New System Needed - really need your help!

hello everyone - this is my first post here. seems like this is the right spot for this post as you all seem to be quite helpful folks. let me apologize in advance if this post is long ...i swear there's a question in there.

here's the problem - i have an old dell 8200 that i'm currently running sonar 6 and fl studio on my current computer. it's a real 'budget' setup, so much so that i plug everything into the mic input on the soundcard (actually sounds surprisingly good for some things). As you can imagine i get drop outs quite a lot and i thought i could get around this by just adding more ram (as the processor is somewhat decent) - unfortunately it's that rdram crap and it's just not worth spending all that money for just 1 or 2 gigs of ram on that system.

my next solution was to simply swap the motherboard/cpu/ram - it looked to be just a bit more $ than getting more rdram ...but after doing some research i found that just can't be done (thanks dell!).

so now i'm stuck having to get a new system, or at least a new motherboard/cpu/case and i could really use some help. I found a lot of useful info on these boards but it seems that most of you are interested/using these monster systems - way more than i need or can afford (a few hundred is going to be a big stretch for me) ...i'm not interested in overclocking or anything else like that. I just need something basic to record my demos with.

i was thinking of getting a barebones system or motherboard/cpu combo and using parts/software i already have: hardrives, cd/rw/dvd drives, video card (i have an agp but my friend will give me his old voodoo pci one), firewire pci (if needed), xp home, etc.

The problem i'm having is that none of the barebones or combos i find use any of the motherboards i've seen specifically recommended here. I know i should be using a gigabyte or intel board but there are just so many choices. And the way intel names their processors confuses the hell out of me (who thought core 2 and dual core were so different that people wouldn't get confused?) same thing with chipsets and etc.
I remember reading that tom had recommended a board that uses a nvidia chipset but most other people say p35 or p45 ...i have no clue about any of this stuff. (i thought i knew a bit about computers before reading this board ha, ha, ha) Somebody help??

*also, i know a bunch of you are from companies that build/sell daw systems and i truly, truly wish i had anywhere near the amount of cash needed to pick one up cause they all look really great but i just don't. i do respect your craft and that you need to eat but i'm stuck trying to get things together on my own. perhaps someday ...my apologies

oh, one last thing - the only other stuff i plan on using the system for is basic web surfing, word processing, maybe itunes music on a seperate hd ...no gaming.

you can also buy barebones from me or Jim Roseberry!

ORIGINAL: mr_redbeard
so now i'm stuck having to get a new system, or at least a new motherboard/cpu/case and i could really use some help. I found a lot of useful info on these boards but it seems that most of you are interested/using these monster systems - way more than i need or can afford (a few hundred is going to be a big stretch for me) ...i'm not interested in overclocking or anything else like that. I just need something basic to record my demos with.



*also, i know a bunch of you are from companies that build/sell daw systems and i truly, truly wish i had anywhere near the amount of cash needed to pick one up cause they all look really great but i just don't. i do respect your craft and that you need to eat but i'm stuck trying to get things together on my own. perhaps someday ...my apologies

He isn't looking for a sales pitch.... Any Actual recommendations pertaining to his stated needs? I haven't built in a while (I'm happy with the quad core i built around a year ago). Hopefully another user with recent experience will actually read your post and help you.

ORIGINAL: jcschild

you can also buy barebones from me or Jim Roseberry!

how much do your barebones systems run and what is included?

i'm even having a tough time deciding between amd and intel now given the prices.

I hope you don't choose AMD.

I know nothing about motherboards - if people think this thing doesn't have the right motherboard or whatever, then someone more technical than me needs to chip in.

But . . . otherwise, try this link:

http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4348627&sku=S445-10007&SRCCODE=COMEM210TT&cm_mmc=Email-_-Main-_-COMEM210-_-text

It's a reasonably powerful desktop for only $420, including dual 2.5 ghz core processors, 4 gb ram, 2 lovely open firewire ports, and 2 or 3 open pci slots. The sound card is crap, but you should disable it and use some nice external device - at least when you can afford it because that is going to run $150 or more. Another thing to save your pennies for is a big external hard drive with firewire or usb 2.0 connectivity and 7200 or faster (the Seagate xtreme 1.5 tb firewire drive is about $180). Also, you will need to buy a monitor, but you can get a decent 17-20" flatscreen these days for under $100.

Specs are:

Condition: Refurbished
Lifestyle: Home & Student
Operating Systems: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Startup Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Platform: PC
Orientations Allowed: Vertical
Form Factor: Minitower
Bays: 2 - 5.25" Drive Bays
Internal Bays: 6 - 3.5" Drive Bays
Available 3.5" Drive Bays: 4
Available 5.25" Drive Bays: 1
PCI Slots (Total): 2
PCI Slots (Available): 1
PCI Express X1 Slots (Total): 1
PCI Express X1 Slots (Available): 1
PCI Express X16 Slots (Total): 1
PCI Express X16 Slots (Available): 1
Expansion Slots: 4
PS/2 Keyboard Connectors: 1
PS/2 Mouse Connectors: 1
Serial Communication Ports: 1
USB Ports: 6
FireWire Ports: 2 x 6-pin
LAN Ports: 1
Audio Out Jacks: 5
Line In Jacks: 1
Microphone Jacks: 2
Processor Brand: Intel
Processor Class: Pentium Dual Core
Processor Number: E5200
Processor Speed: 2.50GHz
Processor Interface: Socket 775
Processors Supported: 1
Processors Onboard: 1
Additional Technologies: Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology
Dual-Core Technology
Memory Type: DDR2
Memory Size: 2x2GB
Total Memory: 4.0GB
Memory Speed: DDR2 800 (PC2-6400)
Memory Slots (Total): 2
Memory Slots (Available): 0
Interface: SATA II
Capacity: 640GB
Speed: 7,200RPM
Interface: SATA
Optical Drive Type: SuperMulti DVD±RW Dual Layer Labelflash
Optical Drive Class: DVD SuperMulti
Type: Media Reader
Capacity: 15-in-1
Audio Description: Integrated Audio
Audio Chipset: High Definition
Channels: 7.1
Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics
GPU/VPU: NVIDIA GeForce 7100
Video Memory: up to 256MB Shared Memory
Video Interface: HDMI
VGA
Communications Description: Integrated LAN Support
Interface Type: RJ-45 - Ethernet Connector
Data Transfer Rate: 10/100/1000Mbps LAN
Communications Description: 56Kbps PCI Modem
Interface Type: RJ-11 - Phone Connector
Power: 300 Watt
Mouse Type: Optical
Buttons: 3
Connection Type: USB
Keyboard Type: Multimedia
Connection Type: PS/2
Connections: USB Powered
Front Speakers: 2
Height: 16.34"
Width: 7.09"
Depth: 17.32"

ORIGINAL: edentowers

I hope you don't choose AMD.

I've very successfully used both Intel and AMD in the past, in fact my main machine is an AMD at the moment.

I always hear people bashing AMDs for DAW systems but my experience has been nothing but good with them!