To you cakewalk forum members.   I submitted this review to HP.  I just bought a new machine,  HP Pavilion HPE h8-1360t (running Win 7 64bit) Desktop PC,  for just under 800 bucks and it is AWESOME!    I am thrilled!  It sounds like and advertisement but its not.  I'm just excited like a kid in a candy store!    I haven't worked this smoothly in a LONG time!  Similar machines (although not this one) can even be purchased at Walmart!  For most of us home recording people. you don't need to spend thousands! I recommend this machine but there are similar at HP or Walmart :) running windows 8.   I run tons of plug-ins on projects running  40 - 50 tracks.   Plug-ins are mainly UAD, WAVEs,  and Soundtoys.   
--------------------------->  I run a recording studio and have always pushed my computers to the absolute limits in terms of both processing and add-ons such as PCIe / PCI cards and additional hard drives as well as both Firewire 800 and 400 connections running simultaneously. I was currently running a Lenovo T500 Dual Core 3.06 on Windows 7 on a multi-dock allowing for PCIe card addition. I also had a Desktop Think Centre M70 (or so) with similar specs that I would interchange hard drives to handle various production jobs. I also run up to the equivilent of 5 UAD (Universal Audio) DSP cards and many many audio plug-ins. I also have a powered Star Tech PCIe expansion chassis as well to handle some of the peripherals so I am constantly pushing the machine to it's upper HEW and SW performance limits. For those who understand music production, I run SONAR X2 fully loaded. Often on my previous machines, I would constantly run out of resources which would lead to crashes, freezes and I always had to bounce or freeze tracks in large projects even when I really wasn't ready to do so yet just to get the project to play. Also, I had numerous Hardware issues on both Lenovo machines regarding support of the UAD cards and the Startech box. Finally I just felt I need to upgrade but did not wish to spend thousands on computers supposedly built just for music., I am very knowledgeable in computers as I have been working in the IT field for 30+ years so I just started doing research. I concluded that I would purchase this model with the 3.4 Quad core processor and the upgraded to the middle option power supply (430?) and graphics (which may have already been part of the initial specs). I also did not want to upgrade to Windows 8 yet and I was pleased to find HP still selling a high performing machine standard with Windows 7! I received the machine earlier than expected and I just went straight ahead and loaded a ton of software and hooked up all the hardware including te UAD cards and the Startech box which in itself holds more UAD cards, FW 400 interface and other cards. I also have FW 800 adapter in one of the PCIe slots n the HP. This is A LOT of stuff and I doubted that it would work right away and I would be in for days of troubleshooting. This machine booted EVERYTHING up fast and without any problems the very first time!! I couldn't believe it. Surely something won't work! The true test came when I loading n a project that either one of my previous machines could handle and that prompted my to get a new computer in the first place. This computer absolutely sailed through it and worked beautifully! Honestly, I couldn't be happier! All this for half the cost of my laptop (around 800 bucks!)

Very happy for you!  Just curious ... did your HP machine come pre-loaded with a ton of crap-ware like you get with a Dell, or was it pretty clean?

Just for the record, the Dell Vostro line (aimed at business users) come with pretty much nothing on them but the O/S and a few Dell diagnostic and maintenance apps.

Great, man! Just for the record I have personally used Cake products on HP computers for many,many years without a hitch. Anytime I have had a problem it was user error on my part. The only reason I am using Acer now is the deal was too good to turn down and it was still an off the shelf at Best Buy! So many have had major problems with custom machines on here since X1. My little Acer keeps humming right on along. Congrats on your new rig and may it serve you well!

I've used the same DELL for 3 years and never had a single problem with it, they too are awesome computers if you don't want to break the bank. I never understood why they got such a bad rap. Mind you, the first thing I did was to reformat the C drive and put my own copy of Windows on there. Gotta get rid of all that junk.

sharke
I never understood why they got such a bad rap. Mind you, the first thing I did was to reformat the C drive and put my own copy of Windows on there. Gotta get rid of all that junk.

I think you just answered your own question, my friend. 

Good for the OP that his HP is working fine.
 
I wanted to chime in on the notion that there have been "so many" issues with custom built DAWs.  
We all know what I do for a living (and obviously I'm biased).
That said, a custom DAW is as good as the person building it.
The whole reason to go with a custom machine is that you have total control over what goes in... and how it's configured.  If you make good choices, you wind up with a great DAW.
An experienced computer tech can choose individual components that are part-for-part superior to any pre-configured computer (Mac or PC).
 
I like Walmart as much as the next guy.  Low prices are great...
First Act guitars work... but would you recommend them instead of Fender, Gibson, MusicMan, Rickenbacker, etc?   
 
 

Hi, Jim! That remark about problems with custom builds was by no means aimed at you. We all are very aware of the professional units you turn out. And I have seen your posts on here so many times trying to help members iron out problems with their rigs. I was referring, mainly, to some of the techs that do shoddy work and then leave us at the mercy of the machine. I have had many of my friends have that scenario happen to them. It is sad to say that a lot of techs out there do take advantage of those of us who are less knowledgeable. I ,again, would like to say I and a lot of the members of this forum are fortunate to have you and your work involved here.    

Congrats! I have to agree... I've always thought very highly of HP Computers and owned quite a few myself. These days I have a custom built PC that my son-in-law put together for me but before that I ran a modest HP store-bought machine from WalMart. Albeit a single core, running Vista no less with 4 gigs of ram. Earlier versions of Sonar ran pretty flawlessly.
 
Happy recording... :)

stxx
 
I run tons of plug-ins on projects running  40 - 50 tracks.   Plug-ins are mainly UAD, WAVEs,  and Soundtoys.   

Thanks for the review, I was looking at one of these as a slave. My only main concern is the PSU and how much RAM can be added. I run an average of 100 tracks (large VI orchestral and synth templates), and fear that the consumer grade PSU in that machine might die a quick death once I take into account three monitors running, along with a video track. IMO, I wouldn't trust anything under 650W for any type of professional recording work on a PC.....and then there's also the cooling system to consider.