Computer comparison for recording

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rushfan33

rushfan33

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Right now, I'm using an HP Pavilion with a PIII @ 933Mhz and 128 megs of RAM. I have a Delta 44 and running CWPA9.

I have a new computer on the way that's using a Celeron processor @ 2.2GHZ with 128 megs of RAM.

The HP's OS is Windows ME (POS) and the DEll will be Windows XP home version.

Before I go through the trouble of taking the card out of the HP to put it in the Dell, I need to know what you all think about the 2 different computers (Pros and Cons).
Thanks,
RF
 
A celeron @ 2.2GHz (= ok), WinXP (= ok) with just 128MB RAM (= bad!)?
That computer is crippled! Quadruple that amount of RAM. RAM is cheap.
 
From what I understand:

in a nutshell, more ram is required to play more tracks and a faster processor is required for more plug-in effects. That being said, you can't have a 5 GHZ processor and 32 MB ram, or a PII 366 and 1 GHZ of ram.
 
Okay... let me throw this into the mix!

The computer will be used mainly for sequencing and possibly tracking a few things for tweaking. My main setup is all analog. For my intended purposes, what I have now has been more than adequate and I've never had problems with Cakewalk or the computer bogging down. The main reason I want to use the Dell is that I can't stand Windows Me. With THAT I've had nothing but problems!

The Dell is actually a Freebie because I bought a new Saturn. The ad says that I can order upgrades at the time I send in the card from Saturn. I actually bought 2 Saturns this last weekend, which means I get 2 computers. Maybe on one of them I can order the upgrades and leave the other one alone.

Would it be worth the extra cost to swap the Celeron to a Pentium? Also, would it be worth the cost to raise to RAM to 512megs given my usage scenario?
Thanks,
RF
 
Windows ME is complete garbage...seriosuly. get the hell rid of that - anything is better than it.

DEFIANTELY get more ram, you'll be much happier in the long run, trust me. just makes for a faster, more stable, more workable system. Windows XP works pretty great with my setup (also delta 44) so you should have little to no problems. I do, however get this huge error where the entire system cuts to bluescreen. when i restart the comp - it says it was a device driver - aka the delta drivers...i think it's justmy comp though. haha.

anyway, for XP - you MUST have SP1 for stable use with the delta44.
 
Service Pack 1. In internet explorer to "tools" --> "windows update" then install it
 
XP consumes 128mb just for the kernel, when it is not paging.

256mb is absolute entry level, 512mb if you want to do any work with it.

98 blows
ME blows even more

If you are running a pirate (read: cracked) version of XP, it will not accept SP1, nor will it accept any Windows Updates. Buy the software.

You will probably have to reinstall the entire operating system, because the serial key is part of the machine configuration and registry keys. The volumes are built around it.
 
Actually you don't have to reinstall windows XP to change the serial. Just search google for how to do this.
 
You're losin' me here! Why would I want to install XP? The 2 new computers will come with XP installed already. Are you saying that I should wipe out the ME and install XP on my HP and use that instead of the Dells?
RF
 
Don't worry about it Rush. Bgavin and myself just got off on a tangent. Just get extra ram and don't worry about it.
 
It looked like a typical HR.com tangent!:D

Thanks for the help,
RF
 
IMO I think the Dell is going to be a better machine certainly. Like someone said though, XP is going to want much more RAM than 128. I think if you spent just a little on at least another 512, you'll be rockin'.
 
rushfan33 said:
It looked like a typical HR.com tangent!:D

Click to expand...

You know it's true there are a lot of threads at HR.com that go off on a tangent.

There I go doing it again!!!! :D
 
Windows is enough of a pain in the butt all by itself, without inducing further grief by tweaking it.

I'm all for doing a clean re-install when things have to change at the low level. For me, time is money, and I cannot afford a call-back as a consequence of trying to cut corners. Worse, I cannot endure a crashing system while trying to do a live performance recording. It's worth the time to do it right the first time.

Then GHOST it.
 
shackrock said:
Windows XP works pretty great with my setup (also delta 44) so you should have little to no problems. I do, however get this huge error where the entire system cuts to bluescreen. when i restart the comp - it says it was a device driver - aka the delta drivers...i think it's justmy comp though. haha.
Click to expand...


M-audio (or midiman) don't have microsoft approved drivers, that's what's causing your blue screen. their hardware is top quality but XP only works properly with drivers that have a certificate signature (don't know how to put this in english). some people won't have a problem with them but on some systems you can't get M-audio to work properly.
Edirol http://www.edirol.com/products/audio.html have the same kinds of products for about the same price (no internal cards however, only usb/firewire interfaces) but won't cause a problem since they use the drivers already installed in XP or2K.
 
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