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As you can see by my specs, I have a pretty lame computer for anything audio. I'm maxed out at 1 GB ram with a single core CPU. I have a 1 TB external drive. While it runs great, and I know it well, I want to consider a new one and be sure it will handle my audio needs and serve me well for some years.
I'm asking here for a little advice on selecting my next PC. Please respond to any of these or other issues as you feel competent. Or reference other relevant forum threads.
I want a desktop, let's talk box only, W7. I'm just a music hobbyist using mostly Band in a Box and Sonar X1, with no other computer applications requiring extraordinary performance. Please do not tell me to just get "all the computer I can afford". And I hope I don't need to get a custom built. Let's say say $800 max neighborhood.
My audio interface is a E-MU 1616 PCI, so I need a box with at least one PCI slot, or dump the 1616. I see many manufacturers today do not offer PCI slots.
My impression is, (and feel free to comment):
1. W7 Pro is more friendly to XP programs than Home Premium. That is of interest to me if it works well and seamlessly.
2. AMD CPU have comparable performance, features, and reliability vs. Intel, i.e., no reason to shy away from AMD.
3. Dual core CPU is virtually required, and, while a quad core may faster, not give the bang for the buck. So my inclination is for dual-core.
Any special considerations for HD, video card, USB3, expandability brands to embrace or avoid?
What else?
Thanks for any help.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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Recently got an eMachines dualcore with 4 gig RAM for the wife. Has a couple PCI slots and 6 USB ports. Seems pretty robust. Cost about $450
AMD is fine.
I haven't heard issues of win7 home not running older programs.
I actually installed a pre-XP graphic program the wife likes on the system with no problems.
* I assume in your specs above the processor is 2.4 gHz, not 2.4 mHz .. which isn't a bad processor, how can it be limited to 1 gig ram?
Last edited by rharv; 12/19/10 06:35 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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rharv, Quote:
I haven't heard issues of win7 home not running older programs.
It'll run the vast majority of programs just fine by installing them into Program Files(x86) folder, but there are some exceptions.
Sonar 4 PE won't run on Win 7 64, so I had to install it on my XP 32 drive. What's weird is that Cakewalk Home Studio 2004 XL will run on Win 7.
My main database program was ACT! 2008, and it won't run on Win 7. That really sucks because that's about a $500 program, and Win7 is my main OS. so I have to boot into XP 32 to use it.
Also my Roland SI-24 Studio Interface w/ RPC-1 PCI card won't run.
I do prefer Win 7 64 over XP 32 by a lagre margin. Much better OS.
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I suppose you've already tried compatibility mode for each of those?
I would think the database would work that way. Maybe not.
Cool solution though, just boot over to the OS it works in. Get 'er done.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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My main advice on a new computer is that I wouldn't even consider getting one that didn't have any extra expansion slots on the MOBO.
It will probably bite you in the ass at some point if you do.
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Rharv, Quote:
I suppose you've already tried compatibility mode for each of those?
Yep.
Quote:
I would think the database would work that way.
Nope.
Quote:
Cool solution though, just boot over to the OS it works in. Get 'er done.
Yep.
 
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Hi, Bob -
If you have Win7 Pro (versus home), you can download the XP-Mode for free (which is a full virtual 32-bit XP environment within Windows 7 64-bit). You might find that ACT! runs fine there; of course, it may cost you an anytime upgrade from Home to Pro, but that's a lot less than $500.
XP-Mode provides the full virtual environment, but it also gives you direct access (from Win7) to the applications installed in it. So you can have a shortcut on your desktop to ACT! and it will load just like any other program, but under the hood, it's really running in the XP virtual environment. That will preclude having to either dual boot or run XP from another machine.
Just a thought.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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John,
Thanks for the tip, but I've got Win 7 Home. I was able to export my contacts from ACT! into Outlook, but I'm not a fan of Outlook. I guess I'll just have to get used to using Outlook, especially since I don't have any more installs left on my ACT! license. It was like pulling teeth to get them to register my last installation.
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Quote:
It was like pulling teeth to get them to register my last installation.
$500, plus doesn't work with Windows 7, plus hard to register it after purchase (basically making you feel the pain for the others that might be trying to rip them off), makes it sound like a program that needs to go away anyway.
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
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John, Quote:
$500, plus doesn't work with Windows 7, plus hard to register it after purchase (basically making you feel the pain for the others that might be trying to rip them off), makes it sound like a program that needs to go away anyway.
The company itself isn't user friendly by any stretch of the imagination, but the program itself is probably the best and most intuitive and complete data base managers on the market. It's not for personal use, but for folks in sales and maketing that have large databases. I have about a thousand contacts in mine.
But I'll probably never be buying it again.
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Quote:
I'm just a music hobbyist using mostly Band in a Box and Sonar X1, with no other computer applications requiring extraordinary performance
Why is it you're upgrading? You mean to say the way you are working your computer isn't keeping up? Is it chocking? Or do you really just want something new?
If you're gonna request this-
Quote:
I want to consider a new one and be sure it will handle my audio needs and serve me well for some years.
Then don't slap us with this-
Quote:
Please do not tell me to just get "all the computer I can afford".
