I hope I got the Computer Configuration right !!?

> > > I hope I got the Computer Configuration right !!?

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Member Since: Jan 29, 2004

Hi everybody ,

I went through most of the stuff on the various forums of this site ( and a few others).... and after a long and tedious investigation I finally settled on the following configuration
(this is keeping in mind what level of recording/mixing I planned to do AND what hardware was available here in Delhi, India).

As of now these are my requirements:

1. I plan to do LIVE guitar (acoustic and electric) and Vocals
2. Rest ALL and whatever else I can manage.... through MIDI

So its gonna be basically a solo performance ... maybe sometimes jam with one of my friends, but no chances of recording a BAND.


And here is what I shortlisted. There are still a lot of issues with this configuration so I thought of getting the final seal of approval from you guys....

1. CPU (P4 2.8 Ghz, Hyperthreading enabled)
Confused about the Hyperthreading bit.... what I gather is that some s/w could really benefit from this, but I hope it does not SLOW down the CPU in other cases....

2. MOTHERBOARD ( Intel 865PE chipset)
I don't really know much about motherboards except that I read that Intel 865 supports dual channel ddr400... I hope this means its good.

3. SOUNDCARD (Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro External)
I thought of getting the best in soundcards at least, that I could lay my hands on... I didn't want it to become a bottleneck. Brands like Aardvark and Yamaha (SW1000XG) are not available that easily here in Delhi. The reviews that have gone thru for this soundcard (Creative) have been good...yor views

4. OPERATING SYSTEM (Windows XP)
This is almost settled ...except that I want to go for Dual Boot system ( Internet & Music)...I hope that won't be much of a problem with XP.

5. SD RAM ( 1GB RAM)
Should I go for two sticks of 512MB each or just one stick of 1GB ram...? I read somewhere that for Intel motherboards, havng 2 same size ram sticks give better performance rather than a single big one.


6. HARD DISC DRIVE ( SATA )
I am confused about whether I should go for the plain old IDE or SATA hard disk, are SATA not much reliable yet in terms of working with music? I realise that 7200rpm wuld be good.


Thanking all in advance.....

Satendra

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

May 12, 2004 01:24 pm

You should go with DDR ram, not SDRAM, and for any P4 MoBo I am assuming you will have no choice.

I won't say much about the sound card, they can tack all the "platinum" and "pro" and all that crap on the end they want...from your config mentioned above, it will still be your biggest bottleneck. if you can't get an M-Audio, Echo, Aardvark or anything like that in India, that is unfortunate.

Other than that, it looks like a pretty smokin system.

And ya, DDR400 is good. :-)

Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002

May 12, 2004 03:15 pm

Well, DDR400 is only good if you get DDR-400 Ram ;)

Get 2 sticks of 512, then you can dual channel them to get twice the throughput of your ram bus.

Hyperthreading is always good, Nuedno for one benefits immensley from it (as do most number crunching apps).

SATA is an interface type, IDE is going to be phased out slowly, you may as well get a SATA disk - a 10,000 RPM drive, although more expensive, will help your system (although it is by no means essential).


Member
Since: May 03, 2004

May 12, 2004 03:50 pm

Check out Tom's Hardware Guide. Here's a link to a review of P4 motherboards: www6.tomshardware.com/mot...4-mobos-01.html

Member
Since: Jan 29, 2004

May 24, 2004 10:20 am

Thanx a lot for the suggestions, everybody ... really helped me out !!

And oh Boy I never knew Creative was so BAD !!
Anyway thanks again for opening my eyes on that...

As a result I did some more research and finally managed to find out two distributors for M-Audio here in India.

Depending on my financial constraints I have zeroed on 3 cards :
1.Delta 66 ( 2nd hand)
2.Audiophile 2496
3.Delta 44

Delta 44 and Audiophile 2496 are almost equal in price and though Delta 66 is costlier, what the distributors are giving me is a "2nd hand card, in very good confition, from our in-house studio".... so the price is comparitive to the other two cards....

Should I go for this 2nd hand stuff..( i don't personally know these guys, so I can't really vouch for their claims on the condition of the card). what I mean is that is the delta-66 really that good that I should go for it even though it wuld be a risk ( 2nd hand)?

considering my recording requirements:
1.solo guitar
2.solo vocal
3. all the rest midi
I think audiophile-2496 could easily suffice or maybe the delta-44....
i might not really need a delta-66.


One more important consideration here... midi performance and support
since i wlil be relying heavily on midi sounds to create the whole song... which of these cards gives the best midi performance and manipulation..?

Thanx again ... and also in advance ..!!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

May 24, 2004 10:31 am

Of those cards the audiophile is the only one that has MIDI ports on it at all...none of them have MIDI sound synths on board.

it sounds to me like the Audiophile is the best bet for you...

Member
Since: Sep 22, 2003

Jun 05, 2004 11:50 pm

i am in the same place and i dont know what to get either.

> > > I hope I got the Computer Configuration right !!?

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