Custom PC For New Studio??
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Posted on Aug 13, 2004 04:29 pm
cocofromscotland
Hello!
Member Since: Jan 12, 2004
OK Guys
Here's a wee question for ya's all:
I currently run a Packard Bell iMedia PC for all my pc recording (as well as family PC - Ya, I know but read on..). I currently work underthestiars and it's nae fun I can tell ya (well it is but there is nae space!).
I now plan...
1. To move ALL my gear to the loft
2. To possibly buy a new PC (since I canny shove off upstairs as only I can access the loft!! :-)
So..I am looking into gettin a new PC for ma new studio in the loft. Now...
Ive looked at out the box and for what I get/what I need its too expensive. I want a custom pc to go with ma new stuido so:
I currently run a Celeron 2.2, 756MB RAM and 80GIGS HD. I want to run the same or better. Do you guys think I should try for the upgrade now on the premise i'll need it and go for some better spec. I CAN Work with waht I have but whilst I am at changing am thinking I should AT LEAST nab more HD space/better processor.
So: Celeron/Intel/AMD - price v performance based on what I have/can use? RAM - 756 just now - can I survive with 512MB? HD - 80GIGS IS enuff but more is better - however - this PC will be JUST FOR ME!!! No internet, no modem, no crap - just Coco's Comp....for RECORDING!
Yeeeeeeeehaaa!
PS - Budget is approx £500 UK! I know its tight but thats all I got. Here's some links to possible sites who do this type o thing:
www.epcbuyer.com - custom pc's built here
micom.co.uk/ - and here
www.europc.co.uk - finally here
I know this is a big question but its a big decision as I DONT plan on upgrading for quite some time, but still have that godammed budget!!
Cheers guys..I know its a biggie but there is nobody else I'd trust more than the good folk of HRC.
Coco.
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ILLbizzelILLbino - one of WA's finestMember
Since: Feb 10, 2004
Aug 13, 2004 06:36 pm I'd stay away from a Celeron chip. They don't perform as well as the regular pentiums.
As for RAM, I run 512mb of DDR ram right now and I don't encounter any problems. I bought my computer off Ebay which I recommend to anybody as long as the seller has a lot of good feedback. I'd paid about $800 for everything for my PC (system, monitor, o/s, keyboard, mouse, etc) which in stores would have been around $1250. I bought that a year ago too. So today, you could probably get that same computer for around $600 for everything. If you go to shop on Ebay, make sure you check different country Ebay sites (like ebay.com, ebay.ca, ebay.uk) because theres a flucuation is prices between countries.
Hope this helps.
Aug 13, 2004 07:02 pm Cheers Illbizzel
Aye - I had considered the ebay route. I will maybes go check whats on offer.
I have bought many things of Ebay but never a PC! However, I shall take a wee look tonight in fact.
I have a Celeron at the moment with nae probs at all, just wondering if I should stick with the same spec as I have or go slightly higher. I know, having had PC's for a number of years is to go for the best you can but I am also keeping in budget.
However, I just sorted the loft (the home of my new studio). Good news is, it will be GREAT! A REAL space to record in...good acoustics the lot. The bad news - NAE INTERNET up there. So, when I want to go online, I need to come doonstairs to this pc. But, I will have nae modem on the new machine as well as other guff so I have the slickest, fastest machine possible.
Ta.
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 13, 2004 07:58 pm I'm no expert but I agree with ILLbizzel. The celerons don't seem to peform as well. But hey, I used one for awhile and it did well. I guess it depends on how big your project is...you know...if you really stress the procesor out you might have problems.
Hey, I think I'm kinda going to miss you talking about your little studio under the stairs if you relocate!(hehe) take it easy coco--
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Aug 13, 2004 10:04 pm I like AMD and Pentium. Either works well from what I have experienced. 512 is sufficient for what I do which caps out at about 25 or so channels on Cubase SX and or SX with Ozone as a plug. I do like running two hard drives, one for progs and second for data. I also like using a caddy on the second hard drive so I can have a seperate HD data drive for each of my major clients. A clock speed of 2.xxx and up are fine as well. I did outrun my 850mhz pentium 3 with Cubase and Ozone with 512 ram.
Aug 14, 2004 02:54 am Nice one guys...
wrmach - it'll still be a little studio, it'll just be in the loft! Cause, the natur of ma loft dictates its for storing junk (PRIMARY USE) secondary use - MA STUDIO!
Alas, I will never have a "proper" space but hell, is that no what home recording is all aboot!!! hehehe
Walt, cheers for that too.
