Ableton Forum

Hello everybody!

I just got an old PC back from a friend and I was wondering if I could use it for some production work at home (sometimes we are 2 to work in the studio), but I have no clue if this PC is strong enough to run Ableton...

Here is the configuration (I know it's really low):

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
RAM: 1 Go DDR2 (Would it be possible for me to add some "USB Flash Memory" to it? I know some software allow to do it, but I never tried it and don't even know if it works...)
HD: 500 GB ATA
Soundcard: M-Audio Soundcard (can't remember which)
Videocard: Geforce 7700 GT

It got Vista Ultimate installed on it... But I also own an XP Pro SP3 copy ready to be installed... (I would rather use Vista if it's possible).

This PC would be only used for music production (with a good tweaking of the OS).

Thank you all!

1 GB DDR2?

no not going to be enough, not even close.

yeah, that's what I thought too... And adding some usb flash memory to it wouldn't help, right ?

TechnoLover wrote:yeah, that's what I thought too... And adding some usb flash memory to it wouldn't help, right ?

nope.

even running vista alone on 1GB is not going to cut it and running xp alone is going to gobble half of it.

TechnoLover wrote:yeah, that's what I thought too... And adding some usb flash memory to it wouldn't help, right ?

Just buy some memory and open up your case and stick it in. Alot easier than the route your trying (even though I've never heard of it...) When I first started with Live I had a laptop with a 1.6 GHz centrino and 2g ram. It worked enough to learn with, but even it started hiccuping when my track/plugin/effect count went up.

Why won't you just buy some more memory? Old memory doesn't even cost that much.

because I wasn't even sure my CPU was worth it...

My laptop (which I am using for live acts) got a dual 2.4 ghz CPU with 4 Go of DDR3 and I don't feel it powerful enough for production but I know it's always better to have a "real" PC than a laptop to produce... So I was wondering if this should do the trick...

(The point was to know if the difference between a computer without inet connection and only focused on production AND a "normal usage" computer, would be really big)

TechnoLover wrote:because I wasn't even sure my CPU was worth it...

My laptop (which I am using for live acts) got a dual 2.4 ghz CPU with 4 Go of DDR3 and I don't feel it powerful enough for production but I know it's always better to have a "real" PC than a laptop to produce... So I was wondering if this should do the trick...

(The point was to know if the difference between a computer without inet connection and only focused on production AND a "normal usage" computer, would be really big)

There's no difference between a laptop and a desktop w/ the same specs except cost, so I'd say your assessment of 'it's always better to have a "real" PC than a laptop' to be false. I do all of my production on a laptop.

Your processor might be a *little* underpowered, but it should be OK for the most part.

4 gigs of RAM is like $60 at newegg.com. Probably the most cost-effective upgrade you can make. RAM is super-easy to install. Just make for goddamn sure you are buying the right kind, and make sure your OS will actually use the amount you install. (32-bit systems won't address more than 4 gigs AFAIK)

Is your hard drive ATA or SATA? You can also get a SATA 1TB drive at newegg for about $50 that will blow the platters off an ATA drive.

If you where not using vista it would be fine.
I used a single core amd 3000+ with 768mb of ram and xp for 4 years. I was always freezing tracks but it worked.

I still have that piece of crap in my basement doing nothing. Every time I have tried to throw it away some one in my house pulls it out of the trash.

I have a similarily specced machine, w/ 2 GB ram, and yes you can do a ton of stuff! Stay away from hungry 3rd party vsts and put verbs etc on sends, and you can do amazing things. Remember when none of this was possible? The limitations are liberating, ultimately!

TechnoLover wrote:because I wasn't even sure my CPU was worth it...

My laptop (which I am using for live acts) got a dual 2.4 ghz CPU with 4 Go of DDR3 and I don't feel it powerful enough for production but I know it's always better to have a "real" PC than a laptop to produce... So I was wondering if this should do the trick...

(The point was to know if the difference between a computer without inet connection and only focused on production AND a "normal usage" computer, would be really big)

lol, seriously? your laptop has far better specs than that old desktop. A computer is a computer. Use your laptop and stop worrying.