What does this stuff do?

[tmcbrinn]

Emeric,
Thanks for your reply. After your post, and lots of research, I thinki I've put together a system I want. I am able to get a system from Dell at a discounted price, so I'm gonna go with them, but make changes to their staandard systems. Check out what I've come up with and tell me if it seems ok:
PIII 500MHz
128 Mb RAM
SCSI Hard Drive 7200rpm 9.1Gb
Win 98
SCSI expansion port
2-4 PCI ports
HP 7500e CDRW (This is the best option for burners Dell offers, but it's Red Book and it'll do)
I may have to cut back a bit, but this looks like it. Any opinions are definatily appreciated.
(Gonna get a Gina card and software later)

[This message has been edited by tmcbrinn (edited 09-03-1999).]

 

[tmcbrinn]

What are PCI slots, ISA slots, AGP slots and what are they used for? Are they a necessity for computer recording systems?? The reason why I ask is cause I'm getting a new computer soon. Also, does anyone have an opinion if I should buy a computer made specifically for recording, or just get one and then add recording hardware/software to it.

 

[Emeric]

ISA slots are pretty much dissapearing on new motherboards, you may find 1 or 2 - Mainly used for older 16 bit cards. Most cards these days, sound cards, modems (everybody seems to hate winmodems, but the lucent I have works great) are PCI. AGP is only for video cards. You may as well get an AGP video card though - this frees up a PCI slot.

You can get PC's specifically built for recording. But could get a small computer store to build it for you for much less (or build it yourself). Just have a list of components you want installed and do it. What components then.

I currently use:

Microstar 6163 mainboard
PII 450(celeron Overclocked)
Quantum 6.4GB KA 7200 RPM for Audio Data only
Quantum CX 10GB for the operating system/programs etc.

With this setup I can record 8 tracks at a time while listening back to 24. This is enough for my application. What sound card you put into it is another whole topic in itself. But if your computer system base is good, it's just a matter of doing the research and buying one.

Motherboard is important, don't get a cheapo/generic - nothing but headaches. ASUS, ABIT, Microstar are good ones (there are others of course). You could also go with a SCSI setup. In this case, you need a SCSI controller card (adaptec 2940U2W), SCSI Drives (Quantum Atlas). You could use an IDE drive just for the OS and programs and use a SCSI for the audio data. SCSI has the advantage of freeing up CPU for other things (directX plugins) and has generally is faster (access time in particuliar). The 7200 RPM Drives are good though these days, but if I had the $ I would use SCSI.

Lots of options. A few links for some research and info:
www.tomshardware.com www.anandtech.com

Emeric

 

[Emeric]

Sounds Good, except..

Pricing this out at local computer store is still more than at Dell even with the discount? Price the system you want with both Dell and your local computer store. I don't see any namebrands at dell - what kind of hard drive, motherboard, videocard??

I would be carefull of these large companies, they tend to use proprietary hardware making upgrades difficult.

I would pay the extra $$ just to avoid Dell, Gateway, Packard Bell, HP etc. etc..

I'm a computer tech in a computer store, so this is what I might suggest to a customer like yourself.

ASUS P3B-F Mainboard, Intel 440BX Chipset
Intel PIII 500MHz MMX Processor, 512K L2
Quantum CX 10.2GB Ultra ATA/66 Hard Drive
Samsung 40x CD-ROM
Creative-Ensonic 16 bit Sound Card
Samsung 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Diamond Viper V770 32MB AGP, TNT2
ADI MicroScan 5P+ 17" .28dp SVGA Monitor
Mitsumi PS2 Scroll Mouse
Mitsumi 104-key Win95 Keyboard
In-Win Mid-Tower ATX Case
Lucent 56K V.90 Voice/Fax Modem
MS Windows 98 CD-ROM
128MB PC-100 SDRAM

$2149.00

Now lets add an Adaptec 2940U2W SCSI Card - $320

A 9.1 GB Quantum Atlas III (Also Ultra-2-Wide/LVD, 80MB/s)- $429

Total:

$2898.00 Canadian Dollars = $1944.00 U.S.

Extra 10.2 GB for Software, 9 GIG's for Data on a SCSI setup I doubt DELL offers.

One possible configuration. Don't know what price range your looking for, but something to consider. I'm sure you have a local computer store that could put something like this together.

Oh yeah.. Yamaha 6416 SCSI CD-RW - Add $386 Canadian.

Emeric




[This message has been edited by Emeric (edited 09-03-1999).]