If you're gonna spend 800, then spend a little more on something like these-
http://www.studiocat.com/2/index.php/Project_Studio
http://www.sweetwater.com/creation_station/towerle.php
Keep your other computing needs on other computers and keep your audio separate on these- although I do prefer to have my studio pc's online for software upgrades and registrations.
Either of those choices will last you for years, given what you've said about yourself. Myself, I'd go with the Studiocat built computer. I hear nothing but praise about the product. The Sweetwater Creation-station would serve you well too. For audio, what I wouldn't do is buy a consumer pc off the shelf. At least, I wouldn't if I was into audio and wanted things to work together and last for the long haul.
Your mileage may vary.
Good luck!
Dan
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When picking a new computer I'd suggest that you be careful of security cameras.
It was easier in the old days go to the store with two bucks and come back with 2 packs of smokes, milk, bread, candy bars, some chips, half a dozen 45's, some ammo for the 22 and a 6 pack of coke.
Can't do that these days. Too darn many security cameras.
________________________
If it were me I'd go with the thing you suggested, all the computer you can afford that has the features you want, but you said not to tell you that so I won't.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Dan - Quote:
Why is it you're upgrading? You mean to say the way you are working your computer isn't keeping up? Is it chocking? Or do you really just want something new?
My computer is 8 years old. I can do everything I need with it except handle much audio. It chokes with RT. After stuttering a bit, it will play through if I don't move the mouse. Same in Sonar, especially with plugs. It will struggle with some of my tunes, but when I load in a Sonar "sample" file it just grinds to a halt. And that's just the play back. The operating experience is not smooth.
Quote:
If you're gonna request this-
--- Quote:
Then don't slap us with this-
It's way too easy to just say "Buy all the computer you can afford". Even I can give that advice. I'm looking for discerning advice - balancing my needs with available systems. And pros/cons of various CPUs. I can afford a $20000 computer, but I won't pay that just to be sure I can handle a great Real Band chorus.
As for the last part of your post, thanks for the discerning advice.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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If that 1gb in your sig means ram, up that- max it out if it isn't already. Perhaps you can get another gig in there. I'm surprised to hear your pc is chocking with RT's. How many tracks does it take to start the problem? Plugins I can understand- that's where it can be taxing. But straight RT's shouldn't do that unless you have 20 or more tracks going. It sounds to me like you have a very low buffer rate set. Make sure in your sound card and your audio software that you have a higher buffer setting set. The only time you need a very low buffer setting is when you are recording and monitoring playback, or playing virtual instruments live with a midi keyboard. You want a low buffer setting so you have as little latency as possible. But just throwing up RT's and mixing should not be a problem. Your pc specs aren't THAT bad or old. Studdering and grinding to a hault points to low buffer settings. Raise them up incrementally until you have smooth playback. I'm not saying a new pc is a bad thing, but you should be getting more out of what you have already if things are set right.
Dan
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This man builds high quality audio computers. http://www.studiocat.com/2/index.php/Project_StudioHis name is Jim Roseberry. You can search him out on the Reaper site. He's highly regarded.
DTuna
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Thanks for the discussion, Dan. Yes, I'm maxed out at 1 GB ram.
Here's a clearer description of the audio problem. Sonar: 8 audio tracks, no problem. Add in plugins, problem. BIAB: RD, no prob. 2 inst RT, slight prob. 3 inst TR, definite prob. After it settles down, just moving the mouse in circle causes stuttering. 5 inst RT, same but worse. BIAB using about 85% of CPU (according to Process Explorer)
Can you explain a little about buffers? My EMU control software doesn't seem to address that (except for a special hardware effects application that I don't use.)
I've just discovered that my IRQs are not reporting properly. When I query XP, it shows no IRQs at all. When I check the BIOS, it shows them, and shows my audio interface with the same IRQ number as some other items. A little mysterious. I did to a clean reinstall of XP a year ago. That may have something to do with it. I know I had no conflicts prior to the reinstall. I think I will move the PCI card of the EMU1616 to a different slot to try to force a different IRQ. Any troubleshooting tips here welcomed.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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kelso, if you are running XP, check to see if it hasn't reverted your hard drive to PIO mode instead of DMA.
If you are not sure what that means or how to check, do a websearch for "XP PIO DMA drive".
--Mac
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Mac - the DMA/PIO issue seems (as far as I can tell) to be associated with CDs and DVDs. "...The most frequent use why a CD or DVD port falls back to PIO mode is..." However I went ahead and fiddled with the registry as advised in one instruction. No help.
For the record, I also moved the EMU PCI card to several different empty slots with no change. All IRQs reported in the BIOS are unchanged, and I the Device Manager et al. still show no IRQ listings at all.
I's seriously considering the following desktop box. Way more than I need, price too good to pass up. Comments?
Dell Studio XPS 8100 / Core i5 760 / 8GB RAM / GeForce GTS240 1024 MB / 1 TB HD 7200 RPM / THX TruSound PC / my cost $810.
kelso
Dell Desktop XPS 8100 W10 HomePrem/64 / Core i5 760 (quad, 2.8GHz) / 8GB DDR3 / 1 TB SATA / ViewSonic VG2428wm / EMU1616 PCI / Event ASP6 Active Monitors / BIAB 2019 64 bit (609) / Cakewalk
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That should run BIAB/RB OK. 
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I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
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Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
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