Computers: Dell Or Hp ????

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brn2bafactor

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Family Members,

Im about to purchase a computer to begin my computer based recording voyage. Curious to know what kind of computer is best to go with? I'm not sure if I should go with a DELL, HP, COMPAQ etc. Is one better or more compatible than the other. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated.....


BRN
 
Find somebody to build one out of quality components for you. You'll end up with a better machine in the end. I wouldn't use a HP if it was given to me.
 
Best computer for dedicated DAW is to build your own. Only way to get exactly what you need, nothing you don't. You also have more control over noise suppression factors.
I was really intimidated before building my computer, but it turned out great, wasn't that difficult and was FUN!
If you can assemble a swingset, you can build a computer, everything is pretty standardized and plug and play nowadays.
 
If you're on a budget get a dell. Building your own will cost you more. Not to mention the warranties are all separate for the hard drive, CD burner, memory, power supply, ex... And you have to by the operating system. You also have to set it up. Set up memory speed, the cpu speed and put it together. It’s not hard but if you setup the wrong setting and screw up your PC then you void your warranty.
Dell will give you a good PC at a good price. Take a look at the 8400 models. They also run specials with no shipping. You can custumize it to your liking
 
I used to be really into building systems, but the last few we've gotten at the office are Dell, and I'm really happy with them. We get the Optiplex line, which has standard replacable components.

We got a call one day from Dell. They wanted to send a guy out to replace the fan on the power supply because they were worried it might go bad. You won't get that if you build your own....

I have an Athlon at home that I built. I really wish it were a pentium because the Athlon runs a lot hotter, which requires more air to cool, which I haven't found any quiet heat sinks yet, which is bad for recording.

Bob
 
Great advice given to find someone to put a PC together with quality parts and cheaper in price.
You may already have a hard drive, CD-RW, soundcard, diskette drive laying around or in your existing PC, to get started.
Main components needed are motherboard, processor, RAM

Some PC package systems have downsides and sometimes you're stuck with on-board sound and video.
Try to get a motherboard with NO on-board sound or video.

If you want to buy a name brand, I go with Dell.
Dell uses good parts and very serviceable for upgrading.
I have taken some standard Dell PC's and upgraded, audio soundcards, CD-RW, hard drives, etc.
I have a Dell Pentium I @ 100 mhz that still works. Great for MIDI, PC karaoke or MP3 player connected to home stereo. It's not my current machine, but if I hooked it up, it would work.

As for HP, Compaq, etc --- THEY ..... S - U - C - K
They rate very low in surveys, and everyone I know that got one, regrets it
Too much on-board and proprietary parts. They break down easy.
My motto : If Radio Shack sells them, stay away.
 
gmhg41 said:
I have an Athlon at home that I built. I really wish it were a pentium because the Athlon runs a lot hotter, which requires more air to cool, which I haven't found any quiet heat sinks yet, which is bad for recording.

Bob
Click to expand...
is this a new rig or an old one?
(What kind of athlon?)
 
JazzMang said:
is this a new rig or an old one?
(What kind of athlon?)
Click to expand...

It's got to be an XP if it's running hotter than a P4. I run a Athlon 64 and it idles at 35C, peaks at 47C, with one case fan, one PSU fan and CPU fan, all running under 1500 RPM
 
i just hope he wasn't comparing a P4 prescott core to anything else... the prescotts are room heaters... nothing more.
 
I've had a Dell for going on 3 years without a problem. I use it hard too! I would go for a Dell. I would get a high end Dell and just buy a Soundcard for it.

My Specs,
Dell Dimension 4550 2.0GHz AGP 4X 845PE Chipset 400/533Mhz FSB -3.06GBGHz 533MHz FSB Compatiable with HT.
256 RAM/1GB Compatiable.
Turtle Beach/Santa Cruz Soundcard 16/48.
Weatern Digital 120GB 7200RPM 8MB Cache
Hitachi 80GB 7200RPM 2MB Cache
Samsung DVD-ROM
NEC DVD+RW
ATI Radeon 9700 XT with DVI/TV out.
Harman Kardon speakers 2 sats. and a sub. (can't remember the wattage)


$1,600.

But, this was almost three years ago so, I bet you can find something better in this price range.

