what "big name" (or not) computer to buy?

M

moelar2

New member
My computer is starting to age. It's about time to retire. Up until now, my brother's been customizing my computers. He's now advised that it is no longer worth it. He says i should just go with Dell or Alienware (or whatever); they'll make what I want for cheap + warranties.

I think I'm prepared to go that route. Is this what you guys do, or do all of you build your comps? Do any of you know of any brand that customizes comps for audio performance?

thanks.
 
It depends where or who you buy from as far as how cheap it goes. I've always bought custom-made (built by self). The margain though i agree is getting smaller and smaller in price difference, especially when companies like dell offer an extra so-and-so if you pay with your credit card.

Its cheaper to build your own computer mind you, if you can find a decent place to buy parts (computer fairs and shows are often good). Ive been lucky enough to find a good business on ebay which sells computer parts and or whole computers for a great price.
 
Yea, i hear what you're saying. But the problem is this - my brother is a real estate broker and could give a shit about building me a computer, especially when he knows that I'm not saving much money. Further, he correctly feels that if he builds me a computer, his ass in on the line 24/7 if it breaks down.

Next point. I'm in law school. I don't really have time to bulid a comp myself or shop around for parts. I'd rather pay a *little* more and get it from Dell or Alienware, or whoever. I'm just not sure if any of them tune computers for Audio peformance.
 
Those companies are fine, and what you're paying for is support. Mostly phone support. If thats what you want, some help if things go wrong, then theres your ticket.

Me? For the longest time I put together my own pcs..


.. until the last one. I couldn't piece it together for the *shipped* price of an ebayer. They even put exactly what I wanted in it.. for the CHEAP.

12 months later, I'm still using the pc and it hasn't had so much as a hiccup. PM me if you'd like to know the ebayer.
 
can i say macintosh? atleast there you only have one option, buy it built...

cant customize a mac... ok so you can add ram, MAYBE upgrade/add an HDD and optical drives, but thats about it.
 
Macs yes are good, but they exceed price ranges of PCs quite considerably for a remotely similar machine performance, unless you want an iBook. I love macs, i would have one if i could afford it, and until this computer is crapped to the brink, only then will i consider getting one.

moelar2, thats understandable for your brothers part, but still chances are even if you bought a computer from dell, like VSpaceBoy said, you pay for the support, which is really just by phone for the most part. You'll be taking trips to the computer shop or ringing your brother up regardless of which one you buy if something goes wrong.

Building your own isn't as hard as it seems. Its a bit tricky at first if your computer illiterate, but thats why google is your friend.

Here's a guide i already found which seems easy to follow.
http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/pc-building/

The thing i think about is, if something goes wrong i can't be bothered ringing up a computer consultant about my issue, i'd rather browse it on the web as you've got more chances of finding people with similar problems, or just take it directly to a computer repairer. I just get irritated on the phone.

If you do build a computer, try to have another computer which you can access the net on, so you can go back and forth for help if something isn't going right, either way what you decide is your choice.
 
yeah, i bought the ibook with the intentions of using it for recording, last august, and its capabilities didnt go very far.

im using it now, and thats all it gets used for, web/email/IM/porn etc. hehe

i got an Imac G5, and thats way better, although i feel its still not enough...
 
VSpaceBoy said:
Those companies are fine, and what you're paying for is support. Mostly phone support. If thats what you want, some help if things go wrong, then theres your ticket.

Me? For the longest time I put together my own pcs..


.. until the last one. I couldn't piece it together for the *shipped* price of an ebayer. They even put exactly what I wanted in it.. for the CHEAP.

12 months later, I'm still using the pc and it hasn't had so much as a hiccup. PM me if you'd like to know the ebayer.
Click to expand...

Sorry fellas, I got a few pms so I decided to look up the ebayer. Looks like he's not doing business anymore. Sorry.
 
Honestly I would never use a consumer dell product, except maybe the monitors (which are not all that either). I think the only computer brand I would use is a HP for some reason. Anyways Building your own vs buying the brand... Regardless of whatever margin your talking about.... for the price you pay for the same equivlent dell, you can build a better computer....

Heres' the list...

The Dell Dimension B110 is the cheapest top of the line for home use (they got better ones but this is the cheapest top of the line one) It comes with the LCD etc...

Ok it's a deal because of the LCD, but look at the specs
The Price: $449

Intel Celeron D 2.53ghz 533mhz fsb...
512mb DDR400
160gb ATA100 HD
15" Analog Flat Panel
16x CD/DVD burner

That's the main things... for $449

Custom Built $450

Dual core Pentium D 2.66mhz - $99 (MB/CPU Combo) (2.8mhz Pentium D is $109)
300gb SATA150/300 - $89 (Or 200gb SATA150 for $59)
2gb DDR400 - $129 (1gb is $89 of PC2 DDR)
HP Lightscribe DVD-RW - $49
= $366 without the monitor ($84 difference)
17" Flat panel monitor - $129

You get WAY more then you would buying a dell vs performance It will always be like that... The cheapest dell ($279) Features a Celeron D 2.53ghz processor

256mb ddr
80gb ata100
17" CRT monitor
48x cdrw & dvdrom combo

I can build something a whole lot better then that...
 