I thinks I will maybes go for a Intel P4 with maybes 2.4-2.6ghz and 512ram with 80-120GB with cache. That'll be PURELY for audio with nae modem, ms apps, nowt - just cubase, sound forge and other such apps. Hell, it'll be a big empty space for the most part!!
Cheers
Coco.
Aug 14, 2004 06:59 pm Ahh..just spent the last 3 hours tidying the loft.
Wife loves me for it..except..she knows not the REAL reason for my sudden interest in tidying the loft!! hehehe.
I bought a nice new desk today, nice "producer" type seat and some extra flooring for up the loft. I'll do it in stages...extra panels of chipboard and hardboard for the floor/roof. Keep it nice...
Then I'll just sneak up a nice new P4 ! hehehe.
Looking good tho. Hell, its good to be able to stand up withoot ducking as the stairs come doon. I also have the advantage of being able to set up my ENTIRE rig! My Marshall, pedals, all my guitars all oot, ready for use.
Canny wait to get a new pc now.
Wooohoooo!
Coco.
Aug 14, 2004 08:09 pm CAPRICORN MIDI TOWER 350W BLUE/BLACK OR WHITE £23.40
INTEL CELERON 2.6GHz RETAIL BOXED WITH H/FAN £57.63
SONY DW-U18A DVD +/- RW 8 SPEED £39.20
FLOPPY DISK DRIVE 1.44MB £5.12
MAXTOR 80Gb IDE 7200rpm £34.20
ASSEMBLY £35.00
ASROCK GE- PRO USB2 SND GRAPHICS LAN DDR £22.40
256mb DDR (2100) 266MHz £24.09
MOLEX Silent Drive - Reduces Hard disk noise by 90% £20.70
WINDOWS XP HOME (OEM) £50.90
STANDARD 12 MONTHS PARTS & LABOUR WARRANTY INCLUDED
Carriage Charge £0.00
Sub Total £312.64
VAT Total £54.71
Grand Total £367.35
OK..EXCEPT the Celeron (which I would replace anyway) - what d'yall think of this system to go with ma new studio space???
This beats what I have just now and I'll be taking 512MB from THIS PC and sticking it in this new one, with my old monitor etc (from a previous PC).
Cheers guys...
Coco.
Aug 14, 2004 08:43 pm OK, well, replacing the Celeron would likely mean also replacing the RAM to take full advantage of the speed of the P4 which is what I assume you would upgrade to, since the RAM you have is only 266mHz RAM...P4's run on a much faster bus than that. You don't mention what motherboard is in the package, that could also need to be upgraded, while not likely, it's possible.
Also, it might be wroth paying a little more for XP Pro.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 14, 2004 09:12 pm Hey coco, you should have called us buddy... we would have come over and helped ya with the loft.
dB could've helped with the heavy stuff !! (hehe)
**just kiddin' db**
I'll bring the snacks!!
Aug 15, 2004 05:42 am Cheers DB and Wrmach...
Aye - Thats all the components..is the motherboard maybes this little puppy "ASROCK GE- PRO USB2 SND GRAPHICS LAN DDR £22.40"? I dunno - think that'll be it. will check tho.
P4 is lookin good bud. Sneaky thing am gonny do (budget is tight) im gonny steal the ram from THIS pc (hahahaha) and take up the loft wi me (I put 512mb in hehehe - wife will NEVER know!!).
XP Pro - is there a big diff then aye? Never used Pro but Home isnt bad either...
Thanks DB - THAT's just what I needed know.
Wrmach, thanks for the offer :-p - a 23hr flight to the UK to lump some wood and boxes would have been much appreciated but a few hundred dollars later and I dont think you'd have been so keen :-p ! Hehehe.
Anyways, am gonny nab more flooring. Ive deceided am moving ALL the junk to the sides of the loft (where the v shape bit comes down) and Im putting a wee bar at the other end hehehe!!!
FANTASTIC!! Maybes I can even fit ma scalextrix in there tae! WOW...this is GREATT Fun!
Coco.
Aug 15, 2004 06:03 am Why go from 2.2 to a 2.6? Seems like an unecessary upgrade...I'd hang on to the money and save some more and make the upgrade more worth it later...
Aug 15, 2004 03:19 pm Problem here DB is that I can no longer work from this damn cupboard so I needs to buy a system for no more than £500 (Approx $1000).
So, I am trying to maximise my £500 by making what improvements I can. I have an old 15" monitor, keyboard and mouse. I'll be taking ma Edirols and I'll be taking 512MB ram from this machine. I'll also be takin ma Delta 44!
So, all I need from the new pc is the case, m/board, CPU, HD and memory + gfx card/internal gfx of some kind.
The PC I work from just now will be reimaged and it'll be like new, minus all my audio stuff.
