Multimedia Music Build

[BombaTwist]

i have a friend who wants to build a computer for music so he can record music and all that. he is willing to spend around $900 for it. He also wants to buy all the parts from newegg. Im not much of a multimedia computer builder since i build gaming comps. So any suggestions?

-Harddrive around 200gb-300gb. preferably 300gb. Prefer IDE because i dont know how to hook up SATA.

-At least 1 gig of ram

-a nice soundcard, im guessing creative soundblasters? =].

-A case that can cool it all nicely. just not TOO hot.

-Power supply that can handle it all

-Intel Processor(I think a dual core would be nice and best choice, but if not fit in budget, then not necissary. one that supports 64 bit would be nice.) + Good Compatible ATX Motherboard with PCI-Express x16, since i guess its better to have Intel for multimedia stuff.

-A nice CD/DVD-r/rw Burner.

-Nice video card too if there is enough money left after all the parts but video card isn't as important, decent one is ok.

So yea he pretty much wants to use it for recording music, listening, might have tons of programs open too. He just wants a computer that can handle all that with no slow-down at all. =]. thanks.

Edited August 8, 2006 by BombaTwist

[big poppa pump]

Nice soundcard IS NOT Creative Soundblaster, Audigy, or Xi-Fi.

Sound cards for music:

M-Audio Audiophile 2496

Audiotrak Maya44

Hoontech SoundTrack Audio DSP24 Value

[ripken204]

Nice soundcard IS NOT Creative Soundblaster, Audigy, or Xi-Fi.

Sound cards for music:

M-Audio Audiophile 2496

Audiotrak Maya44

Hoontech SoundTrack Audio DSP24 Value

ur right in that first statment. for best sound card for music get this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16829156001

it encodes anything to 7.1 using dts through a single optical cable

if he wants to spend more money he can get the auzentech x-purity which will be realeased mid-september. but the xplosion is a great card and that rebate right now definetly helps it

[BombaTwist]

hmm looks good. not an expert on sound. but yea. was hoping to get this list of part by this sunday. So any help? hehe. =].

ill consider that auzentech that ripken posted about.

[BombaTwist]

would it be better to get a pentium D or a Core 2 Duo?

o.O http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819115004

or this o.o

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819115003

Edited August 9, 2006 by BombaTwist

[ripken204]

core 2 duo (conroe) is brand spanking new and up to 20% faster thant the pentium D and it uses less voltage(power). and the higher models have 4mb cache! and its the same price! and they all beat the fx62!! so i think you have your answer.

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showd...?i=2802&p=1

btw, this model is still available

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16819115005

but you may want to think of using another store that has them

[BombaTwist]

hmm yea.. ill consider the e6600 core 2 duo. would be nice for him =]. now the motherboard. trying to search for some but i see some msi, asus, DFI motherboards and all and but can't decide which one to choose, dont want to chose the wrong one.

[ripken204]

ya im not too sure about a mobo either, my friend wants to get a new comp within the month and i was planning on am2. but now this is out and it rocks!

http://www.ewiz.com/query.php?dp=2&cat...hor=#displaytop

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductList....goryCode=010431

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/m...ode=intel-core2

here are some great prices, but everything is hard to find right now since its soo new.

newegg's full list

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList....=&maxPrice=

[BombaTwist]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16813131025 look like a nice mobo eh? =]

[ripken204]

haha. now only if they had it and you could afford it.

here's a list of boards

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showth...p;highlight=975

[BombaTwist]

so what brand mobo do you think is best for a computer like this?

im thinking Asus.

Heres My list by the way

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe LGA775 = $459(from newegg)

Mobo - ASUS P5W DH DELUXE = $269.99(from newegg)

At least 1 gb Memory - Blank

Case - Blank

Power Suplly - Blank

IDE Harddrive - Blank

DVD Burner Drive - Blank

Video Card - Blank

Sound Card - AuzenTech XPlosion 7.1 = $119.99(After rebate 89.99)(From Newegg)

Total: 848.98 + Shipping/Tax

Eww... =/

Edited August 9, 2006 by BombaTwist

[ripken204]

i personally prefer asus for intel. for amd i prefer dfi and then asus.

the only problem that you will have with that cpu is that it may not come back in stock for a month, thats what alot of stores are predicting. dell is saying if you order now, you will have your computer sometime in october! yay!! lol

ddr2 is amazingly cheap right now.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820227047

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16820220095

case is usually a personal preference. ask him to look thru neweggs cases and find one that he likes. does he have a price range for the case?

psu depends on what other parts he gets. a gamexstream or an enermax liberty are pretty much the best out right now but they cost over 100$, again i dont know how much he wants to spend

how big of a hdd does he want? those new seagate 320gig sataII perpendicular recording drives are 90$ right now with a special code from newegg

the nec 3550 has been doing a great job for me so far. ive burned over 300 disks so far with it and no problems.

again how much for this video card? 7900gt? 7600gt? x1800? x1900?

whats his max budget? 1000$?

[BombaTwist]

he doesnt really have a max, just around $1000, but would like to have it around $900 if possible.

-Video card doesn't have to be good, decent is ok, not going to be for gaming anyway but would be nice if there is some leftover money.

-Ill add the NEC 3550 in since i have one of my own but its a 3540.

-Cases doesn't really matter, as long as it fits in the budget. But i think it would be nice to get one with case fans.

-Harddrive he would like those 300GB ones. but doesn't have to if total cost too much, if the total of everything goes over, a 200GB is fine for him he says. Prefer IDE since i will be building it for him and i don't know how to setup SATA.

-Power Supply is probably the last pick. Just anything that can run everything fine, and will last for a while.

[EchoNoise]

Who cares about a case...

If a V12 gets put into a vw beetle thats rusted as anything it will perform at the same rate..

If you know what i mean

[big poppa pump]

There is a reason why I posted those particular sound cards. If this computer is going to be used for music projects, you do not want to use any sound cards that are used for gaming and stuff. Guaranteed, the X-plosion is a nice sound card, but thats about it.

You need soundcards with some serious features and codecs when working with music projects. I have setup numerous pc's for music studios and the maximum amount of time and money has gone on sound cards and speakers. Good sound card is the heart and soul of the computers used in music projects.

Also go to creative.com and check out their E-MU line of sound cards. These are professional sound cards and as such won't require driver updates as frequently as the mainstream sound cards..

Bottomline, you cannot and should not use mainstream sound cards for music projects.