Decent PC for Cubase v3

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babylon303

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Hi all,
I'm looking at speccing out a new PC to be built round Cubase 3 and a load of RAM/CPU heavy FX and VSTi's.

I can work out most of the components I need, but don't want to break the bank, so am wondering if you could tell me the best Intel processor to get. I could (but certainly don't want to - due to price) go for an Uber quad extreme beast, but am under the impression most Audio software doesn't support Quad chips yet. am I right? Which is a happy medium between power and price (I'm running off a P4 1500 at the moment!)

Also, Is Cubase v3 happy running under Vista Home Prem? That seems to be the de-facto OS with any new machine these days.

Many thanks!
 
I have heard a lot of people saying they are having trouble recording with Windows Vista. I'm not sure if it's windows or the sound card they are using, but still they say in their recordings they get a sound similar to rusty volume pots. A tech guy I work with said that Windows is working on Windows 9 or something like that which will attempt to get back to XP standards. I'd look into that...
 
I have heard a lot of people saying they are having trouble recording with Windows Vista. I'm not sure if it's windows or the sound card they are using, but still they say in their recordings they get a sound similar to rusty volume pots. A tech guy I work with said that Windows is working on Windows 9 or something like that which will attempt to get back to XP standards. I'd look into that...

Thanks for the info - can you explain the bold bit.. do you mean Direct X 9, or is that old-hat now?
 
No, not Direct X 9 but an entirely new standalone windows system like XP or Vista. It would be "the new" windows. I'm not sure what its going to be called I just remember him telling me about it after smashing Vista. He said Microsoft realized that Vista was kind of a faux pas (steering away from a more user friendly, trustworthy windows XP) and began working on the newest windows to reestablish the credibility XP gave them. In a nutshell, Microsoft will try to redeem itself with it's next version of Windows which according to the tech guy at my work, should be out soon.
 
This is me just wondering...but why do you want to use a PC anyway? I run cubase through a mac and I feel like it is a phenomenal combination. If your going to be using intel processors, the inards are for the most part the same. The only difference would be your platform and I think OS X is a lot more stable and reliable which would give you a lot less trouble. The disadvantage Windows has is that it's tuned to fit multiple PC configurations, whereas mac OS is precisely tuned to perform on mac hardware.
 
I would stay way from vista for at least another Service Pack, too may bugs from what I hear - plus XP is just easier to navigate! Go with XP pro 64 bit, plenty of fixes for the 64 platform and the XP OS is very stable. Quad chips are not an issue for cubase, I read up on the Steinberg site that Cubase runs best on multi core pc's. Re the Mac option, the reason most people go for Cubase on pc is the VST flexability and sheer number of available plug-ins.
 
This is me just wondering...but why do you want to use a PC anyway? I run cubase through a mac and I feel like it is a phenomenal combination. If your going to be using intel processors, the inards are for the most part the same. The only difference would be your platform and I think OS X is a lot more stable and reliable which would give you a lot less trouble. The disadvantage Windows has is that it's tuned to fit multiple PC configurations, whereas mac OS is precisely tuned to perform on mac hardware.

From what I've heard, you may be lucky. A lot of what I've read says that Cubase isn't quite as stable on the mac as on the PC. Regardless of that, PC+Cubase 3 is also a phenomenal combination. It's very stable on the PC, so the difference really comes down to price. The OP said he didn't want to break the bank, so lets not start another mac vs pc debate. :p

XP is not neccessarily tuned to fit multiple configurations. Maybe straight out of the box, and if you don't know how to configure it yourself. But my PC is tuned, by me, to fit my configuration. And it's stable as hell.

As for a PC spec for Cubase 3, a dual core processor would be good, but I have a single core and it performs more than adequately, but you might aswell go dual. You'll want as much RAM as you can get really, the more the better. However, I was getting pretty good performance with only 1 gig. I'm using 3 gig now. 2 would be good.

With the XP vs Vista thing, regardless of driver/compatibility issues or stability, Vista uses a lot more resources, which is a good enough reason alone to use XP. Otherwise in buying RAM and a CPU, you could be technically wasting some of your money on running your OS, whereas with XP, that power can be used on your applications.

