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Subject:Your systems
Posted by: jeepman83706
Date:2/6/2003 12:09:23 PM
So while I'm waiting to go home and test my new RAM for defects (revert to my "Oh...my...God" post), I am wondering what systems you all are running, with success, with Acid 4.0? I am interested in your processor speeds, total RAM, hard drive space, etc. I have found a new hobby now with making music with Acid, but I fear that my system is not up to par for recording music (again, see my "Oh...my...God" post :)) If I am going to purchase a new CPU, then I would like to know what works and what doesn't...thanks! |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:2/6/2003 1:10:26 PM
Here's the key components of my main workstation for ya. That's one tip I can offer...if you can take the time to learn to assemble a box, buying everything part by part is the way to go. This is my third custom box in as many years - runs Acid like a dream. Intel 2.53 GHZ P4 ASUS P4B533-V Motherboard 1 GB Kingston PC2700 (DDR333)RAM 2 - Western Digital WD800JB 80GB Hard Disks Matrox G450 Dualhead Display Card 2 Sony 21' Trinitron Monitors M-Audio Delta 66/Omni Studio Digital Audio Interface Antec 19 inch Rackmount Case 400 Watt Enermax Power Supply CDR/CDRW/DVD drives by Pioneer and Technics Windows XP Professional SP1 and about a thousand other odds and ends:) Cheers, Cuzin B |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: jeepman83706
Date:2/6/2003 1:19:51 PM
Sweet Lord! That probably cost a load! If?When I do upgrade, I will only be able to spend about $1000 (hopefully less). I don't do this professionally, so just need a fast stable system to get the job done:) |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:2/6/2003 2:48:06 PM
Well...sure it did cost a few bucks but my creative time (with no downtime) is worth the cash. Again - it comes down to what level you are working at. I cannot tolerate any sort of screwing around when it comes to apps, popping, clicking etc and the like. I like to hit record and get it on! I have learned both in my studio and through others that there really is no shortcut to a pro rig. I see way too many people in these forum trying to get pro results (or any results in some cases!) by lowballing all their gear and trying to make a $40.00 audio card perform (and sound) like $1000 card (all the Audigy and Soundblaster crew come to mind here). Must be some kind of brain lock...man/woman sees computer - man/woman thinks - I can turn this thing into a full blown studio! Then along come SF Acid or something and the whole bubble gets burst when the horsepower is lacking (or trouble starts). One of my golden rules - Good gear with good knowledge about good gear = Results. Cuzin B |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: SHTUNOT
Date:2/6/2003 4:32:30 PM
I've recommended them before and I'll do it again...If you don't want to mess with the whole "D.I.Y...do it yourself" thing[which I totally agree with] then IMHO your best bet would be to go to PCnirvana and price a system from them. They work closely with A/V types and know what your looking for in this kind of profession. http://store.pcnirvana.net/ These guys were part of the vast tour as of recent and I've spoken to many there that had NOTHING bad to say about their systems or PCNirvana. HTH. Ed. |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: SonicJG
Date:2/6/2003 4:53:05 PM
CuzinB, how does that PSU work for you? Is it quiet? That system does look pretty boss. FWIW, jeepman, I'm planning on building a new system in the next couple months, and expecting the price to come in under $1000. I already have a 19" monitor, so I'm planning on just getting a 4-way KVM switch to share the monitor, mouse, and keyboard. I'll probably get a WD 100GB drive, some ASUS mobo (still needs research), 512MB DDR RAM, a ~2Ghz proc, a quiet PSU, an easy-to-use solid case, a floppy drive, and CD-R/DVD-RW drives. I think I already have a video card laying around, and will probably get a low-end 2 in/out soundcard. Anyway, if you're really interested in configuring a system, try sending an email to PCDAW-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Lots of good info there. However, it looks like somebody else recently posted that there are other places that will build custom systems for you. If you haven't built your own system, be advised that the money you save by DIY is more than eaten up by your time. However, building your own is an *excellent* learning experience. BTW, sorry about the other problems you're experiencing with your current machine--you could try a BIOS update, or check your memory, uninstalling and reinstalling ACID, or the OS. Best of luck, Joel |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: coolout
Date:2/6/2003 5:10:29 PM
my specs on my main cpu: dell 1.8ghz 512meg (PNY brand) ddr-sdram win xp home sp1 40gig 7200rpm boot HD 80gig 7200rpm audio HD ati 32meg graphics card audio interfaces: ESI (ego-sys) U2A, terratec ewx 24/96, edirol ua-1a oxygen 8 and MOTU midi interfaces a whole gang of cd/rw and dvd-rom drives but i can't remember the brand even with the additional hard drive, ram, and audio interface, this only ran about $650-$700 total last year. you'll probably get a better deal now. i also still use acid pro 3.0g on my old workhorse: win98se/500mhz celeron/512mb sdram/20gig 7200rpm boot/60gig 7200rpm media HD although i'm about to upgrade the cpu on that one. 500mhz to 1.4ghz for only $150 bucks!!! plus i also have an imac and a ibook, both with 512mb ram and they share a 40gig firewire drive just for audio. i tend to use my old computers like effect and synth racks. just plug in a usb audio interface and bus a spdif. run reason or logic. it keeps me from salivating over a UAD, powercore, or pulsar card. it's amazing how none of these are anywhere near the newest, fastest out, yet it's still enough for running 2 or 3 full projects at the same time and never running out of juice. i think unless you dealing with surround or 24bit/96khz your average middle of the line (not budget) cpu will be more than enough power. cpu speeds have more than tripled in the last three years. the lucky result of the megahertz war. as far as audio interfaces in general the only difference between a $150 interface and a $500 interface these days is the number of ins and outs, which doesn't matter with acid because you can only record in stereo. my advice: get a cheap P4 $400 add RAM and a hard drive for audio $175 (these go on sale all the time) and a audio interface $150 and you'll be set for a while. |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: toncu
