Need help modifying my PC into a recording studio computer

I am a new comer to the audio world. I want to upgrade my computer and turn in it in a studio recording computer in order to prepare for an audio school I will be attending in the winter. I know my computer isn’t very powerful, but it is all I have to work with and I would prefer to upgrade it, because I like doing the labour work. I will be receiving the parts you guys request through my friend who owns a computer store. The computer I’m going to be modifying is a HP D330 ST (small form factor) Celeron 2.4 GHz, 512MB RAM and a 40 GB HD, with an integrated video and sound card. Could someone please help me answer the following questions: how much more RAM should I add? How big of a hard drive should I obtain? Is a graphics card needed? If so why? And most importantly which SOUND CARD should I purchase? Creative, Dynex, ASUS etc. Which brand of speakers should I get? Finally what kind of software and tools will I be required for recording live? Microphones, head phones, input, outputs etc. I have recently just purchased both, Pro tools and Cubase ready to install on my pc once it is all ready to go.

I'd suggest that you try a forum like Gearslutz, rather then here. We are much more focused on the design and construction of studios, not DAWs.

salutem, I don't know about gearslutz, but just browsing them, it doesn't seem that there is a ton of information about building a DAW. The same cannot be said for Studio Central's "Using Your PC as a DAW" forum, which is replete with useful information, tutorials, and various admins who (seemingly) spend all their time building audio workstations! That's where I got all the help I needed to build my very functional (and not terribly expensive) DAW.

Add as much ram as you like to your machine , the more the merrier is general rule of thumb, however please leave out the spam from any further posts on this site (please!!!) :D

donal_finn wrote:

Add as much ram as you like to your machine , the more the merrier is general rule of thumb, however please leave out the spam from any further posts on this site (please!!!) :D

What spam are you referring to? I recommended an alternative to someone who needed advice that doesn't seem to be readily available here, as did the previous poster to me. Links to other sites are not in-and-of themselves spam, especially when there's no ulterior motive involved, or when it's simply in the name of helping someone out. As for your advice, there is such as thing as "too much ram to be useful," especially if you're using a 32-bit system.

Sorry Mr walkaway, I think you miss understood me, I wasnt refering to your post as spam but to the original poster on the thread. He asked ten questions in his post, without being specific about anything really. None of these ten questions have any relevance at all to what this site is supposed to be used for. On top of which, obviously the poster hasn't even bothered to read the stickies about what to do before posting on the site to begin with. :x Without seeming to be anal here, let me just explain my reason for posting in this thread in the first place. I really feel that the handful of experts who so kindly give there time free here on this site, to the masses of people who use the site and are investing money (quite often extremely large sums of money) into a business really deserve a whole lot more respect than they seem to be getting. It really is a busy site, Its difficult enough to get any expert attention paid to relevant posts already. Without having to compete for expert attention with people who havent even bothered to read some simple instructions or even worse still are posting about subjects that have nothing to do with F all in this forum. Long story short we are not here to talk about computers and please read the stickies before posting!!!!! :blah: Peace df

I understand, sorry to jump back at you like that. There goes that silly internet again, always misconstruing the information through a very poor medium of conversation!

Aloha and welcome to the RSD forum, I think perhaps your thread might be best served by relocating to the Wombat Hole forum instead of the Design forum. This is where questions of this nature are posted. Much success to you in your journey. Perhaps you might give these guys a look see for a few ideas. http://www.adkproaudio.com/systems/Digi ... tation.cfm Hope this helps, Aloha 8)

Recording.org has a forum which handles these subjects as well. My advise; - heavy, sturdy case (more mass is better isolation) [have a look at the antec p180 for example] - passive cooled devices. Don't you hate that little fan on your gfx card ? Look into fanless ones - same goes for power supply, there are fanless designs. or look for big fans which can rotate slowly.. calculate how much power you need and choose your power supply. 75% load is effecient. - speaking of which: use a minimum of fans and keep'm as large as possible (12cm), turn them down to rotate on low speed - use rubber hd suspension kits (or have'm build in the case) - watercooling is an option. - use a big cooler ribbon for ye cpu, might use a fan if it's getting too hot. - keep good airflow in your case to optimize cooling. good flow means less fans needed to push air around - if you don't need *that* device (fill in the blanks), don't put it in. Less heat is better. good luck for who ever reads this.