Audio Recording Computer Setup?

So I've had the pleasure of randomly stumbling across this great company by chance and haven't looked back yet.  I was considering Alienware and some other build-to-order stuff from tigerdirect but neither really had all the options that I really wanted (or was too overpriced).

I'm looking for a high-performance system but not for gaming at all.  Some may say I'm in the wrong place but hopefully most would say I'm where I need to be.  My goal is to start my own studio but I despise using Macs (pretty much becoming the industry standard).  I hope to use electronic drums to trigger digital samples via MIDI from a program such as BFD2 (great software, check it out).  BFD2 can seriously tax your processor and RAM if you use enough real-time effects such as multiple compressors, filters, EQs, etc.  Also I want to be able to record at the same time...so I will need some serious multi-tasking ability without any dropouts due to system lag. 

So I said all that to say this: I believe I will need a serious processor, quick RAM (hopefully DDR3), Windows XP (lower latency...I will fight off Vista to my dying breath), decent video card (no gaming or serious video editing or anything of that nature.  just keep from sucking system RAM), no extra sound card is needed as I plan on using an external recording device via firewire that functions as the sound card with super-low latency, and plenty of storage for wav files

Here is a system that I created (I LOVE the save feature offered...major Kudos) so please give some feedback...let me know what you think I've forgotten or added too much.  I am hoping to keep it under $2K

Specifications:
Chassis: Cooler Master HAF 932
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 1333MHz Corsair
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD-ROM/CD-ROM (DVD Reader 16x / CD Reader 40x)
Optical Drive 2: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT 512MB (Includes PhysX Technology)
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink Upgrade (Copper Heatpipes)
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Includes Service Pack 2)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks my keyboard comes with a mouse
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

Also, if I am sending an email to Digital Storm and hope to get one back, which address should I use?  I sent one to sales and haven't heard anything back yet...been over 24 hours and judging by some of the other posts here most have got something back by then...

Thanks in advance guys!


Edited by eventide - 18 Oct 2008 at 1:34am

i confess i hated vista ...at first..i got the upgrade version..and that was a big mistake..sp1 has improved vista.. i have 64 bit vista on my computer and im loving it...no problems ...maybe not as fast as xp..but not so slow that it hampers what im doing....i have even downloaded flash player and have had no problems....if you have xp and like it ..i say keep it...windows 7 or windows..or whatever they are going to call it... will be out soon enough...but vista 64 isnt bad..not at all..im happy

the problem here is that you don't understand what pae does, so you don't understand what I'm saying, so if you would be so kind as to go inform yourself, you will understand what I'm talking about.

Its like I'm saying apples and you come by and offer info on oranges

where did I say a 32bit os can't read more then 2GB?


go inform yourself and stop telling the informed people to go inform themselves, you are the misinformed one, who needs to be reading MS's sites

Edited by DST4ME - 18 Oct 2008 at 10:45am

oh sorry about not posting the ticket number...here it is: 193864

I have briefly looked at the RAM limitations and I was under the impression that XP would use up to 4 GB...I definitely want to use 4GB if possible.  I haven't used Vista much at all, so I am probably just biased against it to be honest with you all.  But I have seen some info from Audio Recording forums where XP has shown lower audio latency than Vista, which is huge for me. 

DST4ME, so you are saying that the XP OS will only use 2GB of RAM?  If so, how would using 2GB of DDR3 at 1600MHz compare to using 4GB of RAM at 1333MHz?

From what I've learned about running BFD2, you pretty much want over 2GB of RAM, but the company states that for Maximum performance, 2GB or higher is needed...so 2GB may run the program well after all.  However, to run that program and another recording program at the same time, I believe that I would need more RAM.

In the end, I may use Vista...I'd just rather not.

Thanks you guys for discussing this.  I know that I'm not talking about gaming (though I do love games, this computer just isn't going to be designed for it), but Digital Storm makes some sweet high-performance computers...and that's what I'm going to need.

Eventide, if I may offer a bit of advice. IMO, it would be wiser to go with Windows Vista 64 OS. Mainly, it will allow you the opportunity to upgrade to much more ram in the future. Judging by what you seem to want to do, you will very likely require 8GB ram to handle your needs. Still, that's something you will need to try out. After working in the audio industry, I know how data intensive digital audio can be. If you can get a faster processor, I would recommend that as well.

I believe that within your budget constraints that the only necessary change to your choices is to go with windows vista 64. All else can be upgraded later if necessary.

your processor is fine, and ram should be 1333MHz

I have gone up in ram speed one step and never noticed a difference

vista 64 os will allow for you to use more ram... that's reason enough when doing a lot of heavy processing such as you want to do. Along with that, the faster your cpu processes, the easier it will be to work with your music. With music, the easier the effort, the better the outcome.

Thanks guys for all the great comments and advice...I'm certainly taking it all into consideration.  I updated my configuration a bit per all of your advice, so if you don't mind taking a look at this setup and letting me know if it looks better or is wasted money, I would be most grateful!  Ticket Number: 196651

Costone: I will definitely be emailing you considering your experience with BFD's products...I've used the demo of BFD2 and it's a dream to work with (though my poor laptop can't handle much effect processing with the integrated mixer).   I am hoping to use Alesis' Trigger iO with their simple electric drums to start out with...it sends midi via USB.  I will definitely have to run all this setup over with a salesman at Digital Storm though.

I figured this computer would be pretty loud, and I am definitely going to take that into consideration.  I will have to find some way to isolate it yet keep it cooled.

DST4ME: Thanks for the advice regarding the RAM speeds.  Much appreciated.

DST4ME: Thanks for that...I didn't notice that Vista Premium was also 64bit...that brought my total under $2500.  Nice.  I was looking at what Digital Storm claimed in their cooling info and as you already said, the stage 2 isn't rated as that noisy...doubt that I'd pile in that much more money for the liquid cooling.

I'm still on the fence about how much RAM I will need. 

Costone, any advice on this matter?  I plan on recording a full band (drums, guitars, bass, multiple vocal layers, and possible keys/synth) and probably multiple instruments at once...possibly the drums through BFD at the same time...so given that, would I need 8GB of RAM, or would it just be overkill?
(BTW I looked at Sonar and noticed that version 8 is out...)

Damn Costone, that is an awesome studio post or email me more pics I want to ogle.

ram speed is fine, but my concern is your 8GB of ram, thats alot of money to spend on something, you wont' use, unless you will use it.

but if you have been fine with 4GB till now, then you won't notice 8GB and won't be using it.