Date:2/6/2003 7:39:04 PM
I just built a system last weekend. It's as though CuzinB and I shop at the same parts store. :) Intel 3.06 GHz P4 MSI 845GE Max-L i845 DDR mobo 1 GB Kingston PC2700 (DDR333) RAM 1 Western Digital 200GB ATA/100 8MB cache 1 Western Digital 80GB ATA/100 2MB cache MSI GE4 MX440 dual head card (which I've swapped twice and now am using the onboard vid) 17" ViewSonic VG700 LCD M-Audio Delta 66/Omni Studio Lian-Li mid tower aluminum case 350 watt Enermax PS CDRW by Sony DVD-ROM by Toshiba WinXP Pro SP 1 |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: nlamartina
Date:2/6/2003 11:13:30 PM
My system. Put together from spare parts from 2 systems, so it was inexpensive. =) - Win2K (SP3) and Win98SE dual-boot - AMD Athlon 1.0 GHz - Sound Blaster Live! Platinum (kX Project ASIO driver) - 20 gig Maxtor system hard disk (FAT32; 7200 RPM, UDMA-100) - 30 gig Maxtor capture disk (NTFS; 7200 RPM, UDMA-66) - 60 gig Maxtor storage disk (NTFS; 5400 RPM, UDMA-66) - Netgear FA311 ethernet card - 3D Prophet II GTS 32 MB - 256 MB SDRAM - 384 MB of virtual memory - FIC SD11 motherboard (VIA chipsets) - Generic TI-based 1394 bus adapter - Oxygen 8 MIDI controller And I'm currently borrowing the following equipment for workstudy. It's not actually mine, but it's in my room and in my name, so what the hey. =) - 120 gig Western Digital firewire capture disk (NTFS) - Boss BR-1180 hard disk recorder The whole setup works perfectly. I've got my share of difficulties too, but I've become well acquainted with how hard I can push my system. - Nick |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: ATP
Date:2/7/2003 1:12:49 AM
wow some of you guys have real monsters for a system. i'm jealous now. here's my humble calculator : - AMD XP 2000+ - Asus AV7333 mobo (VIA chipset) - 512 mb RAM 333 - 80 gb Western Digital 7200 rpm 8 mb cache - 40 gb Maxtor 7200 rpm - Midiman Delta Audiophile 2496 (using the Acid40fix drivers) - this soundcard is for music production only - SB Live Platinum 5.1 (using standard drivers) - this card is for everything else, like games/winamp etc - Gainward Geforce4 Ti4200 128 mb - Windows XP Pro SP1 built this system myself. despite having an AMD cpu and a VIA chipset to boot, i have not had any problems whatsoever. either i'm lucky or i'm just real good. ;) i do think my next upgrade will be a P4 tho, if only because i don't have to worry about overheating the damn thing. :) |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: suprox
Date:2/7/2003 1:53:42 AM
Hello, I run a p4 2.4 Ghz with an Asus p4pe. Ive been expericnecing all types of problems with playback studdering and stalls when opening files etc. read that p4 denormal posts by others. Thats why right now im returning my P4 and going back to the Athlon platform. Acid 4 on my Athlon 1.2 Ran like butter. This Hyperthreading isnt kickin in. Plus consider this, when a processor Needs 500 Extra mhz to do the same amount of work as the athlon you gotta wonder what other flaws it has. my two ceumfts |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:2/7/2003 7:22:06 AM
toncu, Nice system there, my friend. How are you finding that 200GB? What's the platter speed...is it 7200 or 5400? Cuzin B |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: Vocalpoint
Date:2/7/2003 7:24:25 AM
SonicJG, This PSU is sweet....bloody silent actually...I had to put my ear right up against it when I built this thing to see if it was on or not. Best buy I ever made...and something I never would have thought of...but a good PSU makes a huge difference in stability. Cuzin B |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: fuzzy
Date:2/7/2003 6:29:26 PM
HARDWARE PC : Athlon XP 2200+, Gigabyte GA-7VAXP Ultra (with 6 x USB, 3 x Firewire & 2 x RAID onboard), ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, 2 x 512MB DDR RAM, Seagate 60GB 7200RPM, DVD (16x), CD-RW (40x 16x 10x). Audio Interface : Edirol DA-2496 Amplifier : Crown XLS-202 Speakers : KRK 3000 MIDI Controller : Evolution MK-249C SOFTWARE OS : Windows XP Trackers/Sequencers : Fruityloops FULL, ACID Pro, n-Track Studio Editors/Converters : EZ-Editor, BeatSlicer, Awave Audio, Awave Studio Soft Synths/Samplers : VSampler, Scorpion, Junglist, Plucked String, DreamStation, SimSynth Live, WASP, DX10, FMHeaven, Impulse, JunoX2, JXSynth. Effects : dB-M Multiband Limiter, PSP Vintage Warmer, FASoft Compressor, FASoft Parametric EQ. Favorite Freebies : Claw, Crazy Diamonds, FreeAlpha, Triangle II, ZR3, dB-T Tempo Delay, FreeverbToo, Frohmage, MDA Plugins, MultiLense, NorthPole, SupaPhaser. |
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Subject:RE: Your systems
Reply by: toncu
Date:2/10/2003 12:09:48 PM
The 200GB is 7200rpm. Very fast. The system boots very quickly, though some of that speed is certainly due to the CPU. The 200GB seems much quieter than the 80GB. Perhaps it's a function of fragmentation (I'll check that tonight) but I don't hear any "grind" unless I'm accessing the 80GB drive. The 200GB is mounted closest to the case side, too, so it's not like it's buried in the case. |