New computer needed

[RicD]

Today I was inspired and wanted to record. Well My computer decided that, that was not gonna happen. It likes to just drop out every now and then. Something is hidden and running in the background. I almost threw it against the wall. No really, I even shut it down and pulled cables so it would go faster against the wall. I've been wanting to get a new dedicated computer so now is the time.

I've read about the basics but I am not in anyway computer savy. Hell I thought that they were paper wieghts that made noise and heat.

I currently have a tascam 1641 it's working for me for now. I may add something later to expand my I/O ability.

Looking for suggestions on each point and any point that I missed. Your help is appreciated.
Building a desktop;
1 Motherboard, Which one?
2 Cpu,I would like quad but duo then expand to quad is good for now. budget budget budget!
3 Fans? Hell I don't know what to get.
4 Oh yeah, the shell, really? these things are expensive for a box. Any suggestions for a big bang for my buck?
5 OS. If I can get xp great if not, which stupid vista do I get?
6 Video card. I want 2 screens but don't need anything fancy here.
7 sound card do I need one if I have an interface.
8 Hard drives? how many and how big? I understand about 7200 speed, I think.
9 usb and firewire. well are there different ones ( besides 2.0 etc ) I mean, brands i guess
10 I know i'm missing something else.

Once again, Thanks for the help cause I need it.

[String7th]

I've successfully built 2 computers so far, last November and one just last month. I think I may build another next August just to keep the pattern going.

For a smaller budget, I'd go with all AMD compatable stuff. It's really just as powerfull and half the price as Intel processors. Not sure why the price difference, maybe someone here knows.

1. motherboard should be compatable with multi-core CPU's, over 2 gig RAM is great at 1066 speed minimum. At least 3 CPI slots. Bonus features would be a slew of USB, Firewire, and E-sata ports, but not required. Audio outputs are obviously not important.
2. CPU, For 16+ tracking, a dual core would be minimum and a tripple or quad would be a lot better. quad cores are as cheap as $200 now. I got a tripple for $120.
3. Ram, 2 gig minimum, go ahead and get 4 because it's one of the cheaper components to upgrade.
4. I got my dual video card for $50. For normal computer monitors it works fine. I had to buy a $200 HD video card for my home computer to use on my big screen.
5. Hard drive should be at least 250 gigs 7200 speed. I have a Terabyte just barely 1/4 filled after 1 years of use.
6. The case can be a $50 block tower, or can be a $230 Monstrosity. It's up to you and your preference and budget. As long as it's a full ATX not a miniATX like the media centers.
7. Don;t need to worry about extra fans till you have a problem with the room heating. Vista is fine as long as your software and hardware are compatable. If the motherboard you picked doesn;t have firewire, there are $40 PCI cards you can get.

[Mark Ellis]

I am a Microsoft MCSE so you might think I will have a bias. Not so. Buy an Apple Mac for the following reasons:
* OS X and its software are much further down the 64bit road than Windows. 64bit will give you access to vastly more memory than 32bit Operating Systems.
* the manner in which applications install on Windows with its registry and the fact so few things ever fully uninstall. A mess.
* the hardware and drivers a hugely less varied than in the Windows world so it is much more of a known platform. You won't be running a test site. I have much better things to do with my time than screw around with driver compatibility problems.

As for interface, Digidesign or M-Audio interfaces will give you the option to run Pro Tools and will work just fine with Cubase and Logic. (Personally I use a RME Fireface 800 that is very good.)

A FEW OTHER TIPS
Keep your studio computer for studio stuff and run Office, games, surfing dodgy web sites and whatever on a Windows box. You can use the same screen if you can switch between the digital and analogue inputs.

Get a 24" monitor. Dell ones are cheap and good. they work fine with Macs.

Be very careful about what software you install. There are very read compatibility issues so don't just install trial versions of anything. Every installation has to be considered carefully.

Consider getting a UAD-2 Quad card. You can always use more DSP and the plugins sound great.

[RicD]

Thanks for the replies! Good advice from both of you. I think i'll stick with PC though.
String7th what's a e-sata port?
I'm going to start building it today, ( rather have someone build it ) at least order parts.
plenty of usb and firewire ports with pci pcie slots as well. I also have a mixing board we use for live music. I have a project just starting that we want to get an old school blues sound on. I was think about running through the board ( plenty of busses out ) is it better to go through my interface or a pci card ( 1/4 balanced ) direct in?

[String7th]

If you have the money for a mac, go for it. A huge weight lifted off your shoulders. You just throw your $1600 down and it works. But the doubled price will be for convenience, piece of mind, and looks.

I spent $900 on my quad-core, 1 terabyte, 4 gig monster and just have to baby it. No internet except for registration, strip down XP, check for driver updates every now and again, and I will have to wait till Microsoft sorts out all this 64-bit shit. I got no complaints with 32 bit right now. Most my after-market VST aren't even working for 64 yet.

[String7th]

E-sata is for external hard drives. Way faster than USB or Firewire. It's wise to use an external drive for all your music wav data and keep the operating system programs on the internal, which can be shrunk to 100 gigs if you can find it that low these days.

Also just saw your comment about expanding your Tascam. Unless you plan to use 2 interfaces, that Tascam can't add on anything. A Firestudio2626 or Saffire 40 has ADAT add-ons for 8-16 extra ins and outs.
You may need to look into a new interface. If your board has a lot of in/outs, they do sell PCI card interfaces with 1/4 line-ins only. Use your mixer for preamps. You can use 2 Delta1010s for all the multi-tracking and monitoring you need.

[RicD]

you're right about the tascam. I think i'm going to go with something else in the future that can be expandable. It will work for now as long as I leave some room for choices in the new computer I should be good.
Thanks for the E-sata answer. Didn't think of the external hard drives, good call!

[Strangedogs]

I use Mac's and PC's for my recordings and I still say the Mac is the finest machine. I love Windows 7 but when I want to do something and just have fun doing it I fire up my Mac G5 - it just simply put is a state-of-the-art recording solution - without being plagued by driver problems, latency issues, etc.

[RicD]

This thread was not meant to be a debate for or against pc or mac. With that said, I would like to have built or build a pc. Looking through newegg I have learned a couple of things. I am not a computer expert. Hell, i can't even wade through the jungle to figure out which mobo to get. It seems that everything is designed for the gamer.
Do I need to know this stuff? I don't have many brain cells left and I would rather use them on getting a good sound not memorizing computer specs. I'm very frustrated.
I have a tascam 1641 but thinking of expanding to, and or replacng it with something with more I/O ability. not sure which one yet. Just don't want to get to boxed in. I've even thought of buying one of those overly priced computers off of guitar center.
Thanks for letting me vent!

[String7th]

Those Guitar Center and Sweetwater music computers are really powerfull and built from the inside out for music. But you CAN do the same thing yourself if you have the patience to do it. Some things that set these PC's apart are the quiet fans, anti-vibrate casing, dual hard drives, multi- ports and card readers, and sometimes a stripped down version of XP or vista.

You can do all of this yourself. Newegg.com has a ton of tutorials and "how-to's". But the physical building is so much easier than you think. Wash your hands, always touch the case to release static build up, don't try to make things fit if it doesn't. very simple stuff