advice on hardware, please!

[davehugh]

I'm just about to buy a box to run digi 001. I'm thinking of getting a Dell Dimension L with the following specs:
-PIII 1G
-512 SDRAM
-40 G ATA HD (I assume this is plenty, since I'll only be using this machine for recording)
-Windows ME
-Intel Motherboard (not sure what model, though it is an ATX)

Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts about this set up? Much appreciated!

[Danny'o]

ME might be a hassle to deal with, however you will want to use it if you plann on using that much ram. 256 is all that 98se seems to utilize.

Other than that you might consider running 2 HD's. One small one for file storage and the other for your audio. Plan on getting a burner. This will be very valuable for backing up sessions.

[davehugh]

thanks for the advice. do you think 512 is unecessary? also- is you suggestion to use 2 hardrives based on need for more storage, or is it more efficient (faster) to separate sound from other files?

thanks very much.

[Danny'o]

512 of Ram is not really going to be utilized by a system running 98. ME I'm not quite sure of. All I know is that 5.1 runs smoothly on the 98 platform. Also, the 2 HD scenario is correct. Get a small one to use for your software apps and let the other (larger) HD handle your audio. HD's are cheap enough, so go for it.

[davehugh]

Good advice, thanks. I'll stick with 98 SE and start with less ram. I'm psyched to get this up and running. Hope I don't encounter too many problems...

Thanks again for your help.

[ReniuR]

256 is not the magic number for windows. 512 is. this article tells more about it:

http://support.microsoft.com/support...SRCH&SPR=W98SE

The Level 2 cache in your processor has more to do with it than windows.

I've been running 512 megs of ram with no problems. You don't really need that much just for protools, 256 should do nicely. And I DEFINATELY recommend sticking with 98SE.

Good Luck



[This message has been edited by ReniuR (edited April 11, 2001).]

[Danny'o]

Thanks for the 512 ram info, still I have many seasoned IT friends who tell me that 512 is utilized and I even run some heavy duty graphics programs (photoshop/illustrator/3D Max on another PC and they have told me that 256 is where you are at. The Microsoft thread is helpful, but when was the last time you really trusted any information from Microsoft regarding their OS.

[FunkyMatt]

Davehugh

One more thing to add. When you load your new motherboard install CD, if there is an option to change the Hard disk drivers to ATA100 or UltraDMA, DON'T install any new hard disk drivers.
DIGI001 likes the Windows98se HD drivers (Primary IDE controller dual fifo). I had an improper shutdown problem when I installed the Intel UltraDMA drivers on my 815 mobo. Be sure to enable the DMA on your HDs too.

Good luck.