New desktop machine advice

[Jim_Boulter]

I'm looking for a new box to do my recording on, but need to do it inexpensively. My main question is: what types of expansion do I need to prepare for? I'm a Mac guy, and had a PreSonus Firewire 8 input device that I hope to replace soon. I currently have a USB device only, but want to be able to grab multi-track drums again at some point.

So, in considering this computer:
http://www.buy.com/prod/acer-ax1300-u18 ... adid=17992

(basic stats so you needn't look it up yourself: AMD Athlon X2 7450 2.4GHz processor, 3GB DDR2 system memory, and a 320GB hard drive, integrated graphics, DVDRW, 9 USP ports, 1 X1 slot, 1 X16 slot)

I expect that I'll be able to use one of the X slots for a Firewire adapter, but haven't researched it. What is available? What works, or doesn't? Is there a direct X16 interface that you *really* prefer? (I'd rather not go that way, because I will want to add it to my portable Mac rig, too, but could be convinced.)

Anything else I'm missing? I know I'll need a bigger hard drive, but have an external where I'd rather keep those files anyway. 320G should suffice for OS, SW, etc.

[mrc]

Those processors are very weak until you get to the 9750 or later. 9750 up is fine, and pretty inexpensive at places like New Egg or Tiger direct.

[kslight]

I would suggest against a system with integrated graphics...and I also think that many prebuilt PCs are junk...cheap components = imminent failure...hard drive, power supply, motherboard... Especially the very low end systems like that..who knows what's in it to cut corners? I'd say at best the internal hard drive probably isn't fast enough for recording, and that you'll probably want to use a secondary internal for recording and an external for backups.


You never stated your budget...just inexpensive. If you are savvy I would suggest DIY PC..I've only bought one prebuilt system ever (my laptop)...I like knowing what goes into my system...makes for a more reliable PC.


You said you're a Mac guy...have you considered getting a used/refurbed iMac or Mini?

[unguitar]

I come into this thread as I am at the same point.
My pc has fried a week ago, so I need to find a substitute.
Given the power of latest processors and the interesting prices for the ones which are not the edge of the top of the max I have been trying to keep the idea of the investment under the 400 Euros.
I still have my case, power supply and video card which survived from the previous daw.
I need a new pc that will be used just for recording of maximum 8 simultaneous tracks, no Vsti's, a few and very light Vst's and firewire connection for an Rme ff800.

This is what I am almost ready to order:
AMD Athlon II X2 250 2x1MB (3.0 GHz) 65W
Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 (770,AM3,ATX,DDR3,AMD)
OCZ XTC Platinum DC KIT CL7 rt RAM DDR3 2GB / 1600Mhz

In case anyone sees a potential issue with any of these components, please let me know !
Any advices are more than welcome.

my best,
Luca

[Jim_Boulter]

Thanks, guys.

mrc started me down the path to something more powerful. Before I saw the other posts, here's what I had on my way from NewEgg.com:

• Western Digital Caviar Black 750GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #:N82E16822136283
  
  Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Item #:N82E16822148451
  
  LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24NS50 Item #:N82E16827136177
  
  AMD Athlon II X3 435 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor
  Item #: N82E16819103724
  
  RAIDMAX Hurricane ATX-248WBP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Item #: N82E16811156240
  
  Patriot Viper II 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory w/Futuremark 3DMark Vantage Bundle Item #: N82E16820220425
  
  GIGABYTE GA-MA785GM-US2H Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Item #: N82E16813128394

So other than avoiding integrated graphics (I'm going to be recording music, not playing high end games. Should it matter?), I had already taken kslight's advice, too. Gets me built in FireWire, more expandability, a small OS drive and secondary sample/recording drive (and I'll still move projects out to the external for storage when I'm not working with them).

Coming in a just under $400 after rebates, this would have been in budget if it included an OS.

Going cheap, and not with a refurb Mac because I hope to replace my iBook with a decent MacBook (Pro?) soon, too.


Apologies to unguitar, because I don't have the knowledge to answer your questions, but I have one for you: How do you like the RME FireFace? I've been wondering how it compares to the PreSonus, which I loved when I had it. (It was a loaner of sorts. Mine while I was "the guy" in my church, but I moved off. I need to buy my own now.)

[unguitar]

Hi Jim,
your setup looks very similar to mine.

I would really like some specialist could comment on the cpu I have been suggested ( AMD Athlon II X2 250 2x1MB (3.0 GHz) 65W ).
I am really thinking to go with a step up because I know that a higher power would require less cooling, therefore less noise.
Unfortunately I don't own the skills to judge it by myself.

About the Rme Fireface: I have been using Rme's for a long time and beside the ff800 I own an ff400 for my laptop and live use.
Their drivers are unbelievable smooth and I have never had a problem with them.
I was considering to change the ff400 with the new Uc ( same one but with usb 2 instead of firewire) just because I am always a little uncomfortable with firewire connections, especially during live use.
You can easily have problems should it happen to hot plug the cable without notice.

Anyway, great intefaces, unfortunately I don't see many competitors when you put all their features together for a comparison.

[mrc]

I'm a long way from an expert, but I'm currently running an Amd XII 550 (which is the 955 with 2 cores disabled) It is a low wattage chip, and I can easily run it @ 3.4 ghz on the factory cooler/fan. There are a couple of Gigabyte boards that will usually unlock this chip, but I'm running an Asus M4N72-E so I can run a TC Powercore with the UAD's. Powercores seem to have an aversion to most amd multicore chipsets. You can find the giga boards on the net. This 550 is a real cheap way to run a quad core system, if you have the right boards, but just as an X2 @ 3400, it seems pretty strong with 4 gigs of 1066 ram. YMMV