But, point is - I must move as there is literaly nae space in here. So, this is the best I can dae methinks...
Howevers, if yi fancy and have 5 mins - take a peek at the site and see if you can get a good spec for £500 (I'll need XP as a must an I dont need what I mentioned above).
Here's the link:
www.micom.co.uk - max is approx £500 (Can go very slightly over - likesay £10-£20 but that is it). Look for "Build your own PC" link...badly designed site it is in ma opinion but some good gear.
In fact, if anyone else would build this PC differently, have a go! Next competition:
Build Coco's PC!!! hehehehe...Seriously, I WILL be gettin a new machine and would rather get this optimised as much as poss for recording as that is all I will be using it for. NOTHING ELSE.
P.S. I wont need a modem either. I will need a DVD-RW (as it does CD's tae).
OK...have fun guys.
Coco.
Aug 15, 2004 07:47 pm Ok, I am confused, how does getting a new PC get you out of your cupboard?
Secondly, for the best for your money, I'd go with AMD over Intel, not saying either is better than the other, and not looking to start that debate, but it is undebatable that you can get a lot more speed for your money with AMD.
Aug 16, 2004 02:26 am Well...its kinda confusing I'll grant ya.
Basically, I keep most of my guitars, all my gear, PC and various other "domestic" items in my studio/cupboard under the stairs.
Over time, Ive added and added and added and now I cant turn round without hitting something of mine(and neither can anyone else!!).
So, the PC doesnt get me oot the cupboard. What I mean is, I MUST get oot the cupboard for space etc and following this, I need the new PC - as this one needs to stay here (Family pc etc).
This is why I am gonny get a new PC. I hadnt checked AMD but hell, if ya reckon I can get more for the buck then I'll look at that. I take it the 2400 etc means 2.4ghz?? The site doesnt specify. Also, I take it the AMD procs are just as comptabile as the Intel ones??
Cheers DB...
Coco.
Aug 16, 2004 05:20 am ahhh, OK, that makes more sense, I understand now.
No, AMD did that lame thing that Cyrix did a while ago, their names are indicative of something, but it ain't speed. 2400+ is about 1.95gHz...but they call it 2400+ for some reason. Cyrix did it saying that their 200 was "equivilent" to an Intel 200, which was a bold-faced LIE. AMD's methods I am not sure.
I run an AMD 2500+ and it has been rock solid, I've never had a compatiblity issue with it, it's fast and reliable. And it cost HALF of what a comparable Intel would cost.
MurphyAn outburst for perfectionMember
Since: Dec 11, 2002
Aug 16, 2004 07:43 am
Build one yourself, It'll saves you hundreds.
Get a motherboard which has Sata.
Sata150 hard disc's are better/faster than IDE, and even more so when two is connected together(Raid)
My system's main bits
Pentium 4 3000mhz
512 DDR-(3200)
Asus Motherboard
LG 12x Cd-Rw
DVD 4X dvd-Rw (Pioneer)
20Gb Quantum fireball hard disc
80Gb MAXTOR SATA x2 (RAID) (Dedicated Music Drive)
Aug 16, 2004 05:12 pm Nice set up Murphy...
Alas, I'll stick to firing in the odd memory slot or sound card!! Frying a PC and myself in the process seems a little to easy :-)
Im looking at SATA too though - thats a real good shout.
Thansk for the input buddy.
Coco.
MurphyAn outburst for perfectionMember
Since: Dec 11, 2002
Aug 17, 2004 06:31 am
I think (SATA) Will take over IDE, the connections are much better, none of these big bendy cables that take up all of your space,
SATA Keeps everything nice and tidy.
Gives better cooling throughout the system.
Great thing is, you can still have a primary master IDE Hard disc for internet and other stuff, two SATA drives connected to RAID which doubles the already fast speed, and your PC still looks empty!
building is easy, mount the mainboard inside the case and the rest is simple, all of it's really straight forward.
Once you've built one you'll never buy another ready made, that's for sure!
Aug 18, 2004 05:15 pm Well guys..
After checking the cashflow I couldnt justify buying a whole new PC just for me when there are other more important things to be bought !!
So, I compromised and took this PC upstairs to ma new studio I am building (in the loft) and bought a stock Hewlet Packard PC for downstairs for family use for £300. It'll do the job and I'll just reimage the PC in the loft and it'll be like new.
I have managed some good recordings to ma lugs on the one I have so it'll do for now. I will make a MAJOR upgrade in a couple a years time, go for a real top notch system when cash allows and it'll be the bomb...
