Won't you want a second hard drive for audio?

Does the mboard have SATA capabilities?

Jamie

Well, I didn't think that I would need a second hard drive just yet because this is going to be strictly an audio computer and I figured that 120gb would get me started and that I could always add something bigger eventually. Yes, I believe that it is SATA compatible. Do you think that I should add a second hard driive early on? I have limited funds in the beginning and figured that I could use more ram than hard drive space, am I misguided in the line of thinking? Thanks for your feedback, keep it coming.

Nick

Yes 2 HDD's are desireable in a DAW. It's not an issue of disk space but of speed. With 2 HDD's, 1 for OS, Programs, Plugins and Samples and 1 for Audio files (tracks) your system can read and write to both drives at the same time making it considerably faster. I would also recommend SATA drives as well as they can stream data quite a bit faster than IDE drives and don't cost much more than IDE either (around $10 to $20). I'd suggest an 80GB SATA for your OS drive and stick with the 120GB for audio.

As far as RAM you are definitely better off with 1GB, so stick with that.

I know you said your funds are limited but for another $100 to $125 over your budget you could add an 80GB SATA and get the 120GB as an SATA also and make your DAW much faster.

Dem Durn DAW Configgers..

Howdy Big D, Nick & Jamie. I've in about the same boat as you guys, trying to configure a daw, budget, trying to hang on to some cash after daw hardware for mics/pres/interfaces etc.

I've been lurking,reading quizzing these guys for a couple of months, bought some hodge/podge stuff that I probably wouldn't do again, and Don already tweaked specs...Sir David French has helped,too.

A NEW idea with the sole purpose of having Don and others say "OH WIZBANG>>>YOU WUSSED OUT!!!

I had all my items picked out at newegg.com...final bill about $1200.
Don loved it. Then I tried another trick...

P4 3.0G HT 800 FSB, L1 16K, L2 1MG cache
1G non ECC pc4300,553MHZ,ddr2 sdram (dual channel)
Intel 915G Express chipset
System clock 800MHZ data rate
Maxtor 80G SATA for OS/Cubase/future plugs
Integrated video- I'll upgrade to Matrox G450 or similar in future...
Win XP Home Ed
.I'm scavenging my CD/DVD R/W from old system
Mouse and keyboard
Word Perfect
17'' flat LED monitor

Total $800 from my hometown billionaire Mikey Dell. Oh hell-he said Dell......

But wait...$100 rebate....cost now $700....
AND there are about 50 17" flat LED dell monitors (same model number as mine) selling for 200-250 bucks net on Ebay. So I sell it NIB, unopened and knock off $200 bucks.

So above system had for $500....just add big SATA audio drive and the vid card ($300 combined?). And it's a $800 screamer- I saved $400.....so I spent the $400 ($470 w/shipping) for a KSM44 'like new in box'. Spent already. OUT OF CONTROL...someone change my password, duct tape all my digits or SOMETHING!!!

I live in Austin,so it would be VERY easy to return it-a buddy is willing to grab it out of my car at the return center...no shipping.

So I am tempted to give this Dell a spin, and if I'm happy, YEEEeeeHAWWWW!!! 21 day return policy "no questions asked".

I'm a Cardiac ICU nurse...I have great care and expertise if you're coming straight out of the OR after a triple bypass. Plenty technical, wires, monitors, tubes, machines, respirators etc...and if I screw up the patient can croak within a few minutes....but this 'computer guts build your own' is bothering me....I know it's not hard. I just would rather have it done for me, plug it in and make music, and grab a box that will do this for me for less than the "Audio DAW Turnkey" boxes...most look $1500+.

So I'll let you know how it goes..and post on the new TELL us DAW sticky.
And Don- I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me what to watch out for with this dell dimension 4700 i know you want to take it away from me to be ALL YOUR OWN!!!!!!! Hahahahah!

