Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice?

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stm27
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2011/01/26 20:14:30 (permalink)

Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice?

Hi All,

My job requires that I do a lot of work at home and I have a small budget to get a desktop to use at home.  I'd like to get something that I could also use as a DAW (I mostly record one track at a time, guitar, voice, etc. but I also like to use a lot of VST synths, effects, etc.).  I'm limited to purchasing the computer from either our authroized Dell dealer or HP dealer.  I might be able to tweak these configurations, but I think the basics of my options are the following two:

HP Compaq 8100 Elite Convertible Minitower Premium Desktop
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Intel Core i7-870 Processor
2.93 GHZ, 8M Cache, Intel Q57 Chipset
8GB DDR3 (PC3-1333) MHz non-ECC (2 x 4 GB)
500GB 3.5" 7200rpm SATA 3.0 gb/s NCQ, SMART IV
HP SATA SuperMulti LightScribe DVD Writer Drive
ATI Radeon HD 4550 (512MB DH) PCle


Or:

OptiPlex 960 Mini Tower from Dell
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, media
PROCESSOR
Intel Core i7 Quad Core 870 2.93GHz
MEMORY
(Req. 64-bit OS) 8GB DDR3-1333MHz, 2DIMMS
GRAPHICS
Dual 512MB ATI RADEON HD 4550
250GB Hard Drive 8MB Cache
SECONDARY STORAGE
250GB Hard Drive 8MB Cache
OPTICAL
16X DVD+/-RW SATA, Roxio & PowerDVD

Do you think either of these computers would work well as a DAW?  Are there any tweaks to the components I should try to make?  Thank you very much for any help you can give.

Yours,  STM
#1

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    RogerS
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    Re:Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice? 2011/01/26 23:10:42 (permalink)
    Either of those computers would be fine for the DAW use that you described. The Dell might be a better choice if you think you might need more than 16gb someday (Windows Pro vs. Home).

    PE 8.5.3,  Windows 7 Pro 64-bit,  i7 920,  GA-EX58-UD4P,  6gb Corsair DDR3,  2 x Barracuda 500gb,  HIS Radeon GS-4670 Fanless 1gb DDR3, dual 24" monitors,  Axiom 61,  Korg Triton Pro,  Focusrite Saffire Pro 40,  VG-99,  Yamaha MSP5,  Fostex PM0.5       
    #2
    mumpcake
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    Re:Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice? 2011/01/26 23:46:58 (permalink)
    You probably want a bigger hard drive.  500 GB will get eaten up by sample libraries pretty quickly.



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    #3
    stm27
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    Re:Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice? 2011/01/27 13:16:42 (permalink)
    Thanks a lot for the suggestions!  I got the Dell, threw in a terabite for one of the two hard drives.  I hope it works as a DAW without too much hassle. 
    #4
    Guitarhacker
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    Re:Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice? 2011/01/27 14:04:38 (permalink)
    A USB hard drive will hold the libraries and let them load up just fine.

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    #5
    Hard Charger
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    Re:Getting Computer from my (non music) job, want also to use as DAW. Advice? 2011/01/27 23:45:37 (permalink)
    I'm in the same boat and was looking at a Dell 8100. 

    Then I saw this computer available at Costco for $799.

    ZTAffinity 7544mi PC
    Pros:
    Intel Core I7 processor 2600 (3.4 GHz)
    12 GB DDR3 Ram
    1 TB SATAII HD
    2 USB 3.0 jacks
    Windows 7 Home Premium

    Cons:
    Integrated Intel HD graphics
    ATX 350 W power supply

    I figure its easy enough to add another hard drive.  Probably could swap out the power supply and add a video card, but don't know if I even need to do that.

    I'm basically the same as you, one track at a time, some VST's.  At best a hobbyist, and not a good one.  So I don't want to invest $1500 in a computer that I'm only getting 10% usage out of.  But I want to make sure it will do the job for the next 4 or 5 years, my old Dell is on its last leg.

    Let me know what you think on the configuration above.
    #6
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