PC hardware requirements

[Jude01]

Hi:
I am very new to recording. I am considering buying the Fast Track Duo that comes with Pro Tools Express. I have a Dell XPS with a i5 processor and 4 meg of RAM. Is this adequate?
Thanks

[albee1952]

Any i5 is going to be barely adequate, and 4GB of RAM is barely enough for the OS. Add to this, Dell use many different chipsets(the main part of the motherboard) and not all are compatible with Pro Tools. Then there is my honest opinion of NOT being a fan of M-audio hardware. You might consider diving in with a different DAW, such as Reaper as it is cheaper and has lighter computer requirements, and maybe look at the smaller Focusrite interfaces

[Jude01]

Thanks for the quick response and potential work around. You confirmed what I suspected. If I wanted to go the Pro Tools Express then upgrade route what would I need from a hardware and or computer stand point?

[albee1952]

There are a few big threads already that lay out PC builds, so spend a little time perusing the DUC and all your questions will be answered The very least includes:
i7 quad core
16GB of RAM(more is better)
2 hard drives(1 for system and one for sessions)
compatible chipset(this is the crucial detail)
compatible graphics card(integrated graphics can be a bad thing)

[LochNESS]

For those of us who have read the threads but don't understand the lingo, what is chipset? I thought my PC only had one chip (the CPU) or rather, one that mattered ... all those other chips on the motherboard aren't swappable ... sorry I'm sure this is a simpleton question but I'm here to ask questions ...

TIA

[Bookerv12]

Here Lochness;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfA3H5XTAE

That will explain everything you need to know about chipsets.
The things is, you really don't need to know most of it, but need to know if your software/hardware is compatible with a particular "chipset".

[LochNESS]

Thank you very much!

[LochNESS]

Originally Posted by Bookerv12

Here Lochness;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfA3H5XTAE

That will explain everything you need to know about chipsets.
The things is, you really don't need to know most of it, but need to know if your software/hardware is compatible with a particular "chipset".

Watched the video. Seems my mobo's chipset is easily found in the name of my mobo ... H97.

Lots of users around these boards commenting that Z97 and X99 (or whatever) are the only way to go. But, according to this spec comparison, my H97 chipset is very similar in features to the Z97:

http://www.eteknix.com/intel-9-serie...ons-finalized/