Mindset said:
Heres' the list...

The Dell Dimension B110 is the cheapest top of the line for home use (they got better ones but this is the cheapest top of the line one) It comes with the LCD etc...

Ok it's a deal because of the LCD, but look at the specs
The Price: $449

Intel Celeron D 2.53ghz 533mhz fsb...
512mb DDR400
160gb ATA100 HD
15" Analog Flat Panel
16x CD/DVD burner

That's the main things... for $449

Custom Built $450

Dual core Pentium D 2.66mhz - $99 (MB/CPU Combo) (2.8mhz Pentium D is $109)
300gb SATA150/300 - $89 (Or 200gb SATA150 for $59)
2gb DDR400 - $129 (1gb is $89 of PC2 DDR)
HP Lightscribe DVD-RW - $49
= $366 without the monitor ($84 difference)
17" Flat panel monitor - $129

You get WAY more then you would buying a dell vs performance It will always be like that... The cheapest dell ($279) Features a Celeron D 2.53ghz processor

256mb ddr
80gb ata100
17" CRT monitor
48x cdrw & dvdrom combo

I can build something a whole lot better then that...
Click to expand...

:confused:

What kind of math did you learn in school?

I see no mention of a case or PSU much less the OS itself in your custom built system. What about the keyboard? Mouse? Video card?

For those 5 things, you are looking at another $200-300. Please explain how that is a better deal than buying a complete system from Dell.
 
brzilian said:
:confused:

What kind of math did you learn in school?

I see no mention of a case or PSU much less the OS itself in your custom built system. What about the keyboard? Mouse? Video card?

For those 5 things, you are looking at another $200-300. Please explain how that is a better deal than buying a complete system from Dell.
Click to expand...

You can always use the case, OS, mouse and keyboard and monitor from your previous system. I don't see any videocard, true, but for audio purposes, it's easiest to get a motherboard with onboard video.

A self-built PC is always cheaper but if it breaks down you gotta fix it yourself. And it doesn't take so much time to research and build it, two saturday afternoons was enough for me, so even in law school that should be doable.
 
TragikRemix said:
yeah, i bought the ibook with the intentions of using it for recording, last august, and its capabilities didnt go very far.

im using it now, and thats all it gets used for, web/email/IM/porn etc. hehe
Click to expand...

Thats some expensive porn! :eek: :D
 
TragikRemix said:
yeah, and for $1400, i can only watch 10 seconds at time...
Click to expand...

Yeah, and because its mac, you don't have windows movie maker. So you can't splice the clips together. Gutted....
 
Joepie said:
You can always use the case, OS, mouse and keyboard and monitor from your previous system. I don't see any videocard, true, but for audio purposes, it's easiest to get a motherboard with onboard video.

A self-built PC is always cheaper but if it breaks down you gotta fix it yourself. And it doesn't take so much time to research and build it, two saturday afternoons was enough for me, so even in law school that should be doable.
Click to expand...

That is a dangerous assumption. What if the power supply is not big enough? What if he isn't running XP on an older system. What if the OS installation is system specific. I have yet to see a PC manufacturer give you recovery disks that will work on a different brand system.

It is silly and naive to say a self built system is always cheaper.

Can you honestly tell me you can get better deals on components buying one at a time than a PC manufacturer negotiating deals on thousands of components at a time? Puh-lease...
 
I bought an off the shelf Dell which I had upgraded in the store with more RAM and an additional hard drive for about the same price as the components for a custom built would have cost me. Plus I got a 19" LCD monitor in the deal.
I'm sure I could have scrounged up the components cheaper if I was willing to go to the trouble of finding the best deals and build it myself, but the Dell was just to easy.

The Dell has been working wonderfully for me since I got it. As far as customizing it for audio, I did "tune" it myself for the best audio performance, but it's really just a couple hours of fiddling (if that). If you're talking about anything beyond just tweaking the operating system, about the only other real consideration is a soundcard and surely you are using an aftermarket card or audio interface anyway if you're serious about performance.

I say don't be afraid to pick up an off the shelf system.
 
brzilian said:
:confused:

What kind of math did you learn in school?

I see no mention of a case or PSU much less the OS itself in your custom built system. What about the keyboard? Mouse? Video card?

For those 5 things, you are looking at another $200-300. Please explain how that is a better deal than buying a complete system from Dell.
Click to expand...

OK if you want to add all the stuff..

300w power supply $19.99
Case, $19.99
Keyboard & mouse wireless, $19.99
Video built in.

