computer reccomendations

[matt_barlow]

I have cool edit pro 1.2a and fruity loops 3.0
I would like to upgrade a computer I have. I would like to know a reccommended hard drive, motherboard, RAM, and proccessor. Make sure that all are compatible w/ each other. I would also like to know a reccommended sound card. My price limit is only 350 to 500 dollars. Is it even possible to get good quality recordings w/ the above mentioned for this little amount of money. thanks for any help given.

 

[rats]

You can spend most of that money on a sound card!

What are the specs of the puter are you using now?

I've been using Soundblaster Live and don't have any gripes so far. It's cheap and it's full duplex so you can record and play back at the same time. A lot of PCs come with it installed so check it out, you may not neccesarily need to but an extra sound card if you want to save a few bucks. I've heard some really decent decent recordings done with cool edit pro/soundblaster live. The only problem I have so far with SBLive is that you can only record on one track at a time. This poses a big problem what trying to record drums. Other than that it's fine and will give you the ability to start recording and getting aquainted with the software. Later on you can hook up with a nice echo Gina or Layla soundcard or better (do they still make the Aardvark? Anyone?)...

If you're looking to but a new computer with that money you're going to really have to shop around. Make sure you have a lot of hard drive space because you'll use it up fast, maybe 8-10 gig for starters. You should have no less than 128MB RAM. You may be able to possibly swing 64 in a worst case scenario just to get started, but 256 is what you should shoot for, at least that's what everyone says. I'm currently at 128 and doing fine. 7200 RPM is good. Your processor is another story. Maybe someone else can advise on minimum requirements. I use a PIII/800 MHZ with no problems. You can save $$ by going with a celeron or another copycat but I couldn't tell you how good they are, or what speed you need.

Do you need a new monitor? That would save a few bucks, too...
Hope that helps.

 

[matt_barlow]

Thanks Rats,
Right now I am using a family computer. So I need another computer. I have a monitor, Speakers, Keyboard, and Mouse. The specs on this computer I am thinking about updating are horrible. So I might just want to buy a new CPU rather than going through the aggravation of updating.

 

[redheadedboy]

also...

you'll get much better results if your hard drive interface is ATA/100 (or SCSI). i swear by western digital hard drives...

and get lots of RAM. (it's really cheap now)

generally, processors are so fast nowadays, the real bottlenecks become hard drive data throughput and RAM.

--tim

 

[dobro]

Will $500 cover the CPU in the States? Dunno. But yeah, get lots of RAM, cuz as redheadedboy said, it's cheap right now and it's what slows thing down the most when there's not enough of it. I'd say 128 megs minimum, 256 if you can swing it. I've got 512 megs of RAM on a Pentium 4, and I still have some problems when the tracks start stacking up.

As for SCSI, there's a computer wizard or two on this board that say, last time I noticed, that it doesn't make that much difference, considering how much more you have to pay for it.

Cool 1.2 will work with just about any motherboard, I think. Cool's seldom or never the problem - it's always the soundcard that causes problems it seems. Check what people are saying in the computer forum here. Delta cards are the flavor of the year now it seems.

I don't think you're gonna be able to do it all for $500 though.