PC spec for recording now days....

Jetfire

So my current PC is a rather aged Acer Aspire XC115 which ive had for probably too long. Its struggling to do certain things now (like HD videos online it just cant cope with, Plugins are a no go etc) so I think tis about time I upgraded. Im using only Reaper and a Helix LT for most things but Id like to have the opportunity to try all Nueral DSP stuff etc etc which I can do via the Helix, so i just need a tower.

The Nueral DSP site has a recommendation of: 

• Processor: Intel Core i3 or higher, or AMD Quad-Core or higher
• RAM: 8 GB or more
• Operating system: Windows 10 or higher, or OS X 10.9 or higher
• AVX support: Required for the latest plugins

Im not even sure where we are in todays specs for stuff of whats good or not), but my x-IT bud has shown me a few refurbished Dell machines for £200ish quid which more than cover that spec. However, I am researcher and procrastinator at heart so Id like to explore all options. 

Any guidance/advice/support/things to think about are welcome.  

Winny_Pooh

A basic cheap used Dell or Lenovo with an intel i5 8th gen & higher CPU will be much faster.
Most will have 16gb ram stock.

Stick to good brands, the cheaper stuff is noisier and drivers can be a pain.

That's enough spec to mix a full song with lots of plugins. I did that 2 years ago with an EP using an older Lenovo laptop and never maxxed out the CPU.

I'm lately a fan of the minis

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256789812786?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=WZiKHBToTcm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=tXAsncnbQFC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176808798070?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1R5s_9-bTvO&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=tXAsncnbQFC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

digitalscream

Y'know, you can self-build a 12th-gen i5 system pretty cheap these days - use the i5-12400 and DDR4, and you'll be surprised how cheap it gets. For example...



I have a couple of machines with the i5-12400 in them - one's my sim racing rig, and the other's my home server.

Jetfire

digitalscream said:

Y'know, you can self-build a 12th-gen i5 system pretty cheap these days - use the i5-12400 and DDR4, and you'll be surprised how cheap it gets. For example...



I have a couple of machines with the i5-12400 in them - one's my sim racing rig, and the other's my home server.

What website is that from? I'm not opposed to building one as I have done it before years and years ago 

digitalscream

Jetfire said:

digitalscream said:

Y'know, you can self-build a 12th-gen i5 system pretty cheap these days - use the i5-12400 and DDR4, and you'll be surprised how cheap it gets. For example...



I have a couple of machines with the i5-12400 in them - one's my sim racing rig, and the other's my home server.

What website is that from? I'm not opposed to building one as I have done it before years and years ago 

That's scan.co.uk. If you want, I can send you that basket (it does mean giving them your email address, though).

Jetfire

digitalscream said:

Jetfire said:

digitalscream said:

Y'know, you can self-build a 12th-gen i5 system pretty cheap these days - use the i5-12400 and DDR4, and you'll be surprised how cheap it gets. For example...



I have a couple of machines with the i5-12400 in them - one's my sim racing rig, and the other's my home server.

What website is that from? I'm not opposed to building one as I have done it before years and years ago 

That's scan.co.uk. If you want, I can send you that basket (it does mean giving them your email address, though).

Sure I'll dm you

Funkfingers

PM sent.

flying_pie

If it's okay to highjack this thread, I'd like to ask about.spec for a PC for recording, but also some light gaming and probably basic gaming for my kids. 

I was looking at a custom build as it seems better value for money and have eyed up this general spec

32G RAM
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
2G geforce 710
ASUS prime A620m-k motherboard 
120w TDP cooler


Is this reasonable and relatively balanced? I don't want to do the pc equipment of buying a MIM Tele, first gen line 6 spyder amp and an original Klon

Jetfire

So, I went for a mac in the end, and oh boy is it good.... strongly worth considering that unless it's PC only games you want to do

digitalscream

flying_pie said:

If it's okay to highjack this thread, I'd like to ask about.spec for a PC for recording, but also some light gaming and probably basic gaming for my kids. 

I was looking at a custom build as it seems better value for money and have eyed up this general spec

32G RAM
AMD Ryzen 5 7600
2G geforce 710
ASUS prime A620m-k motherboard 
120w TDP cooler


Is this reasonable and relatively balanced? I don't want to do the pc equipment of buying a MIM Tele, first gen line 6 spyder amp and an original Klon

Well, it strikes me that the graphics card there is significantly worse than the onboard graphics that you get for free in the CPU, and the motherboard already has both HDMI and VGA out, so why not use it?

If you need multiple digital outs (eg two HDMI, or DisplayPort), then you'd be better off getting a better motherboard rather than a discrete GPU; the A620 chipsets are very lacking compared with the B650 (eg only one M.2 slot, limited to gigabit network rather than 2.5Gbit, only two RAM slots etc).

flying_pie

Thanks @digitalscream ;; I was a bit confused by the dedicated graphics card vs included . I only plan for a single monitor but a better motherboard makes sense if the included GPU is good enough.

digitalscream

flying_pie said:

Thanks @digitalscream ;; I was a bit confused by the dedicated graphics card vs included . I only plan for a single monitor but a better motherboard makes sense if the included GPU is good enough.

Indeed...the thing is, if you ever want a better GPU later on, you can still upgrade. But yes, I'd definitely take the money you save on the graphics card and spend it on a better motherboard. Most B650m motherboards have HDMI and DP out these days.

flying_pie

digitalscream said:

flying_pie said:

Thanks @digitalscream ;; I was a bit confused by the dedicated graphics card vs included . I only plan for a single monitor but a better motherboard makes sense if the included GPU is good enough.

Indeed...the thing is, if you ever want a better GPU later on, you can still upgrade. But yes, I'd definitely take the money you save on the graphics card and spend it on a better motherboard. Most B650m motherboards have HDMI and DP out these days.

Thanks. One last question - do I need to be wary about the power supply or should a general 550W one be enough?  I'm guessing it's unlikely to need a lot of gas and that it's better to save money on the power supply and prioritise the cooling system 

digitalscream

flying_pie said:

digitalscream said:

flying_pie said:

Thanks @digitalscream ;; I was a bit confused by the dedicated graphics card vs included . I only plan for a single monitor but a better motherboard makes sense if the included GPU is good enough.

Indeed...the thing is, if you ever want a better GPU later on, you can still upgrade. But yes, I'd definitely take the money you save on the graphics card and spend it on a better motherboard. Most B650m motherboards have HDMI and DP out these days.

Thanks. One last question - do I need to be wary about the power supply or should a general 550W one be enough?  I'm guessing it's unlikely to need a lot of gas and that it's better to save money on the power supply and prioritise the cooling system 

The only advice I give anyone is...pick your power level, and then get the best one you can afford. If in any doubt, go for a Corsair RM or Seasonic; their warranties are excellent, and they're the only brands I've never had fail on me.

And yes, 550W is going to be comfortably enough, and gives you scope to go for a mid-range GPU later on.

If you can afford a Noctua CPU cooler, do that; they're at least as good as AIO liquid coolers, and air cooling is far more reliable than liquid; if the pump fails in an AIO, the cooling system has almost no thermal capacity so the system is in danger of death almost immediately. If the fan fails on an air cooler, the heatsink is still radiating heat to give the system a chance to save itself by shutting down.

flying_pie

Thanks @digitalscream . I've been using laptops for about the last 15 years so am completely out of the loop as far as desktops go. The more I research it I see that upgrading the motherboard further can save me from needing a separate WiFi/BT adapter and no doubt is money better spent 

It would just be easier if there weren't several hundred options for every part