Brand Name or Custom Built Computer?

What kind of system are you using?

  • Total voters
    94
D

DigitalHS

New member
I have a custom built computer. I want to build another one due to the fact I have had this one for about 5 years. I was wondering if anyone uses a Dell, etc. or if most recording engineers are building their own. Looking forward to insight!

Peace-

Digital HS
 
I rolled my own, wouldn't have it any other way.

Athlon XP6400 3000+
Asus K8V-SE Deluxe
1 gig DDR3200
Radeon 9250
80gb ATA100 System Drive
120gb ATA 100Audio Drive
XP-SP2
UAD-1
Digi-002 Rack
 
After three brand-name atrocities, I decided to have my studio pc built at www.cyberpowerpc.com, picking my components after much research here and elsewhere. Never again will I go with a pre-built machine.

There isn't anyone in computers outside recording enthusiasts and engineers that know jack about the components needed for a clean running audio system,
particularly brand name manufacturers with their proprietary software and outsourced, non-English speaking poor excuse for tech support.
 
I'm down the middle - I use a Sonica-X, which is basically a machine that's built exactly the way I'd build it myself if I had the patience and the aptitude for building the things myself. :D

As far as a "stock" Gateway or Dell or something though? Probably not...
 
I voted for built it myself, however: My desktop is built by me, but my laptop that I use mostly for audio stuff is a Dell. It's been a really nice PC, and I haven't had any problems with it.
 
I built my own, only because I'm a huge computer geek. It didn't feel right paying someone else to what something so entertaining. I only recommend doing so if you troubleshoot yourself, because otherwise, you'll spend a fortune sending it off to be fixed by an "expert". Plus, how else would I get the parts that I want?
 
cawhite12 said:
I voted for built it myself, however: My desktop is built by me, but my laptop that I use mostly for audio stuff is a Dell. It's been a really nice PC, and I haven't had any problems with it.
Click to expand...

::sigh:: if only building a laptop were as easy as a desktop.
 
I built my own after years of tearing my hair out. This place was a wealth of information at the time of building! Can't thank everyone enough.

PIV 3.0Ghz
Asus P4P 800-E Deluxe
1 Gig Kingmax DDR400 (2x 512Meg dual channel)
Maxtor 160Gig 7200rpm 8Meg cache system disk (partitioned for dual boot)
Maxtor 60Gig 7200rpm 8Meg cache sample storage disk
Maxtor 80Gig SATA recording disk
Matrox Dual head 32Meg AGP video card
Dual 17" TFT displays
Samsung 52x CD/DVDR
NEC 16x CD/DVDRW
19" 4U Rackmount Antec case with Zalman silent cooling

Delta 1010 24Bit/96KHz AD/DA
2x Delta 410 24Bit/96KHz AD/DA
giving 12in/24out
 
Build it yourself, no question about it.

I knew nothing about computers 8 months ago and after a shed load of research I've just ordered every component and will be building my very own AMD powerhouse DAW this week.

It should be more powerful than a top-spec Mac or Intel machine at about a third of the price. Plus, I will know that piece of equipment inside out (literally), so if I need to upgrade or troubleshoot I will be right on the ball when it really counts, saving myself time, money and woes (though no doubt adding a few too!).


so the tortoise says...
 
i always build my computer(s) myself,
it started cause my older brother is an IT specialist,
but you gotto keep yourself up to date, its been like two years since i was following all that hi-tech stuff...now i'm outdated i think,
two years ago i had a beast of a computer, now its time again to built something new...

ps, i highly recomment building it yourself,
start with a real silent case that has good airflow, like my ANTEK BQE (black quiet edition) ;;;; a REAL silent case !!!

western digital harddrives are the only ones that never let me down,
1 gig ram, in one piece, not dual channel, kingston

then cooling of the cpu, i wanted to get me a Zalman reserator, a FANLESS watercooling system, but didn't fit onmy socket A (if thats the correct socket)

i hihgly recommend using "brand names", an audio pc has to work real damn hard and i had nothing but trouble with cheap components, and yeahh, you can be proud of your pc if it works real well and if you built it yourself :)
 
I suppose I kinda built mine myself. I've replaced all the components in my G4 except for the motherboard.
 
I vote build it yourself.

You get a lot of extras when you get a brand new manufactured one,but most of the stuff is useless,and money could be spent on audio upgrades.

Who needs videogames,board games,or microsoft word and the rest of this stuff, if you only use the pc for recording.But the only thing that hurts is spendidng $200 just for the windows xp :eek: Yeah i did that! :mad:
 
I built my own, always will. But I find building computers kinda fun.
Don't buy a dell tho. Their warranties can be a bit funny, like on some machines you void the warranty as soon as you open the cover. And I'm sure you will probably want to mod it at some point.

If you do build I would recommend getting a couple of SATA drives and RAIDing them for faster reading from hard drives. Always good when it comes to multitracking and reading lots of wav files at the same time :)

AMD Athlon XP 3200+
1 Gig Kingston Hyper X RAM
GeforceFX 5950ultra (you don't need this for music lol :D I'm an avid gamer )
2x Seagate Barraccuda 160Gb SATA hard drives (RAIDed)
SB Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Antec case.
Lots of fans
A heatsink
A keyboard
A mouse
A monitor
Oh...and a motherboard, DVDRW etc etc
And a stupid-assed expensive glitchy £250 POS that is windows.
 
Last edited:
My first was a crappy old Compaq, and outgrew it in like a week. Since then Iv'e built all my own. It costs like a quarter of the price of a new turnkey. My only problem over the years was I could never get mine to be quite as quiet as some the really pro ones, But now I work for a manufacturer of acoustical panels and sheeting, and have new quiet power-supplies and fans, and no more problems. :)
 
I'm recording direct to my Tandy TRS-80...I've got to change out my tape now so, I've got to go :eek:


Seriously...best bang for buck...build your own using top shelf parts.
 
I Frankensteined my own out of old parts and some top end new stuff from the internet. However, I also have a store built Amiga. I really don't think you could build one of those now.

My little sister has a Dell that we modded until it didn't suck. What does that count as?
 
A list of reasons to get a manufactured computer:

1.) Powerbook
2.) Notebook
3.) Laptop

I will stand and applaud anyone who has built a custom one of these.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top