Which Computer

[InstruJunkie]

I'm not sure, if this is the right forum for my question, and so I'll post it in "Sounddesigner's Lounge" too (webmasters, delete if necessary)

I'm planning to buy another computer ("Rechner"!). The catalyst, I must admit, is Camel Audio's Alchemist, which on my systems wouldn't work at all. But I also bought the Neuron VS years ago, which I never tried owning the hardware too. I just bought it, when it still was available, to wait for the computer, that might, err, "master" it...

Now- I've given up reading all those gear porn magazines, like "Keyboards" and "Keys", years ago- I have no idea of which computer is the right one for actual and future musical demands.
If you google "Musikcomputer" of course you'll find millions of answers, but most of them are "STRICTLY COMMERCIAL!" (where are note or melody smilies, when you need them?
This forum and it's members- webmasters included- always appeared to me like objectiv and non-commercial.
Therefor I dare- instead of investigating on my own for days- to ask for the best music computer:
I would spend 250 Euro/ 320 $ without any concerns. If you'd suggest a model more expensive, I'm open to any explanation, though.
Now, this computer would work in a Windows network including DVD-Ram-Writer, but no bluRay... There'd be external dvd writers and harddisks of adequate size but probably too slow for audio(USB1).
You get the task,imagine you was a poor boy again. Invest as little as possible to expand later.
Windows is what I'm used to, but the time for a change is right, though I'm under the impression that (in terms of hardware) it costs you a fortune to say: "I'm a MacOS user."
Thanks a lot

[mobilegazer]

removed the topic from the neuron support thread. here is fine
i'll get back to your actual question later, i'm on the move right now.

[neuronaut]

Get a decent MacPro and you're all set

My 2 cents
--smb

[InstruJunkie]

Get a decent MacPro and you're all set

My 2 cents
--smb

Thanks neuronaut, though I actually don't know what a "decent" MacPro is.
At least it seems I'll have to part with one of my guitars to finance it.
Anyone interessted?

[neuronaut]

This one looks pretty decent to me...

http://webstore.gravis.de/Detail.aspx?p ... 0000080484

--smb

[InstruJunkie]

At least it seems I'll have to part with one of my guitars to finance it.
Anyone interessted?

all of my guitars

[mobilegazer]

yeah, if you want a macp, it's gonna be expensive. on the PC side (if that would be of interest), you could probably put together something that works for 1k-1.5k. Make sure you get a decent motherboard, though, as that makes a huge difference in reliability. IBM boards are good, for example (expensive, though).

[InstruJunkie]

on the PC side (if that would be of interest).

It is indeed. I got 2 PCs (one with Win98SE for my formidable Korg OasYs PCI) and an old Powerbook G3, (I bought from my brother for sonic worx).
No matter what I'll choose, I always will feel like, "let a great, demanding software for Win/ Mac be released; I will have the wrong system"
I mean once you've heard the OasYs, you know you'll have to keep your win98 computer. And then there is this new stuff like Alchemy e.g. > yet another computer.
Any advice is appreciated.

[mobilegazer]

well, really depends on the money you can invest and what you will want the machine to be doing. first decision to make would be: dual core or quad core processor; though i believe multi-core support in windows isn't really up to par, so you're maybe better of with a dual core (at least the two cores will be fully supported). But i may be out of date on that one, my main focus is on the apple side of RAM
Next point would be the board....in my experience this is the last place you want to be saving money. If possible get IBM....their on-board network devices are far superior to the typical RTL-based network adapters. Can be nearly twice as fast. Also look at the boards front side bus speed and the number of pcie slots. A good board can set you back around 200 euros, but it may save you a lot of headaches. Well....then there's the drives. Good drives for audio are the WD Raptor/VelociRaptor series. For archiving, grab a TB drive, or if you can afford it, grab two and a RAID controller. Oh and the RAM...RAM is really, really cheap nowadays. Get matched pairs, by Kingston or Corsair.
Let me browse a little, i'll post some specific components later.

[InstruJunkie]

Let me browse a little, i'll post some specific components later.

About smilies I'm always a bit unsure. Is this the right one to illustrate my patience?
But I'm not in a hurry at all.
thx

[mobilegazer]

hehe, sorry about that a lot of work to do at the moment.
be aware there'll be other people that know more about PeeCees than me, but this should be a nice system:

quad core CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 BOX
board: ASUS P5Q3 DELUXE/WIFI-AP or MSI P45 Diamond
audio drive: WD VelociRaptor 300GB 3,5" SATA II (maybe use another one of these for the system....they're FAST)
archive drive: SEAGATE SATA-II BARACUDA 1500 GB
ram: 4096MB Kingston HyperX Tall HS-Kit DDR2 1066 CL5 (2*2GB)

just add a graphics card, DVD-drive and a casing....done.
But to be honest....i've got the feeling it *may* be a good idea to save up for a Mac....who knows, maybe the musikmesse will bring something very interesting that runs only on a mac?

[InstruJunkie]

....who knows, maybe the musikmesse will bring something very interesting that runs only on a mac?

Given my actual financial situation, I'll see the NAMM news to buy a PeeCee and the Musikmesse 2011 for a MacPro.
Nonetheless I'm curious, what a Pro like mobilegazer is hinting at...
Maybe afterwards you'll tell us to what we should turn our attention!
Thanks again.
Tom
P.S. I received a newsletter from "Just Music" a few days ago, saying they are going for Musikmesse again. Took me 10 minutes to find out, it wasn't Hamburg (Amptown) nor Berlin, but Munich. So I'll stay at home 40 km from Denmark and wait for your suggestions, you lucky ones.