Don be thinkin' "Damn, Wizbang....I done helped til I'm blue in the face wit yo newbie ass, and now turn around and Dell yourself!!"

Right?

Last details....

90% of the time vocal/guitar/bass/piano tracks recorded one at a time and mixed in box...excellent RME mixer software I understand....Rock to mello songwriter.

RME Multiface to DSP Hammerfall PCI card
Bellari 2 channel mike pre
Presonus firestation with 2 pres
Alesis Studio 32 mixer with 16 pres...mostly for rare live jams..
Fostex F08 - 8 trk hd recorder for super mobile/quick jot ideas...
Cubase 2x

Mics:Shure KSM44
Shure 58..(but says "8800" on mic..comments?)
Shure57
$20 Nady 5

Yamaha NS-10's
AT M40 fs headphones

1 month ago I only had the Shure 58, Cakewalk home Studio to Soundblaster card, and my keyboard (Yamaha S-80).

I'm pretty sure I need to slow down a little....keep my testicles intact since the missus sees UPS at my door every other day and she's sharpening the machete....!!!

I know I'll want:
1. Temporary Better room- right now I'm in an untreated small bedroom studio. Long term (2-3 yr) room-in-room in 20'x20' garage overhaul...Serious work minus floating floor maybe? I read
the english fellows threads "studio build diary", stock up cash, more cash, sell first, second and third born, 214 cases of
prozac, and kevlar (wife machete protection!)
2. One really TASTY pre for my KSM44.
3.The Sweetwater catalog A-Z..."just send it, fellas!!!"
This occurs after lottery hits for me.

So tell me "YOU WUSSY FOOL"!!!! or well, whatever works. I'd just really like some HARD honest feedback. Thanks YET AGAIN, gentleman!!!

Here I go to remove all this crap on the 'bundle dell disk' and then tweak- OH JOY!!....

Thanks! Big D, that helped a ton, I definitely feel like I'm headed in the right direction and am going to get my money's worth. Good luck with the Dell Whizbang, let me know how it works out for you.

Nick

Whizbang check the post on tweakin' me and D just finished it had loads of links from people including something like opusaudioprojects.com from me which I used back in the day.

Your Dell scares me. That was what put me off PCs forever. Who can say though, these days they do wonders.

If I were you, and today I was in your shoes-buying-to-build a new computer but spending a fair bit more, I'd do this:
-get any cheap 754 AMD64 CPU with the new Arctic Cooling fan
-snag any mobo that will work with above, MSI/DFI is great, pass on ASUS
-get 1 stick of 512 or 1gig of 3200 Ram preferably TCCD 2-2-2-7
-get a power supply with good reviews
-accept precious advice in getting to SATA drives

Newegg is great, so is ZipZoomFly or support the local.
Yesterday I just sold my new P4 HT system and am stoked to soon enjoy the low latencies that the 64s are famous for. This morning I was seriously blessed to find the DFI NF4 board by phoning Newegg for the unlisted part number.
I'm convinced by extensive researching that bang for buck, the above will deliver smartly with our DAWs.

AMD 754 pin and AMD 939 pin can be had for the same price, the mobos for each same thing..
so the 939 is the way to go as it spanks the older 754s
especially in memory bandwidth

Scott

Hey Wizbang, Sorry I haven't been back to this thread and didn't know you posted.

A NEW idea with the sole purpose of having Don and others say "OH WIZBANG>>>YOU WUSSED OUT!!!

Hey man if it works for you that's what matters right. Not everyone builds their own DAW and if this machine does what you need it to then you made out all right. Hopefully you learned something in the process and if someday you decide you do want to build your own you know you know where to start. In the meantime if you have any questions you know where to ask. Good luck and keep us posted.

Don be thinkin' "Damn, Wizbang....I done helped til I'm blue in the face wit yo newbie ass, and now turn around and Dell yourself!!"

Can't teach that damn country boy nutin, mumble mumble mumble :lol: