would probably never need any of these things if all you do is use Reason in your small bedroom studio, but if you buy a Lynx One card for $500 you'll be getting a lot of that extra stuff...you could just as easily get an Echo Mia for $170 and it will do exactly what you need without all the extra bells and whistles.

Take care,

Nick

 

[HaZwaiOh]

holy crap. i love it. and bn gets some airplay, haha,haha
good stufff and good metaphor ....

 

[Mcrob]

I hate when people talk like that.