Computer specs - Mediocre, great, bad?

3

3nigma

New member
Just recently bought a Desktop from Dell primarily to be used for music production, video editing, and graphic design. Now, I'm not a newbie when it comes to knowing about computers and computer specs, but when it comes to knowing how good specs you need for music production I'm sort of lost. So, rate my setup primarily for that.

Disk: 450 GB Total
Physical Memory: 3037 MB Total
Virtual Memory: 4923 MB Total
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Number of CPU(s): One Physical Processor / 2 Cores / 2 Logical Processors / 64 bits

Not sure if I forgot anything.
 
3nigma said:
Just recently bought a Desktop from Dell primarily to be used for music production, video editing, and graphic design. Now, I'm not a newbie when it comes to knowing about computers and computer specs, but when it comes to knowing how good specs you need for music production I'm sort of lost. So, rate my setup primarily for that.

Disk: 450 GB Total
Physical Memory: 3037 MB Total
Virtual Memory: 4923 MB Total
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
CPU Name Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Number of CPU(s): One Physical Processor / 2 Cores / 2 Logical Processors / 64 bits

Not sure if I forgot anything.
Click to expand...

You forgot one of the most important one --> PROFESSIONAL RECORDING SOUND CARD for your PC.
 
Emerson Maningo said:
You forgot one of the most important one --> PROFESSIONAL RECORDING SOUND CARD for your PC.
Click to expand...

Oh no, that's going to be the interface's job. It's going to take over for the internal soundcard. I'm just talking about processing power, and handling multi-track editing and such.
 
Hard to say

You don't say what kind of music, how many tracks, what kind of outboard gear, how that gear will be interfacing with the computer (USB, PCI, FW etc)

DAWs are typically hard to rate as they stand on paper. Compatability and stability is almost more important than speed/Raw Power.

Hard drive speed is key in track counts high track counts may require a separate recrding drive
CPU effects Plugins and complex VSTi synths so are key if you are running multiple instances of these
RAM is crucial for samples so speed and bandwidth is important for heavy sample based music

Compatability wise:
Motherboards based on Nvidia chipsets (not graphics cards) are often poorly executed for audio
Gigabyte Motherboards can be a challenge if you plan on using an EMU soundcard
Texas instruments firewire is the standard to which most gear is tested and provides broadest compatability for FW outboard gear. Other brands can be a crapshoot

What works for one person great may not be so good for someone else if they are not doing the same thing with the same gear.

Hope that gives you some food for thought
 
Bristol Posse said:
Hard to say

You don't say what kind of music, how many tracks, what kind of outboard gear, how that gear will be interfacing with the computer (USB, PCI, FW etc)
Click to expand...
You're right. I should be more specific. Let's see.

From all the info I've gathered SO FAR, I'll be using the following.

*Software*
- Fruity Loops Studio, Reason, Ableton Live, Cubase, Adobe Soundbooth + Adobe Audition, Sony Acid Pro, Sony Soundforge

*Hardware*
- Recording Interface - http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOFTRACKPRO
- MIDI Controller - http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOOXYGEN49
- Condenser Microphone - http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MSEV57M
- Guitar Pedal - http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BOSFZ5

(Some of above is subject to change, depending on my budget and such. Also, my Hard-drive has an RPM of 7500, but I will most likely store my samples and project files in a separate 500gb hard disk eventually after I buy everything rather than on the main one.)

*Music Styles*
- Drum n Bass, Aggro-Industrial, Ambient
 
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