Recommend a good high-end PC

[ghettosynth]

...

[jcschild]

now you are just talking out your butt.

feel free to show me the shopping list for $400
like me, Jim only makes about 30% so that system costs like $1000 to build

Scott
ADK

[Throbert]

My dream system goes a little like this
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD5H LGA 1155 Intel Z77 $189.99

Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 $359.99

Deep Cool Fiend Shark (will flow well with huge case fan) 74.99

Kingston HyperX 16GB (4 x 4GB) DDR3 2133 KHX2133C11D3K4/16GX $159.99

2Raid0 SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128N/AM 2.5" 128GB $189.99 $379.98

2Raid0 WD VelociRaptor WD3000HLHX 300GB 10000 RPM 32MB
Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" make them 2.5" w/o sync $164.99 $329.98

WD Caviar Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA
6.0Gb/s 3.5" $269.99

CORSAIR Pro Series HX650 (CMPSU-650HX) 650W $129.99

Antec Skeleton $149.99

$2155
If I use the SSD raid for OS, well you know, but if I use it for samples then fast sample loads. Obviously I'm using the WD Caviar Black for backup and storage
Most prices are new egg so could be less if I looked around
In the long run I would bolt the Skeleton to a shelf in an SKB Shockmount

[ekwipt]

Gigabyte GA-X79-UD5 Motherboard

Intel Core i7 3820

Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 LGA2011 CPU Cooler

Corsair Vengeance Black CMZ16GX3M4X1866C9 16GB (4x4GB) DDR3

Corsair AX850 Gold Power Supply

Gigabyte Radeon HD7770 1GB Overclocked

Intel 520 Series 180GB SSD

Hitachi Deskstar 7K3000 2TB 7200RPM

Lian Li PC-C32 Black

[Kevin63101]

I'm considering two things. First, just flat out letting someone else put it together for me...

http://www.studiocat.com/3/index.php/Pro_Studio

Or should I delve into DIY...

I just purchased a PC from Studio Cat / Purrrfect Audio (Jim Roseberry) last month. I ordered the Platinum version (i7 @ 4.5GHz, which I added upgrades for 16GB RAM + 3rd Hard Drive for samples + an Audiocard).

I've gone thru many computers over the years, and have experience configuring them for music from a clean wipe several times (on my old XP system) -- so I'm not a novice, but not an expert computer technician either.

This was my first custom built music DAW -- I'm serious about music, but recording is hobby for me on a modest hobby budget for all my music expenses. The decision to invest in a custom built PC took a lot of thought for spending my music gear $$$ on the custom built PC instead of lower priced off the shelf PC that would have left some money for other gear.

Impressions:

1) Very satisfied with the service and product Purrrfect Audio delivered. Jim is a delight to work with and honestly evaluates what is best for your recording needs, including what upgrades are "overkill" depending on your situation. The system I ordered is amazingly quiet and runs fantastic. He provided the win7 install disk and a backup "image" of system on one of the installed non-OS hard drives if I ever need to do a clean re-install to have it exactly the same as when it was originally delivered.

2) I pondered purchasing my audiocard separately (as I could save a few $$), but was incredibly happy I ultimately choose them to install it with my PC purchase and have it properly configured to work with the PC. No guessing on my part.

3) I personally installed my DAW software (Cubase 6.5) and am still in the process of installing my VSTs. Works great on this system, no latency or CPU issues yet. However if I didn't already own Cubase and VST software, I would have had them installed with the PC purchase.

4) I picked Purrrfect Audio for my purchase. However, most of the dedicated DAW PC builders have a great reputation and are fairly competitive on price. The premium to have any one of these expert builders give you a DAW ready PC configured correctly is WELL WORTH the extra $$ if you can afford it. I would have a hard time even buying a off-the-shelf PC for music again. It's initially hard to decide spending the extra for a custom built DAW PC, but you won't regret the extra cost when you have a system that works for music like you want it to work.

If you decide to "do it yourself", consider contacting Jim at Purrrfect Audio
(http://www.studiocat.com) for consultation on configuring for audio production if you need help. He has reasonable rates by the half hour. There may be other music DAW builders that offer this service as well. There is great value in the knowledge these experts offer.

Personally I'd just recommend buying the custom built DAW PC. It will spoil you silly.

[ghettosynth]

...

[codec_spurt]

I kinda flicked through the thread (bit like one of those best mags your mum throws out )...


You don't seem to want to build it yourself, which would be the most fun, economical, laborious, hazardous, pain in the a****, and rewarding.

Different strokes for different blokes...

Re: Firewire - I had mine built into my Gigabyte mobo - TI chip, already.
I think you can still get that board, but you want something better - talk
to Kaine - he will sort you out. Maybe he knows if a dedicated card will do the trick better. These people deal with lots of permutations a day so their advice is what you need. Don't listen to me.

You might have to pay a 'little bit' for that experience. If you don't want to,
then do this: Build it yourself.
If you don't want to do that, you are left with one option: Take a risk on an unknown builder.

Edit:
Unknown to me at least - I am not an expert. In fact I am quite ignorant of the world's Audio PC builders..


I'm not affiliated with Scan or Kaine. They never gave me nothing but good service (and a free fan that f***ed up).


If I had even a few hundred to spend over what I could build myself, I would
give the job to them. I might get burned. But I can build PCs myself. I just don't have the 'budget'. There are a few other high profile Audio PC makers
that I would avoid, albeit through anecdotal evidence, in the UK at least.

Otherwise I would build it myself.
I'm getting recursive.
Time to stop.