Til then, I am happy being relocated. I now have a new custom space (built with ma fair hands) for ma recordings. Its in the loft so nae noise - everything at hand, all ma amps etc and I can use it all at once (couldnt do that down here under the stairs).
I'll be posting some pics of under the stairs and up in the loft asap...nearly done up there. Just need some minor tweaks and Im happy. Ive trebled ma space with better acoustics too - happy I am!!
Cheers for all yer help guys...
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 18, 2004 07:06 pm Good to see things progressing nicely. Hey, you know theres a horror flic called: *people under the stairs* ? We could call ours, "coco under the stairs" ...or was under...ahh, never mind. wasn't funny, I know.
Aug 18, 2004 07:41 pm Cheers Wrmach...
Aye - I gets it :-p !! hehehe.
Nae mare under the stairs tho - so yi can think o something like "Coco in the attic"!!
I'll be finishing some work up there tommorow so I'll take a couple of snaps and show the difference in space...its no huge but its at least 4 times bigger than doon here!
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 18, 2004 09:59 pm Your very kind coco. You don't have to laugh at my geeky joke. That's cool, I know it was dorky:)(hehe) Can't wait to see your studio pics...and your "place under the stairs!" heh heh HEHHH! [size=1](evil laugh)[/size]
(forgive me, I'm in a goofy mood)
Aug 19, 2004 09:06 am Aye..cheers Wrmach.
The pics will be posted tonight - the underthestairs studio is gone now bud. The new "family" pc has been installed and I now have the "old (FAR SUPERIOR)" pc up in the loft with me.
(throws back his head like true badie villan) mooooooooooooooohahahahahahhahahahahahahaha!
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 19, 2004 04:10 pm since were gettin' goofy, how 'bout... "I vont to bite your neckkk" ! [size=1](count dracula)[/size]
take it easy bro
Aug 19, 2004 07:28 pm LOL Wrmach - I vont to stop thez references to baddies! hehehe :-)
Right, as promised - here is the pics. I have blistered hands, sare back and knackered heid after the work I have done moving/lifting/installing/fixing etc but I have now sucessfully moved from this:
- Under the stairs studio 1
- Under the stairs studio 2
- Under the stairs studio 3
To this...
- New Loft Studio 1
- New Loft Studio 2
- New Loft Studio 3
And, for no reason other than "I can" I built a wee bar up there:
- Coco's Loft Bar
OK...now, I will give ma aching hands a rest and get back to recording music!!!
Cheers...
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 19, 2004 08:49 pm Yeah, I know...I went too far with the dracula thing. sorry:) (hehe)
Anyway, new place looks good. You did a good job building it up.
Hey, seems like your under the stairs studio looked pretty comfy though...take it easy coco.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 19, 2004 09:25 pm Lookin good coco, I like the decore of the place.
And was that a can of Miller beer I saw in one of the new pics, or does it just look like one?
Aug 20, 2004 03:02 am Nah..I vont to say twas fun...stupidness and crazyness is what keeps us all sane Wrmach...tis cool!
Aye, under the stairs was "comfy" indeed - I could strech to the sides and forward/behind me and could touch all the walls. I wasnt joking when I said a prison cell was bigger!!! Cheers buddy..
Yep Noize - that is indeed, a can ay Miller. I needed some sustainaince whilst workin/buildin so the beer is always aroond. Im gonny get me a mini fridge and keep some beers up there (tho I turn it off when recording for the hum).
Cheers guys...
Coco.
Aug 20, 2004 05:04 am Nice little office you have up there, I bet all those wood beams and such will give you some interesting accoustics too. Cool.
Though I try not to drink Miller myself, the Miller company financially supports handgun control legislation in the US...
Aug 20, 2004 05:21 am Aye..I am also givin up the Miller since the Miller franchise here (owned by brewing giant Scottish & Newcastle) just axed all their employees in Scotland and Newcastle!!!
They can shuve it..I'll be goin back to Carlsberg in the future!!
Cheers DB
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 20, 2004 05:37 pm I didn't know miller supported handgun control here. Well, changes my mind about them. To each their own but I won't support anyone who tries to take away my rights.
thanks dB...
Aug 20, 2004 07:15 pm I am also dissin the Miller brand (even tho its a franchise here in the UK) for other reasons mentioned above.
I canny see any legitimacy in paying off thoosands of folk just to move the whole operation elsewhere.
Its another corporate giant scenario - getts...
I ken a few brewers who are now oot a job cause of these getts...
Nae mare Miller for Coco thats for sure.
Coco.
wrmach I'm Roscoooo P. ColtraneMember
Since: Apr 12, 2003
Aug 20, 2004 10:48 pm Thats always a debate here in the US, also. Movin' corperations always hurts a town.
