Sep 15, 2004 12:55 pm You might be fine with the Celeron, but I'm not a fan of them. If you can afford a P4 or better yet, an AMD processor, if possible. But with AMD, you will have to choose a different motherboard. Just my opinon.
Am I good to go?
Posted on Sep 15, 2004 12:52 pm
TallChap
Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member Since: Jun 24, 2004
Here's the plan...
Power Supply : Standard Power Supply 400W - Motherboard : Motherboard for AMD ASROCK K7S41GX
Processor : Celeron 2.8Ghz
CPU Fan : Standard CPU FAN
Memory : 512 Mb 333Mhz DDR
HD : HD 80GB - 7200 RPM
CDRW DVD Combo : Black - CDRW X DVD COMBO
Video : ATI 64 MB WITH TV
Audio : Onboard (see below for soundcard)
Second Fan : Two Second Fan
Operating System: Windows XP Home
Plus:
17" monitor
Something like..Krystal/N-track/Cubasis.....for now
Adding one of these:
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96
M-Audio Delta 44
E-Mu PCI 0404 (are these any good?)
No monitors yet (sticking with sweaty headphones ears until more funds become available).
Am I good to go?
I have mixer, outboard effects etc. plus a bunch of VST downloads (and I mean "A BUNCH").
What say you?
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Sep 15, 2004 12:55 pm You might be fine with the Celeron, but I'm not a fan of them. If you can afford a P4 or better yet, an AMD processor, if possible. But with AMD, you will have to choose a different motherboard. Just my opinon.
Sep 15, 2004 12:57 pm Good call. I can change to AMD very easily. How do the Sempron processors stand up?
Sep 15, 2004 12:58 pm All very preliminary at this point. About a week and a half from ordering.....any help would be greatly appreciated. I can change everything (except budget). Above PC (without monitor is just under $500 US
Sep 15, 2004 02:18 pm You mean AMD Athlon? AMD Athlon XP series are their top line if I'm not mistaken (for consumers that is). I have the AMD Athlon XP 3200+ and I love it! At work here, I have the 3200+ 64bit in all our workstations, and they run excellent. Course, lots of RAM makes it solid too.
Sep 15, 2004 02:54 pm The Sempron is the new AMD kiddie. As far as I understand it (and that's a stretch), it's going to replace Duron processors. It's half the cache of an AthlonXP, but twice that of the Duron. I don't quite get the whole AMD terminology (2800+, 3100+ etc.). It seems a bit odd.
Anyway, the Sempron would be available for the set up above.
Sep 15, 2004 04:16 pm Oh, never heard of it but now I have!
I see the Duron to AMD like Celeron is to Intel. I'm not possitive on this, but the Celeron or prehaps Durons are the processors that didn't make the test to be like a P4 or Athlon. It's cheaper and might be just as good, I don't know. From personal experience, I haven't messed with Durons nor Celerons much. I know tons of people that have them and have no CPU problems. So, guess the ball is totally in your court on this one. I own a Cavalier that has close to 160 thousand miles on it. People say it's junk, I say it's dependable and I haven't had any major issues with it. Guess it all depends on fate.
Okay, my blah blah blah is over. :)
Sep 15, 2004 04:33 pm Well, there was no "test they didn't pass". Celerons are Durons are just the economy model of the proc essors for their respective companies and are built to lower specs, typically the sacrifice being front side bus speed and onboard cache size...
Sep 15, 2004 04:40 pm I gotcha. I thought that was a urban legend in the geek world there.
Sep 15, 2004 04:42 pm I use a Celeron with no problems at all..
Not the best proc in the world but it works fine with ma Delta44 and the gear I have.
I dont use virtual instruments, just a shed load of vst effects (tho usually not at once) so its fine.
2.2 speed which does the joab...tho, I would like a genuine P4 to see the difference!
Coco.
Sep 17, 2004 03:05 pm The E-MU PCI I think just came out. And is around $100 as is the M-Audio I think...
As dB Masters noted to me earlier...anything thats 2496 (24 bit 96 KHz) is industry standard.
Looking good kid...Home studios are a process of growth unless you make tons of money. I think I started with my Korg ER-1...MIDI from a $80 recording program triggered by my actual PC keyboard and no mixer...I used 1/4" TRS to 1/8" Y-Cable into my base soundcard. You can either go that route or you could have bought Jimmy Jam's studio here in Minnesota for 28 Million.
Sep 17, 2004 05:27 pm I use a 2.3 GHz celeron processor with no problems. But if I start running too many effects at once it starts chopping up on me. But, it typically takes about 4 chorus effects running at once, or 20 eq effects running at once. The point being is that it takes quite a few to mess it up. I'm using 640MB of RAM, but I don't know which spec makes more difference, the RAM or speed of processor.
Sep 20, 2004 12:02 pm Thank you all for your input. I've decided to bite the bullet a little - to avoid any compatibility issues with hardware. I think a DELL system. Pentium 4, 2.8GHz, 80 gig HD, 513MB RAM, CD-R, XP-Home. To this I'll add a soundcard - E-Mu 0404, M-Audio Audiophile, M-Audio Delta 44, or something of that kidney. Definitely not a Sound Blaster (right?). Hopefully I should have the horsepower to get going, plus a little room for expansion in the future.
Again, thanks for all the input. Any more suggestions you have will be welcome.
Sep 20, 2004 12:04 pm Of course, that's 512 MB RAM. Not 513 MB......
"....it goes to eleven."
Sep 20, 2004 12:51 pm I would keep looking instead of using dell's pre-made systems.
1. Dell may not give you much for options in installing your own cards (my work gateway e-series wont take a normal PCI card, even with PCI slots)
2. Dell's warranty will probably be void should you open and install anything (like a sound card)
3. The XP software will probably need to be wiped and reloaded very clean to get a good run at DAW. I've seen a few 'stock' loads come on PCs and they have bunches of stuff installed and loaded all over. I suppose you could just un-install non-needed programs, but I'd feel *tons* better by reloaded clean by hand.
4. Dell may have their boards made specially for them and use components that may not jive with the DAW world. I'm speaking out of theory here, but it would be a concern of mine.
5. I would seriously consider (i already did) dropping the ATI card for a matrox dual headed card. I have found the second monitor dam-near manditory for my sound and recording. I know you are only looking at 1 17" monitor right now, but I would drop the cost of the ATI into buying a G450 or G550 from ebay. I bought the G450 16meg card and am very glad I did. You could pick up someone's old used 15" monitor a little more screen real estate (you'll be glad you did).
On the plus side for dell, i've know tons of people (and companies) that have had exceptional luck and longevity with dell, and the cost is hard to overlook. I just wouldn't want you to make a decision and find you're not happy for one of the reasons mentioned.
*edit* I realize the ATI wasn't part of the dell package, but thought it relevant. noticed it after posting.
Sep 20, 2004 05:27 pm As far as prefab systems, Dell is one of the best I have ever worked with, but I still recommend building one for any serious DAW system. You can use the TigerDirect ads to click thru and custom build a system and it will be better than any prefab system if you build it right.
Sep 22, 2004 12:50 pm Ok, all duly noted and appreciated. You guys (and girls) are great. Berry, berry halpfool. Me berry hippy.
One more ting...
Does the format of any DAW program, or final wave file allow for storage on ZIP disks. I have a 250MB zip drive, which I could use for storage to help take the load off the HD. I'm guessing that the actual file during recording won't go on the ZIP due to the speed at which the data needs to be retreived. But can the final WAVE (either pre-Mastered or Mastered) go on a ZIP disk?
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