Which of the These 3 Audio PCs Would You Get?

[Island Boy]

I was in Pro Tools LE 8.2 heaven for the last 8 years with a trouble-free PC (XP) with my 003r BlackLion Tweekhead Mod. OS HDD is now dead. Time to upgrade to Pro Tools 10 and Windows 7. Which of the following would you get:
1) Creation Stations - http://www.sweetwater.com/c859--PC_Desktops
2) Rain Computers - http://raincomputers.com/products/stratus-a2/?ref=md
3) Rain Computers - http://raincomputers.com/products/event/?ref=md

I say Rain because I 've had a Rain Element for a trouble-free 8 years :)

[TOM@METRO]

None of the above.

However I would (at this point in time) choose an Intel system over the AMD for Pro Tools 10.

I would go with a newer x79 chipset and an Intel Sandy Bridge-E Processor.

[Dism]

Originally Posted by Shan

I wouldn't go near any of them.

PC's for PT are built.

Shane

Amen.

The only boxed PC I'd ever recommend for audio is a Mac.

Otherwise, make it yourself and be much happier.

[albee1952]

Have to agree with the pack here. The Creation Station can be beaten at much less cash. The big RAIN systems are built on AMD cpu's and(even though I was an AMD fanboy for many years)the new intel cpu's are better IMHO. I didn't see pricing for the RAIN's either. If I were buying today, it would either be an iMac i7 27" or a custom PC based on the socket 2011 i7 cpu and an X79 mobo with 16GB of quad channel RAM.

[Island Boy]

Like this? http://goo.gl/qod6y

[YYR123]

Whoo nice 27" iMac's - those are super nice - have u played with them at th stores god those things have gargantuan screen space

[sbag]

Is those dudes outta Pittsburg still building, I think they was 3 river ? can't quite recall, the last build i got was from them and it was Great.

[Island Boy]

probably going to get the Creation Station 400 - I need this like asap and the financing is great: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CS400

CPU - Sandy Bridge Core i7 Quad 3.4GHz
Motherboard - Intel H67 Express

will let ya know how I like it, thanks

[cruisemates]

For what it is worth - in 2003 I built a computer using the specs of one of the (at the time) professional ProTools computer builders - tho I don't remember which one.

I just used the same hardware as they used in their machines although the motherboard may have been different I just made sure I found a compatible motherboard.

I am still using that computer for PT and I have songs with 30 tracks. It has been a workhorse for me, and it has been through four PT versions: five, six, seven and eight. It still has XP on it. I was thinking about upgrading to 10 but I am just not sure I personally need it since it is just a hobby and in fact I don't use it much.

Back to the story - I built that computer in just about 2 hours and at about 1/3 the cost of what that company wanted for its product. Building computers is easy these days with all the drivers on the Internet. Once you get the hardware assembled its just a matter of loading the OS and it's working.

However - to be perfectly honest, if I was going to buy a computer for PT I would buy a Mac - no hardware conflicts, etc. And I am NOT a Mac person, but I feel that if you do not know how to build a computer then a MAC will probably far less hassle for you - and probably at the same rice as a custom built winnows box. If its windows & Protools there are always potential issues, but with a MAC you will most likely be up and running very quickly.

People build windows computers that perform as well as Macs for far less cost - but if you are going to spend $2000 - consider the Mac

[EGS]

+1 for building. It's really pretty easy to do, plus you'll learn a lot in the process. My build (see sig below) was right from the DUC build thread, and it's stable and powerful.