You look at the Dell system, your not getting a GeForce 7900GTX or anything, they are built on video's

IF you want to compare, you can go ahead and buy the Celeron D 2.6ghz w/ the 533mhz fsb for like $50 with motherboard, chop your prices then and you'll still end up with a system faster than a dell machine.

I spent around $800 on my computer, and it outperforms a dell one at $800
Go to the dell system at $300 dollars, and add the 160gb hard drive, 1gb memory, and the upgrades... The system now is at $700. I'm at the dell website RIGHT NOW, and configuring different set ups vs prices.. Why don't you do the same...

The dell systems will have low end power supply's, cheap memory, etc.. You can go to any computer store around here and get a mouse for $3 and a keyboard for $5. You also can get a brand new 400w power supply for $19.99
I dont' add those cause for one, the cases you get come with power supplys. Buy a $19.99 case from Fry's around here and it comes with a 420w power supply. I don't know where YOU getting YOUR information from.


Go to this link.. I think it works from dell...

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/cto_entdt_e510?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

Midrange system for $649

Dual core 2.66ghz 533fsb
xp home edition
512mb of ram?
80gb hard drive??
no dvdrw? it's a CDrw-dvdrom combo

Come on, if you want to compare and build one that only has 512mb or ram & 80gb hard drive w/ just a cdrw/dvd rom combo?

What you get...

Dual Core 2.66ghz = $69.99
XP home edition = $129
512mb ram = $29.99
80gb I can't find a price on 80, but 200 will do... $59
CDRW... dvd rom combo... $29.99
power supply $20
keyboard/mouse regular = $10
monitor $129

That's STILL $476.97

Take the extra almost $200 and add anything I'm missing ;)

My system:

Pentium D 930 3ghz dual core (what i paid: $129)
2gb DDR2 PC6400 (what I paid $129)
GeForce 5200 FX (what I paid $19)
2 160gb HD Sata ($50 each)
HP Lightscribe dvdrw ($59)
dvdrom ($20)
M-Audio 24/96 ($99)
Case & power supply (nice looking one) $39
Card reader $10
wireless mouse/keyboard $20
19" Flat Panel $160
windows xp Pro $129

About $860 range

The closest dell comes to it is a $1,250 machine with near the same things except it doesn't have the M-Audio card and it runs home & different case, and doesn't have light scribe... you make the pick...
 
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You may have be a little careful about what Dell allow you and do not allow you to do with the pc, regarding warrenty.

Depending on which model you buy, even so much as opening the case will invalidate your warranty. Which leaves yuou a little scuppered for putting a decent audio card in.

However, they do make pcs that they let you screw with also.

The other thing about dells, and this also may not be the case with everyone. But the last 2 people I know didn't get a recovery disk and apparently weren't supposed to. Apparently as a rule you don't get one anymore. I'm not sure about the validity of that statement however.

That said, aswell as my self build pc, I have 2 dell machines. One is a 333 that has lasted for 10 years and is still rock solid, and has had win98SE on it since it was released, and never needed a rebuild.

My other Dell is a laptop and that is also rock solid, despite having taken a fair bit of abuse over the years.

Both these PC's came with a full operating system disk.

So basically, if you can find a Dell where they will give you an operating system disk, or you don't mind buying a copy of Windows at some point , and if they let you open the case without invalidating the warranty, or if you don't mind invalidating your warreny, and if you can get it cheaper than a self build jobby, then I would highly recomend a Dell PC. They are incredibly reliable pieces of kit.

Please note thats pieces of kit

Wheras as the Pc I am using at the moment is slowly becoming known as that piece of shit in the corner....But thats what happens when I build things....
 
OK if you want to add all the stuff..

300w power supply $19.99
Case, $19.99
Keyboard & mouse wireless, $19.99
Video built in.
Click to expand...

Get real. If you're making money with this system performing a service, no person in their right mind would buy a $19 PS and case. If you would actually consider that, remind me to never hire you.

You look at the Dell system, your not getting a GeForce 7900GTX or anything, they are built on video's
Click to expand...

Why waste money on something like that on a DAW - last time I checked Sonar did not use OpenGL or DirectX video calls.

The dell systems will have low end power supply's, cheap memory, etc.. You can go to any computer store around here and get a mouse for $3 and a keyboard for $5. You also can get a brand new 400w power supply for $19.99
I dont' add those cause for one, the cases you get come with power supplys. Buy a $19.99 case from Fry's around here and it comes with a 420w power supply. I don't know where YOU getting YOUR information from.
Click to expand...

You may get a cheaper PS, but it is warrantied and chances are they'll have a new one in the mail to you should yours die within a work week. When you do DAW work for a living, time is money...
 
The majority of people who know what their doing when it comes to building a computer builds them themselves. Every single one of my IT buddies owns only self-built computers.

I've never owned a computer off the shelf, apart from a laptop... Which is a different scenario.
 
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