Need help in building a Windows machine for recording

[organs]

I'm a bit of a n00b in these matters, so forgive me if I'm asking a silly question.

I have a PreSonus Firepod (now called the FP-10 or something like that) that is firewire-based. I want to build a new machine with which I can use this interface.

I've been told if I get a motherboard with a FW port, then this can mess up that port in some way, so I thought about a dedicated network card with a FW port.

I know I need serious hard drive(s) at 72000 RPMs and I need to make sure the CPU is compatible with the interface chipset. I'm not really sure where to confirm my interface chipset nor which CPU it can run with. Or since it's now many years after I acquired this interface, if it even matters anymore.

I don't care if the computer can play games or not as I have consoles that suit me fine in that regard.

I guess that's it. Oh! I know I'll get one or two suggestions to buy a Mac instead, but I believe you can have a perfectly suitable Windows-based PC that costs far less.

[Elpimpo]

OK, first off, I seriously doubt that the interface "breaks" FW Ports.

I definiteley recommend you get a separate network card/FWport, just because its modular and removable/replaceable.

Note: make sure you get the Texas Instrument FW Chipset with whatever port (mobo or card) you go with as it has been proven to work well with audio.



Ok I'm done, I'm a Mac guy.

Just get a MAC

[organs]

Though you're a Mac guy recommending that I get a Mac (at least one "Get a Mac" post is out of the way), I appreciate the advice greatly!

I'm really hoping the computer itself won't amount to much more than a grand, if that.

[TimOBrien]

I've been told if I get a motherboard with a FW port, then this can mess up that port in some way, so I thought about a dedicated network card with a FW port.

No you never want a combo card. Straight firewire card with ONLY a TexasInstruments chipset. SIIG and Belkin make reasonably priced TI firewire cards that are known to work without problems.

As far as bulding a PC goes, look at the manufacturers who make dedicated audio pcs (adkproaudio, etc.) and copy their specs - most will list parts, mobos and chipsets. These makers KNOW what works and wont have their customers coming after their heads. In many cases you wont save much money by building your own when they do the work for you and provide a WARRANTY.

Also, dont neccesarily get cutting-edge stuff. Stability is FAR more important and something thats been out a year and had all the bugs fixed will keep YOU from being an unpaid bug reporter banging your head against the wall while not getting anything done.

And yes get three 7200rpm drives if possible. Best setup for any daw:
Boot drive for OS, apps and plugins
Secondary drive for sample libraries
Third drive for projects and misc. data

[TimOBrien]

I've been told if I get a motherboard with a FW port, then this can mess up that port in some way, so I thought about a dedicated network card with a FW port.

No you never want a combo card. Straight firewire card with ONLY a TexasInstruments chipset. SIIG and Belkin make reasonably priced TI firewire cards that are known to work without problems.

As far as bulding a PC goes, look at the manufacturers who make dedicated audio pcs (adkproaudio, etc.) and copy their specs - most will list parts, mobos and chipsets. These makers KNOW what works and wont have their customers coming after their heads. In many cases you wont save much money by building your own when they do the work for you and provide a WARRANTY.

Also, dont neccesarily get cutting-edge stuff. Stability is FAR more important and something thats been out a year and had all the bugs fixed will keep YOU from being an unpaid bug reporter banging your head against the wall while not getting anything done.

And yes get three 7200rpm drives if possible. Best setup for any daw:
Boot drive for OS, apps and plugins
Secondary drive for sample libraries
Third drive for projects and misc. data

[aww-de-oh]

If you have a free PCI port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998056

If you have a free PCIe port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998059

(though the PCIe is fw800.. you really only want a fw400 card in a PC [no AI runs at FW800..]. That said, legacy PCI ports are starting to be phased out somewhat on new motherboards, so it might make sense to get the PCIe model. & Even though it lists XP/Vista, it will work fine in Win7.. as there's no drivers for the FW card [PnP].)

[Mr. Cloggy]

If you have a free PCI port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998056

If you have a free PCIe port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998059

(though the PCIe is fw800.. you really only want a fw400 card in a PC [no AI runs at FW800..]. That said, legacy PCI ports are starting to be phased out somewhat on new motherboards, so it might make sense to get the PCIe model. & Even though it lists XP/Vista, it will work fine in Win7.. as there's no drivers for the FW card [PnP].)

I could be wrong at this, but FW400/800 doesn't really matter, does it? You can always get a FW800 to FW400 cable, altough everything will work at FW400 speed then. From what I've heard this doesn't give troubles usually. Oh, and there is a RME Fireface 800.

[aww-de-oh]

If you have a free PCI port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998056

If you have a free PCIe port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16800998059

(though the PCIe is fw800.. you really only want a fw400 card in a PC [no AI runs at FW800..]. That said, legacy PCI ports are starting to be phased out somewhat on new motherboards, so it might make sense to get the PCIe model. & Even though it lists XP/Vista, it will work fine in Win7.. as there's no drivers for the FW card [PnP].)

I could be wrong at this, but FW400/800 doesn't really matter, does it? You can always get a FW800 to FW400 cable, altough everything will work at FW400 speed then. From what I've heard this doesn't give troubles usually. Oh, and there is a RME Fireface 800.

(even RME recommend running their FF800 at FW400 speeds)
Yes, you'd run it at fw400 speed by using the correct fw cable. Mac it's a non-issue. PC's... it depends on the particular FW card and the particular AI.. but yes, usually you'll have no problems by doing so. (there have been a couple of reported cases.. but the success rate outweighs that). As long as you get a compliant [TI] chip, there shouldn't be a problem.
The FW800 cards do cost more, and since you'll never run it at 800 speeds... you can save money (and on special cables) by just getting the fw400 card.

[Elpimpo]

Mac, it's a non-issue.

Sorry dude, Im about to put that in ma SIG!!!!

[aww-de-oh]

Mac, it's a non-issue.

Sorry dude, Im about to put that in ma SIG!!!!

Only reason is - sofware designers only have ONE set of hardware to consider.
Windows software designers have to consider shedloads of different hardware configurations. You could say that the Windows stuff is more robust actually (or that it is a miracle that anything works at all! )
I prefer Windows machines myself, as Mac i find too physically restrictive.

[Big Tim]

Mac, it's a non-issue.

Sorry dude, Im about to put that in ma SIG!!!!

Only reason is - sofware designers only have ONE set of hardware to consider.
Windows software designers have to consider shedloads of different hardware configurations. You could say that the Windows stuff is more robust actually (or that it is a miracle that anything works at all! )
I prefer Windows machines myself, as Mac i find too physically restrictive.

Uh, not strictly true there guys. More recently Mac have been putting different bits of hardware in their gear. They're no longer using TI chipset FW and there's the more obvious move to Intel chipsets. They ARE much more stringent and consistent than the myriad of PC builders, but they do still change the HW with different revisions of the various models, so you can't make the same assumptions now as you could a few years ago.

[aww-de-oh]

Right, but they [Mac] -for each version- have a single platform.
Sure, there's a choice of different speeds of processors.. but they're all from the same family.
There's strict oversight over the software that is approved for the platform as well.
Not saying this is a good or bad thing, as it does help contribute to overall stability.. just that they sell the computer as a "package" -- where Microsoft only licenses the OS, and doesn't control who builds parts for it.

both are technically "PCs" (Personal Computers), they just go about it in different ways.