Hello Everyone,
 
First off, I must say - I am really bad with my hands.  I remember trying to put a desktop together in the 90s, and it was the LAST time I would ever try such a feat.
 
I am wondering though if I should spend the money on a DAW PC (such ask ADK or VisionDAW for example).
 
Is it basically the same thing I can build, but they charge more money because they sell it as a DAW desktop?
 
Looking to get people's opinions here.

Also any advice into buying my new setup would be much appreciated.
 
Thank You!
 
 

Depends.  Building a PC today is much different from what it used to be.  Follow a couple of basic rules and it will go together painlessly.  It the "old" days everything had to be matched, fighting compatibility issues, Hardware interrupts, etc.  Not today. 
 
On the other hand if you have the $$ go with a custom built. Our forum guru, Jim Roseberry can build one exactly for your applications.

Yep, I concur, call Jim!
T

Jim's name comes up usually within the first few posts here on this subject. I've never used him but many have happily had him build their computers. He offers a pretty good deal.
 
I would like to see some competition though. Either that or make him the officially recognized Cakewalk computer builder. I know there are others who do it as well. We just don't hear about them as much.
 
I think most of the big name daw builders are over priced for the tech they offer. JMO YMMV. They usually drop back a generation or two to assure there are no issues or offer a minimum build for your needs at a higher price. Chips and builds having been on the market awhile are proven and less of a liability for them.
 
At one time there were more fixes that could be done in software that would streamline a machine for daw work. With  more recent OS and better hardware performance many of these basic issues are now moot. At one time I think you needed to lean more on a pro computer builder who knew what needed to be done. Much of this was more software related than hardware related. I don't believe we need that as much anymore.
 
Many report great results with high spec'd mass factory built computers. Even the basic ones can record smaller projects with no problems. The hardware in mass made machines is reported to be of less quality in many cases. How this actually plays out in terms of years of reliable use is anyone's guess. Especially if you have a good replacement repair warranty in place.
 
While I would recommend you either have a better machine built or build it yourself, this isn't always mandatory all depending on your needs. Of course buying the bottom tier machines for audio work is always asking for trouble.
 
I built my own after some brief research and I saved a lot of money in doing it. For me it's just assembling parts and loading the OS. It can potentially get complicated, but much less so if you use good hardware. 
 
I don't want to be the one to tell you to build your own, because all of those who bought from Jim or another similar will say, " I told you so" if something doesn't go right. I was willing to take that chance and it payed off for me. For those not technically or mechanically mediocre a builder is probably best with a higher spec'd factory computer being a second option.

I priced out buying from the 2 folks who build and visit the forum and I found the price was not acctually much more at all. When you consider they include support it might be a bargain. I bult my own in the end because I am a nerd and enjoy the process.

Yes I would surely check them before you look at one of the world renowned daw builders. 
In my case I think I got a slightly better machine for a little less money. A day of my time building and loading. YMMV.
I have some background in working with this. If this isn't your cuppa, spend slightly more and sleep better for it.\
 
It isn't rocket science either. If you assembled small items from Ikea, you can probably do it. 
 
It feels good to do it if you can.

The trick isn't the assembly process, its knowing what hardware works best and allows the appropriate controls in the bios.  I built my own 10 years ago and upgraded it (MB, CPU, RAM) about 5 years ago and its worked ok.  If (when) I decide I need extremely low latency, I will have a new one purpose built.

hmmm... who is Jim? 

I've had this idea for a DAW desk for years but have been too lazy to pursue it.
 
It came to me when I wanted to upsize my video monitors but realized larger screens would impinge on the speakers' line-of-sight. I had a choice: position them vertically or limit their size to 22". I chose the latter, feeling that having to crane my neck to see the upper display would become uncomfortable. Plus, dragging things up is just weird.
 
Then I looked closely at the desks used by TV news anchors. They feature video monitors set below the desk top, easily visible to the talking heads but not blocking their perfect faces. It occurred to me that if the camera was a pair of speakers, such a configuration would also provide a clear path to their ears.
 
Looking down at a monitor is much more natural and less-fatiguing than looking up. You could then have as large a display as you wanted, as big as the whole desk even.
 
Anyhow, that's my idea for a DAW desk. If I ever decide to replace my ugly gray metal Boeing-surplus desk, that's how I'd do it.

AdamGrossmanLG
hmmm... who is Jim? 

Jim is me...
I am Jim