Hello,
As an admitted "mac-guy", I'm seriously toying with the idea of putting together a Windows machine solely for the purpose of running Pro Tools 8 and a slew of CPU-hungry plugins. Maybe Pyramix, as well, at some point in the future since it's Windows only. I haven't had much luck with running audio apps on a boot-camped Mac (sessions get glitched out after even a modest use of plugins), and my current OSX rig isn't up to snuff for my current use of virtual instruments, multitrack mixes, etc. I run Pro Tools M-Powered, so the audio card will either be external or one of their PCI-based cards. The rig will be used almost exclusively for in-the-box production, mixing, mastering, etc, with an occasional 1 or 2 track live recording.
I'll fill out the template below, but this is basically what I'm looking for: Stable 64-bit OS (no real preference b/w XP and 7, as it won't be used for anything but PT), maxed out RAM, no elaborate video requirements other than what's needed to run the software or the occasional video file if I'm working to picture, and without breaking the bank too much....ok, as cheap as possible...
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (1-2 months) BUDGET RANGE: (US$800/flexible)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: audio production, mixing, mastering, software-based composition
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, audio card
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg or crucial
PARTS PREFERENCES: whatever's clever
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: quiet and stable for running a mostly Pro Tools-based pro audio rig
As an admitted "mac-guy", I'm seriously toying with the idea of putting together a Windows machine solely for the purpose of running Pro Tools 8 and a slew of CPU-hungry plugins. Maybe Pyramix, as well, at some point in the future since it's Windows only. I haven't had much luck with running audio apps on a boot-camped Mac (sessions get glitched out after even a modest use of plugins), and my current OSX rig isn't up to snuff for my current use of virtual instruments, multitrack mixes, etc. I run Pro Tools M-Powered, so the audio card will either be external or one of their PCI-based cards. The rig will be used almost exclusively for in-the-box production, mixing, mastering, etc, with an occasional 1 or 2 track live recording.
I'll fill out the template below, but this is basically what I'm looking for: Stable 64-bit OS (no real preference b/w XP and 7, as it won't be used for anything but PT), maxed out RAM, no elaborate video requirements other than what's needed to run the software or the occasional video file if I'm working to picture, and without breaking the bank too much....ok, as cheap as possible...
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: (1-2 months) BUDGET RANGE: (US$800/flexible)
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: audio production, mixing, mastering, software-based composition
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, audio card
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg or crucial
PARTS PREFERENCES: whatever's clever
OVERCLOCKING: Yes
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: quiet and stable for running a mostly Pro Tools-based pro audio rig