You won't have to spend too much on a PC to be honest. The PC I use for Cubase is also used, via a seperate install, for gaming. It only cost £500 to build (whatever that is in $, about $1k I think), and given that gaming graphics cards cost a fair whack, and you won't need such a high spec one for audio stuff, you could be looking at as little as £300 ($600?).

I'm guessing you have decided on an audio interface/sound card already?
 
From what you've heard....
biiiitch assss

Shut the fuck up. Theres no need for comments like that. I was just trying to be helpful. "From what I've heard" is surely better than blindly stating fact no? I guess not in your case. What are you doing? Starting another "PC's suck, macs rock" debate? :rolleyes:

And now, with your last comment, we see how ultimately contemptable and unreliable a source of information you are Mr. 11 posts. I mean, the zero capacity for any kind of intellectual response to my post alone is enough to tag you as no better than a troll with a hard-on for macs. All I fucking did was try to give the guy some advice, as a PC+Cubase user, while bearing in mind what he said about not wanting to break the bank. What did you do? Try to give the guy a fuckin' mac advert? Yeah, that's fucking useful. What is it with you pricks? "Get a mac" is not the fuckin' answer to everything. And as soon as you hear someone maybe bagging on your beloved mac you turn into a wild bitch in heat with a sandy vagina and start calling people "bitch ass".

Nothing better to say? Then all you are doing is validating my points, so thank you very much. I'll reward you by changing your chicklets red, hows that sound? :p

I would suggest that in lieu of your capacity for being constructive, your time could be better spent working out ways to copulate widly with your mac if you have such a boner for it. So why don't you go to Vegas, marry the fucking thing, buy it a USB dildo, and get fucked...
 
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Shut the fuck up. Theres no need for comments like that. I was just trying to be helpful. "From what I've heard" is surely better than blindly stating fact no? I guess not in your case. What are you doing? Starting another "PC's suck, macs rock" debate? :rolleyes:

And now, with your last comment, we see how ultimately contemptable and unreliable a source of information you are Mr. 11 posts. I mean, the zero capacity for any kind of intellectual response to my post alone is enough to tag you as no better than a troll with a hard-on for macs. All I fucking did was try to give the guy some advice, as a PC+Cubase user, while bearing in mind what he said about not wanting to break the bank. What did you do? Try to give the guy a fuckin' mac advert? Yeah, that's fucking useful. What is it with you pricks? "Get a mac" is not the fuckin' answer to everything. And as soon as you hear someone maybe bagging on your beloved mac you turn into a wild bitch in heat with a sandy vagina and start calling people "bitch ass".

Nothing better to say? Then all you are doing is validating my points, so thank you very much. I'll reward you by changing your chicklets red, hows that sound? :p

I would suggest that in lieu of your capacity for being constructive, your time could be better spent working out ways to copulate widly with your mac if you have such a boner for it. So why don't you go to Vegas, marry the fucking thing, buy it a USB dildo, and get fucked...


:D the USB dildo remark alone is worth rep points!
 
From what you've heard....
biiiitch assss

There's no need for that.

I'm looking for opinions on new computer myself so your opinion and others are appreciated.

You ever use bootcamp? I've invested money in Soundforge and CD Architect and would still like to use them if I were to get an iMAC.
 
I'm on a PC right now...I have no problems with PC. Maaaaaaan I wish I spent more of my time on this website so I could be like you.
 
I'm on a PC right now...I have no problems with PC. Maaaaaaan I wish I spent more of my time on this website so I could be like you.

Alas. I fear that the amount of time spent here isn't really proportional to increasing your level of maturity and ability to make constuctive posts, or decreasing your level of assholism. So you may be out of luck.
 
