Cheap Computer Parts?

MikeyPatriot · #1 03-02-2004

i'm looking to make a new (well, kinda) computer strictly for home recording. i've already ordered the sound card, so i'm set with that. However, where can i go to get computer parts that aren't brand new, top of the line, etc? i'm looking for something at about 750 mHz give or take a hundred, 512 RAM, and a CD Burner. What are the other necessities? Mobo, power supply....?

Thanks.

WorldCup82 · #2 03-02-2004

Case
Case Fan(s)
Power Supply
Mobo
CPU
CPU Fan
RAM
Video Card
Sound Card
3.5'' Floppy Drive
CD Drive/Writer
DVD Drive/Writer
Hard Drive(s)
IDE Cables (For CD/DVD/Hard Drives)

Plus whatever you fancy to do with the machine

Just to get you started...

Dan

TimOBrien · #3 03-03-2004

Just like a used car, why buy someone else's headache???

I put my new DAW together will all new parts from newegg.com last summer for $500

2.4Ghz P4 (came with fan)
i845GEBV2 mobo (onboard video and LAN)
2 60Gb 8mb cache Western Digital 7200rpm drives
52x Lite-On CDRW
512Mb RAM

Fired it up and it would run 35 stereo 24bit/44.1kHz tracks with only 10-15% useage on my CPU meter. Zero problems.

johnnymegabyte · #4 03-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by TimOBrien
Just like a used car, why buy someone else's headache???

I put my new DAW together will all new parts from newegg.com last summer for $500

2.4Ghz P4 (came with fan)
i845GEBV2 mobo (onboard video and LAN)
2 60Gb 8mb cache Western Digital 7200rpm drives
52x Lite-On CDRW
512Mb RAM

Fired it up and it would run 35 stereo 24bit/44.1kHz tracks with only 10-15% useage on my CPU meter. Zero problems.

What recording software are you using ?

I haven't got to multi-track recording on PC yet ( only 4 track cassette, then mix-down to PC in stereo )
Done lots of stuff in midi ( drums, bass, strings ) using SB PCI 128

Any suggestions for software.

dachay2tnr · #5 03-03-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeyPatriot
i'm looking to make a new (well, kinda) computer strictly for home recording. i've already ordered the sound card, so i'm set with that. However, where can i go to get computer parts that aren't brand new, top of the line, etc? i'm looking for something at about 750 mHz give or take a hundred, 512 RAM, and a CD Burner. What are the other necessities? Mobo, power supply....?

Thanks.

I have a 733 MHz P3 from Dell with 512 MB Ram, floppy drive and AGP graphics card.

I was using this strictly as a DAW until last week when I upgraded. Excellent machine. I only upgraded as I wanted to go to Sonar 3, which requires something more powerful.

It needs a hard drive, as I stripped out the old hard drive for use in my new machine. PM me if you're interested. I'm in NJ.

TimOBrien · #6 03-03-2004

Quote:

What recording software are you using ?

N-Track Studio (great program www.ntrack.com )
Audacity ( FREE - dont pass it by http://audacity.sourceforge.net )
SoundForge
FruityLoops
ACID

stonepiano · #7 03-04-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeyPatriot
where can i go to get computer parts that aren't brand new, top of the line, etc?

I assume by not brand new you don't mean used. Used parts are shuffled back and forth on ebay but knowing the relatively short lifespan of computer components and the bargains that can be had on new budget pieces, buying used doesn't make sense. Well, maybe if it's incredibly convenient like your brother is selling it to you or something. Anyway, here are two sites.

www.pricewatch.com
www.newegg.com

I personally prefer pricewatch. Works like a shopping bot for cheap components.

good luck

MikeyPatriot · #8 03-04-2004

Yeah, i didn't mean used parts. i meant stuff that's been on the market for a few years, but would still be servicible (spelling?) for home recording. Thanks for all the help

sae · #9 03-04-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeyPatriot
Yeah, i didn't mean used parts. i meant stuff that's been on the market for a few years, but would still be servicible (spelling?) for home recording. Thanks for all the help

For the amount of money you will save by buying used parts, I wouldn't bother.

If you do decide to go that way, then I would sugguest you go to a computer shop and buy a used computer (not parts)

Just my $0.02

DAFFYDRUNK · #10 03-04-2004

You won't save much money by buying a 750 MHz CPU over whatever is the cheapest mainstream. If I was going for a cheapie DAW computer I'd build something based on an AMD Duron 1.6... With 512 MB of memory and a ~40 gb 7200 RPM drive, you'd still have plenty of power for pretty much whatever you wanna do.
Excluding software, nice sound card/input device, and nearfield monitors, you can build a machine for easily less than $500 with everything. 17" monitor and keyboard/optical mouse included. With the Duron 1.6 you can pretty much up the FSB to 166 for a 2.0 GHz cpu pretty easily as well. Even at 1.6 GHz, the cheapie Duron will smoke a Celeron 2.6 also, and the Duron chip itself only costs $40.

For a cheapie all in one mainboard to go with a Duron 1.6, I'd recommend a Biostar K7VIZ. I've built a bunch of XP 2200+ machines and one Duron 1.6 with that board and it's a very solid board. Less than $60. Then you might as well get some budget PC3200 cl2.5 memory in case the duron can go to 166 FSB. That way you still can run CL2 on the memory...

Jotosuds · #11 03-04-2004

dude, do what i did like 7 months ago. i have this computer, and i have experienced like 4 crashes in those 7 months using Cool Edit pro. if you buy this system now, it will probably only be like $300. when i bought it 7 months ago, it cost me $449.

first of all, NEWEGG.COM. buy everything from there.

now for the parts

AMD XP1700+ (retail)
ASUS A7N266 VM AA
Crucial DDR 2100 512 mb
Seagate 80 GB HD
LITE ON 52x/24/52 burner

my case and psu are generic Powmax brand i bought at a computer show nearby for 30 bucks. i need to change the psu sometime, and i'll be getting the Fortron 300w 120mm fan psu.

this system is quite sufficient for music applications, and more importantly is cheap as hell. you cannot go wrong with this setup, unless you need like 128 tracks with multiple plugins running simultaneously. i push like 40 tracks with bussed effects using Cool Edit Pro, and it goes w/o a hitch.

good luck

MikeyPatriot · #12 03-05-2004

Yeah, i only plan on using 8 or 16 tracks tops. i'm using it to record punk/rock bands in the area. Thanks for all the help.

MIKEY

Shoeman · #13 03-05-2004

I'll second the vote for Newegg.com
Bought all my stuff Tuesday, over half showed up today. Good prices and fast service. A buddy who's a sysadmin for a dept. at a nearby University has built 10 units with parts from them and has had great after sale support.

Polaris20 · #14 03-05-2004

Something I just put together for someone:

A7V8X-MX Refurb: 39.00
AMD 2000+ Retail: 57.00
Mushkin DDR333 256MB: 39.00
Lite-On Black CDRW 39.00
Antec SLK2600: 49.00
Hard Drive: Maxtor 40gig 7.2K: 57.00

Total:

$280.00

All from Newegg.com

About as friggin' cheap as you can get without being in the stone age, and it'll still record pretty well too.