Very strong system. Like Chevy "Build like a ROCK"

L8er,
livilaNic
 
JazzMang said:
is this a new rig or an old one?
(What kind of athlon?)
Click to expand...

oops. Maybe things have changed. My Athlon is a 1.3 ghz.

I should have also mentioned that my Dell Optiplex GX260 (a P4 at 3.06 ghz) runs very quietly -- below the background level in our office. I can only tell if it's running by looking at the LED. :) Looking inside the Dell, it's clearly designed as a system, whereas the PCs that one builds are collections of parts. The systems approach has advantages in terms of airflow.

Judging by the temperature of the air coming out the back of the two systems, the Athlon is clearly generating a lot more heat.

Bob
 
I maintian a line of HP servers and I've had to replace 4 out of 5 hard drives in the past few months. I don't know why HP insists on putting the Maxtor harddrives in a server, but they keep failing and HPs support is to send a guy out to replace the hard drive. He wasn't allowed to try and save any data off the old one and he had to take it back with him. I told him to get lost and I'd fix it myself.

I've got 3 Dell's at home, no problems but they are email/web surfing machines. Not much heavy use. For my DAW, I'm in the process of building it myself. Go with a 64-bit processor when you do and then you'll be able to handle the next gen audio and video apps when they come out.
 
I've had my HP for about 3 years now without a single problem.
If you're seriously considering HP, go with something from the Vectra line. Everything else from them has given me (and most everyone else) serious problems.
 
KBlair said:
Go with a 64-bit processor when you do and then you'll be able to handle the next gen audio and video apps when they come out.
Click to expand...

And the lower clock speeds for equivalent performance means they run much cooler and allows for slower fans speeds and lower noise
 
reshp1 said:
And the lower clock speeds for equivalent performance means they run much cooler and allows for slower fans speeds and lower noise
Click to expand...

Good point
 
90% of the 800 pc's at my work are compaq. They are older compaqs now. about 6 years. I've notice their older stuff out lasts the newer stuff. Here we are still buying HP compaq servers. The servers have performed very well. our new servers have one terrabyte of space each. they are work horses.
We dont have Dell servers but the the Dell PC's we do have have not needed servcie in the past 3 years. The only problems they have are end user problems. I mean the students put a strain on the machines. They vandalize them. but they still keed runnung.
 
I have a refurb Dell 3000, got it for $320
Pentium 3.0ghz
800fsb
512ram
80gb HD
Cdrw/dvd

Running Cubase vst/32 with a emu 0404

So far its runs like a champ, I plan on going with another 512 for good measure.
 
Build your own..
I can walk into the local computer store here in Cincinnati and buy all the parts for around $850..
3.0ghz P4
ATX Case
128 MB Video Card
Abit 800FSB mother board
cd burner
1 gig of ram
floppy
250 gig hard drive..
after i send in all the rebates this system will cost about $550

Sure I'd have to wait for the rebates but that is one hell of a deal. I am not ever going to buy a compaq, dell, hp or any other off the shelf system again. They just don't run like the ones that I buil;d..
t.
 
Okay, bash HP! Fine!

... I have 4 HP Pavilions. [1] P2/266, [1] P2/450, [2] P3/650's,... and they all run fine, with no problems. The oldest one is 8 years old, the other is 7, then the [2] identical PC's are probably 5 years old. The Quality Control of HP was a bit spotty, back when I bought my [2] P3/650's,... on one PC of the two, the power connector wasn't even plugged into the motherboard! That was a DOA out-of-box experience that was easy to fix and not a problem, but I fixed it myself.

HP support on the PC low end surely sucks, and I'd not let one of those imbeciles touch my new HP PC, or even let'em in my house, for that matter! No way!

Signed,
Ex-HP Systems Support Engineer
Hardware/Field Service

PS: The Ex-CEO Carly F. and that ill fated merger with dead-weight Compaq is why I'm an "ex" HP'er. 21 years of dutiful service to the "old" HP, and the "new" HP layed me off,... and 17,000 others, too. Now, HP can't even save itself from it's own incompetence. The dirty little secret that HP doesn't want you to know, is that Compaq is running the show!

~HP... [Compaq Inside!]~

The HP Pavilion is okay, as hardware goes. That's the best thing I can say about HP at this time.
/DA
 
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