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$600 Micro ATX DJ Computer, help!

S

sir jman

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 14, 2006
Messages
221
Hey I need to build a cheap computer for my pro audio DJ setup. I want to run dual monitors and it must be rock solid stable and powerful for no lag.

I need recommendations for a case, it can be hidden just must be durable and cool. I will make a custom DJ booth and hide it inside. I need a decent video card for dual monitors and for a little rendering I do on the side. I have some 1tb GP hard drives already and need other part suggestions.thinking quad core 4gb dual booting vista and xp pro. wanna order parts today.

Here is my FS thread if you want to trade anything.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1033463459#post1033463459
 
I would go for a Shuttle Barebones setup with Nvidia 9800 graphics. (EDIT: Had ATI, realized Shuttle hasn't released a relevant ATI solution for years)
You should be able to pick these up for cheap, as long as the Shuttle Barebones is a generation or two older.
 
Being that this is your business, and if something goes bad, you need it fixed in a hurry, I would not advise a shuttle, which uses alot of proprietary components, and doesn't have the best cooling.
 
MassiveOverkill said:
Being that this is your business, and if something goes bad, you need it fixed in a hurry, I would not advise a shuttle, which uses alot of proprietary components, and doesn't have the best cooling.
Click to expand...

i would second this. better off getting everything seperate just in case you do have a hardware malfunction. u can just pop and swap.
 
I think there's a requirement possibly being ignored here - what exactly is going to be hooked up to the machine? I'd assume that DJ work is far from professional studio equipment, but are addon expansion cards going to be needed? Shuttles limit this to one pci card so I'm thinking a matx is mandatory.

Also, for anything even remotely mission critical, I'd recommend having a hardware RAID1 array to keep you running in the event of hardware failure. I'm sure the raid controllers built onto motherboards will do fine enough of a job though so recommendations are needed on a motherboard with decent RAID. For a motherboard, I'd look at a motherboard based on the proven P35 chipset or the integrated graphics variant.

My opinion, any case will do. If anything, get a larger heatsink so if you decide to enclose the system, there is plenty of surface area to keep the processor running well. For video, almost anything will do. Just pickup a cheap pciexpress videocard and throw it in the slot. I guess this mostly depends on what kind of "rendering" you plan to do. As far as ram, 4gb should be plenty depending on the apps you plan on using. Audio is pretty lightweight so I don't see a need for 8GB in Vista. I'm not sure you need a quad core for your goals but if money allows, there's little reason not to get one besides the added heat. You can make a cheap dual core system with the bare essentials for a few hundred or spend all $600 on just the basic components of a quad core - it's really your decision.
 
How big do you want the case to be?

Forget the Shuttle, go mATX, and choose a motherboard with ICH9R, ICH10R southbridge or nVidia 9300/9400 chipset.

You don't need a very powerful GPU as most mainstream cards will have dual monitor support. Heck I'd say that some integrated GPUs can handle it as well (though by the use of 2 different type of connectors.
 
Please answer these questions so that we can help you better:
Danny Bui said:
If you're gonna ask us to build/list a PC for you or seek advice about a build, please answer all of the following questions:

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
3) Where do you live?
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
6) Will you be overclocking?
7) What size monitor do you have or plan to have?
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.

By answering these questions you help us help you build a PC that's of better quality, better performing, cheaper or all of the above.
Click to expand...
 
 
I have sent you numerous messages regarding my toolkit I purchased from you back in November and you are not responding. All I would like from you is a response. It seems as if you no longer care. It has been a month since I sent you the money and three weeks since you stated it was shipped.

I would like a refund of my money please.
 
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