New PC desktop buying advice request

[j_fonix]

Hi,

I need to but a new (budget) Desktop as my current laptop is years old and running XP. I just wondered what PC desktops people are using and buying at the moment. I could buy something like a Dell but there are a few dedicated Auido PC builders too.

These are the systems I am looking at:

XPS 8700 Desktop
http://www.dell.com/uk/p/xps-8700/pd?re ... redir=true

Inta Audio Barebones PC
http://www.inta-audio.com/computer-musi ... ones-pc-p1

Scan AW25
http://3xs.scan.co.uk/configurator/scan-aw25

Carillon Tower Core 1
http://www.carillonac1.com/tower-core-1.html

Chillblast Artiste Beethoven
http://www.chillblast.com/pconf.php?productid=18237

It will mean a jump from Live 5 to Live 9 also.

I want to carry on using my Edirol FA-101 Firewire Audio Device so I either need a Firewire slot or a spare PCI slot so I can fit a Firewire card. From what I can gather a ‘Texas Instrument chipset’ is a good choice for a Firewire PCI card.

http://www.inta-audio.com/music-pc-syst ... pset-p2036#

8Gb Memory seems to be the norm in the above systems - is that enough? At the moment I only have 1Gb..... .......so its definately going to be better than that...... I mainly use Ableton and freeware synths and FX.....

Cheers

[j_fonix]

anyone?

[qwerty rapper]

narrow it down to a Haswell yo'
it's not fo' show, it won't be slow
i would keep it 8gigs ya know
if you need more later, go buy some mo'

[sawdust]

Hi

I recently bought an Inta Audio set up (Pro Music PC V2).
Really happy with purchase, Its built like a tank! almost silent and doesn't break a sweat when i run multiple instances of Lush-101
Good customer service from them too.
Re; RAM I got 32Gb - not needed for 32 bit Ableton but I also do Video stuff

john

[Digital Junkie]

Check out ebuyer.com
I picked up a basic i5 last year for under £500 and it runs Ableton like a dream no issues what so ever even when I have over a 150 VST's on the go!

[j_fonix]

Check out ebuyer.com

Cheers Digital Junkie, ebuyer site seems to be down?

Inta Audio set up (Pro Music PC V2)

Cheers sawdust, Inta Audio have seem to have a good reputation. Good to hear that the customer service is good also. Getting a dedicated DAW would be the most straightforward option...might be a bit more expensive...but maybe worth it?

narrow it down to a Haswell

Cheers Qwerty, to be honest I didn't eben know what a 'Haswell' was looked it up now.....4th Generation Intel Chip?

Anyone else want to say what desktop system they are using/buying? Any advice appreciated

[Whizzercone]

Check out ebuyer.com

Cheers Digital Junkie, ebuyer site seems to be down?

Inta Audio set up (Pro Music PC V2)

Cheers sawdust, Inta Audio have seem to have a good reputation. Good to hear that the customer service is good also. Getting a dedicated DAW would be the most straightforward option...might be a bit more expensive...but maybe worth it?

narrow it down to a Haswell

Cheers Qwerty, to be honest I didn't eben know what a 'Haswell' was looked it up now.....4th Generation Intel Chip?

Anyone else want to say what desktop system they are using/buying? Any advice appreciated

The difference between Ivy Bridge and Haswell isn't enough to worry about in a desktop. If you can get a good deal on an Ivy Bridge system take it.

[j_fonix]

The difference between Ivy Bridge and Haswell isn't enough to worry about in a desktop. If you can get a good deal on an Ivy Bridge system take it.

cheers...just had to look up 'Ivy bridge' too....3rd generation..

[j_fonix]

Check out ebuyer.com
I picked up a basic i5 last year for under £500 and it runs Ableton like a dream no issues what so ever even when I have over a 150 VST's on the go!

Just had a look on ebuyer.com and saw this:

http://www.ebuyer.com/570069-zoostorm-h ... -7873-0482

...worth considering at £349.98inc.... with as PCI slot so I can put in a Firewire card ........not sur ewhat sort of rep 'Zoostrom have though'?