Need help putting together a new Recording Computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter skylightdash
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skylightdash

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Ok, so currently I'm running Pro Tools 9 HD from an older MacMini (Snow Leopard 10.6.8) with 1.8GHz (Dual Core) and 2GBs of RAM with a 75GB hard drive. Yes this is an older system, but not to out dated, just not up to par. I need to put together a recording computer using the least amount of money possible. No I'm not talking about a piece a crap, but I just can't afford to spend $1000. I'm more interested in this:
I want to know a complete list of computer parts (CPU, Motherboard, RAM, Hard drive, ETC) that you would recommend, but staying under $600, please?! Right now I'm looking at an Intel i5 for the processor, and everyone keeps telling me to go with an i7, but does it make such a big difference to spend an extra $100 on... hmmm.
 
Maybe this is what you need (not including monitor and keyboard/mouse):

Processor - Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz (3.5GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 Quad-Core Desktop Processor - $199
Motherboard - Intel BOXDH67CLB3 LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard - $79
PSU - OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W Modular High Performance Power - $75
RAM - Crucial Ballistix sport 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop - $36
System Drive - OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" MLC Internal Solid - $95
Recording Drive - Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive - $90
Case - Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case - $55

Total: $630

All from Newegg.com. Just search those names as I posted them.

You could buy a lower grade PSU and RAM and go with a regular HDD system drive to bring the price down more.

Provided you don't need a monitor or a mouse and keyboard, you would still have a considerably kick ass computer there.

Hope that helps.

Cheers :)
 
Sorry, just noticed that that motherboard doesn't accept 1600 RAM. You could save money there by getting 1333 RAM instead.

Cheers :)
 
Very nice! I'm going to also be putting around 16 - 32GBs of RAM instead of 8, but everything else seems to be what I'm looking for. Also, it's fine about the motherboard, I'll find another, but the processor was something I just wasn't sure about. I know this sounds stupid, but I just really want to make sure before I buy: This processor (And the whole setup), how well do you think it would run a very large pro tools project with tons of plugins, I mean just a massive project.. per say?
 
Well, I can't make that call because I don't have that specific build in front of me to test.

However, to give you an indication, I used a Core2Duo 2.4Ghz machine for about five years and I mixed many albums on it without a hitch. Lots of plugins, editing, whatever. It handled it no problem.

Now I've got a Sandy Bridge i7-2600 machine (3.4Ghz, eight virtual cores) with 8GB of RAM and the motherboard that I listed above (the DH67CL) and it handles huge projects without even flinching. The new Ivy Bridge i5 will most likely compete pretty well with it.

Cheers :)
 
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