The other thing -
I asked him a question...I said "This is me just wondering..."
NO PC bashing in the slightest, just like you...I told him what I thought about Cubase Mac combination. I never said, "Hey man get a mac they are the shit."
Your obviously a very intelligent person with a lot of useful insight, realize that when I call you a biiiiitch aaaassssss it's because I have nothing better to say. I didnt quote anything you said and turn it around or try to prove you wrong, I simply called you a bitch ass and it bent you out of shape - enough to mention a sandy dog vagina, but just the sandy part....where does the sand come from?.... what does that have to do with anything? I understand your train of thought ending in me advocating mac's and I even understand the dog in heat thing, but I don't understand why I could be compared to a sandy dog vagina. Anyways, if we were having this conversation face to face, I still would have said bitch ass and you wouldnt of been mad in the slightest bit. Maybe I have no sense of propriety, maybe all I need is a shot in the arm. So say whatever you want to this, im not going to be mad I was treating it like a conversation I'd have with a friend, you misunderstood. Thanks man
***hidden game for those who enjoy Wilco***
There are two song titles within the context...
 
The other thing -
I asked him a question...I said "This is me just wondering..."
NO PC bashing in the slightest, just like you...I told him what I thought about Cubase Mac combination. I never said, "Hey man get a mac they are the shit."
Your obviously a very intelligent person with a lot of useful insight, realize that when I call you a biiiiitch aaaassssss it's because I have nothing better to say. I didnt quote anything you said and turn it around or try to prove you wrong, I simply called you a bitch ass and it bent you out of shape - enough to mention a sandy dog vagina, but just the sandy part....where does the sand come from?.... what does that have to do with anything? I understand your train of thought ending in me advocating mac's and I even understand the dog in heat thing, but I don't understand why I could be compared to a sandy dog vagina. Anyways, if we were having this conversation face to face, I still would have said bitch ass and you wouldnt of been mad in the slightest bit. Maybe I have no sense of propriety, maybe all I need is a shot in the arm. So say whatever you want to this, im not going to be mad I was treating it like a conversation I'd have with a friend, you misunderstood. Thanks man
***hidden game for those who enjoy Wilco***
There are two song titles within the context...

Stick around long enough and you'll get the whole sandy vagina thing. As in "What's the matter? You seem a little cranky. You got some sand in your vagina?". :p

My first post in this thread was not in any way bashing you at all for what was indeed an honest enquiry. It was an honest comment and observation in response based on what I had heard about Cubase+mac. This is the stuff conversations are made of. The reference to a pc vs mac debate in said post was followed by the sticky out tongue emote. Round these parts that means "no beef dude". It was your "bitch ass" reaction to said post that illicited my further response.

I appreciate that you may have had nothing better to say, but if if you thought my point was valid, then you could have said "fair point but...", and we could have started an interesting conversation about it. The 'bitch ass' thing was uneccessary, hard to define as being in the context in which you put it, and good way to turn a thread hostile. And you say you didn't quote anything I've said but putting my "from what I've heard...." first is pretty much quoting me. 2 + 2 = (in this case) a close approximationof 4.

For what it's worth. I don't have a beef with you. Don't have the time or energy for holding grudges over a daft comment. But I do have a tendancy to bite back at what I at the time construe as a pointless insult. That's the way I am. If indeed it was a friendly off the cuff jibe on your part, for future reference, as dumb as emotes are, they can help indicate the direction you are going. Surely however it's understandable that I may see it as an act of hostility. I too call my friends 'bitch' etc, but then I know these guys. I wouldn't expect to call a stranger bitch without making it clearly obvious I was joking, and not get something for it.

Anyways, hopefully we've cleared the air now to some degree. No harm no foul. I'll green your chicklets back up when the system lets me. And my apologies to the OP for this semi-hijacking.
 
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Alright man. Leave my points red though, please turn them back up on my birthday. 11/22
 
I'll give you some rep now that you got the sand out of that vagina:D
 
PC or Mac debate.

I am a newbie on this site, but have been recording for years so don't hurt me, please!

I use Cubase 4 on a pentium 4 with only 2 gig memory. I have absolutely no trouble recording 16 tracks simutaniously. I do have a MOTU 2408io soundcard, Tascam M1600 utilizing the D-sub outputs to my 2, Alesis M20 Adat machines, then out via optical connection to the Motu. Why? Sometimes I prefer analog over digital. I can have a choice of recording to tape or digital. Now.

Most Mac now are intel based. Windows XP with some tweeks done can be very stable. There is adjustments to the sound card to lessen latency. But I get 16 pristine tracks from a PC!!!

Just my opinion.
Owner and Engineer/Studio One 78
 
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