with 2 large you should be able to get anything you want. i just scored a nice laptop for $275. you don't say what your intentions are or how you work. one or two tracks at once or multi tracking? you alos haven't included what kind of converters you have or if you are going to buy new ones or what software you want ... linux? windows? os 10? (yes it runs on PCs too) .... what DAW? all these factors are considered when making a choice.

full blown computer would be anything that is PT compatible ... usually a duel or quad core i5 or i7 (i7 better!) with an Nvida graphics card, at least 4 gigs of ram (or more) 7200 rmp drive with a fresh install of Windows 7 or better (NO VISTA) ...

With that budget you might want to look into a custom DAW. IIRC a company called ADK in Kentucky makes DAW computers, and I think Jim Williams also made them, although I'm not sure if he still does. I'm sure if you do a web search you can find a few companies and individuals who do it and then check back here for anyone with experience with the companies. If you have a local computer shop build you a computer, they will probably not have the experience to build a DAW - using someone who specializes in DAWs would be money well spent.

You will probably want to request the computer be built with Windows 7. It's better than Vista, and Windows 8 is still too funky - Win7 works pretty smoothly as a DAW.

If you go with a company like Dell, you'll get a nice quiet and fairly smooth computer, but you will need to remove all of the pre-installed apps that come with the big-name computers... it's usually best to just re-format and re-install Windows from scratch. But then you will have a new computer with a warranty.

TBPlayer, post: 405661 wrote:
If you go with a company like Dell, you'll get a nice quiet and fairly smooth computer, but you will need to remove all of the pre-installed apps that come with the big-name computers... it's usually best to just re-format and re-install Windows from scratch. But then you will have a new computer with a warranty.

+1 IMO Dells are just fine but expect to throw away a day getting rid of the 'bloatware' that they stuff on them.

....also if you are doing PT, [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.pro-tool…"]The Pro Tools PC[/]="http://www.pro-tool…"]The Pro Tools PC[/]

The Pro Tools PC settles the issue once and for all. We can't promise complete perfection - these are computers after all - but we can provide a system that's been built and tested at every stage with Pro Tools in mind supported by professional people who use these systems and software every day.

lol, they can't even promise their own stuff works on their own computers. pro tools or pro fools?

check out [[url=http://[/URL]="http://raincomputer…"]Rain Computers | Audio + Video Workstations[/]="http://raincomputer…"]Rain Computers | Audio + Video Workstations[/]

mberry593, post: 405671 wrote: +1 IMO Dells are just fine but expect to throw away a day getting rid of the 'bloatware' that they stuff on them.

....also if you are doing PT, [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.pro-tool…"]The Pro Tools PC[/]="http://www.pro-tool…"]The Pro Tools PC[/]

I always do a fresh install, it's faster then cleaning all the crap they install !!! (just be sure to download the network drivers first in case windows does not recognise your NIC)

kmetal, post: 405694 wrote: lol, they can't even promise their own stuff works on their own computers. pro tools or pro fools?

check out [[url=http://[/URL]="http://raincomputer…"]Rain Computers | Audio + Video Workstations[/]="http://raincomputer…"]Rain Computers | Audio + Video Workstations[/]

Pro Tools PC is actually completely independent of Avid. In fact, I believe one of the guys from Rain co-founded this project. If nothing else, I believe their PCs are ideal Hacknintoshes. Of course I don't know that and I'm not suggestion you do it but......

I own 3 Dell laptops..well, I bought three Dell laptops and they all work just fine. Don't buy the cheap Dells. They are what they are. Spend a little more money for their high end gear.

eh wat do i know. i haven't used a rain or a pro tools pc. i just thought it was a comical, and oddly honest for something like that. any dell i've used has been good, moe money, but reasonable, and efficient. my cousin has a sweetwater creation station from when dual core and ptle 7.0 was state of the art, still does what is does. but more pricey than comparable pc horsepower, the tests of compatibility were a big selling point. my toshiba laptop does medicore, and i trust it for 24 trk tracking. ugh to gateway, and ibm, and what happend to sony computers? they were like the high end 900mhz pricey point, guess dell won that.

w/ 2k on just a computer...man, that's such a tough one. windows 7, i7, 8 gigs ram, 160 ssd, 2x 2tb backup/audio?

I think I've got it.

I think I'm gonna go the custom route because the computer in my head costs exactly $1996.89. It has absolute top-of-the-line components that will last for years.

A1phabeta, post: 405874 wrote: I think I'm gonna go the custom route because the computer in my head costs exactly $1996.89. It has absolute top-of-the-line components that will last for years.

Good decision. I just looked at what Dell has to offer and I have to say, for the money I could build myself a much better machine. Even Alienware has gone down hill it seems. If you build it right you can install OSX without any modifiers. Not that I would suggest that. It's just an odd bit of Trivia. OSX is also plenty cheaper than a Windows OS. Just sayin.

I think that if you can do it or have a friend who can help you with it, a custom build is the way to go. I've always found I get more bang for my buck doing it myself.

Good luck. :)

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