What components for my DAW

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guitar kid

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I'm bulding a DAW and I'm wondering what components I should get in the computer. I'm workin with about a $2,200 budget for the whole thing (including mixer, software, soundcard). I'm wondering what I should get for my PC (I already have a monitor, keyboard, and mouse from an older computer, I just need the tower). From what I've read on this web site, a Celeron 400mhz is the best buy as far as the processor goes. I know I need at least a 10 GB hard drive, but is it worth the money to get a 20 GB? I have at most a $1,000 set aside for the PC, but the less I have to spend, the better. As far as the soundcard goes, if I spend $1,000 on the computer, I only have $200 for the soundcard. As far as the mixer goes, I'm hoping to pick up a used 1642 for $700. If I can get a better mixer for $700, I'm open for suggestions. And for the software, I'm probably going to get Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.0. Thanks for any responses.
 
Come on guys, don't any of you wanna take this oppurtunity to show some of us how knowledgeable you all are.
 
OK, here's a start:

Box with power supply: $40
Motherboard: ABIT BH6, $110, or ASUS Athlon K7, $145
CPU: 400Mhz Celeron Slot 1, $80, or Athlon 500Mhz, $185
RAM: 128mb PC100 SDRAM, $90-100
Drive: IBM 20GB, $175
CD ROM: $50
Floppy: LS120, $50
Video Card: $50
Total cost (San Diego prices): $645-$785
Pay someone with experience to put it together for you $100. 20GB-30GB Hard Drives are the best value. Take a serious look at the Athlon CPU. I hear it screams.

DUKE-X
 
Thanx Duke, but how do I go about finding somebody with the know-how to put together a computer. Do I go into computer stores (i.e. CompUSA) or somewhere else. I also am thinking about getting one thats already built to my specs from mpipc.com. If anyone has ordered a computer from there, I'd like to hear how it worked out. Thanx

[This message has been edited by guitar kid (edited 03-05-2000).]
 
I befriend computer nerds and buy them lunch often. It pays dividends to do this. In the meantime you might contact an instructor at the local community college and ask him/her if they know anybody. Or just go hang out at the school computer lab and start talking to people. You might also scan any local computer rags or put an ad in the college newspaper. Stay firm with your $100 offer. It should only take them 2-3 hours. Make sure they do the work in your home so you can watch them put the actual components you bought inside the box. Keep all receipts. Watch them, take notes, and ask a lot of questions. Do not pay until the system is up and running. If this all makes you nervous, you're probably better off buying a built system--but I wouldn't.
 
If you're feeling a bit more game, and want to be able to upgrade/fix any dramas that may occur later in the computers life, why don't you spend $20 buying an old 486/early pentium, take it apart and put it back together.

Computers are actually pretty simple things internally - they're designed so even dipshit theatre techs like myself can take them apart and fix them up. Most bits (video/sound/network cards) only fit in one spot, the cables (generally) have little bump things on them so there is only one way they go etc.

The only kicker to all this computer biz is actually understanding what all the acronyms and numbers mean - if you ever want a scare, go and read a heavy-duty computer networking book and see the number of acronyms these guys have to remember.
 
It seems that you're on a tight budget. I just recently ordered a barebones computer (case, CPU, memory, floppy drive, RAM, video card, generic sound card, NO hard drive) Pentium III 500 MHz/128 MB RAM/8 MB video card, Ensoniq sound card for $627 with shipping. The company is called Sonimax (Twinsburg, OH - near Cleveland). I'm not sure if they have a website, but their phone number is 1-888-525-7664

I don't work for them, I'm just a happy customer. The system was already put together. All I had to do was put in my two hard drives. In fact, for an additional $115 you could buy a 13.2 GB Hard drive from them to put in your system. Either way, installing a hard drive should be pretty simple.

This company also has other barebones systems:

AMD K7 500 MHz/64MB RAM $499
Celeron 433 MHz/32 MB RAM $269

They also have some complete Celeron systems for under $700

It seems from your budget that you would benefit from such a deal so that you can buy a high quality sound card and software and concentrate on the music.

Rev E
 
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