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Old 02-26-2020, 01:26 PM   #1
Agwah
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Default How is this PC for Reaper

Hi, I am a complete noob with this. I have tried to follow some basic advice in putting this together but am unsure about it. I previously had a Nvidia graphics card in there but was advised that has issues (latency), and now I have been advised that the motherboard here is not great due to the poorly integrated chipset causing USB resets.

I am not sure what any of this really means so any advice would be great (I cant really spend more than what is listed below).

Thanks


Processor (CPU)
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G Quad Core CPU with Vega Graphics (3.7GHz-4.2GHz/6MB CACHE/AM4)

Motherboard
ASUS® PRIME A320M-K: Micro-ATX, AM4, USB 3.0, 6GB/s

Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 2400MHz (2 x 8GB)

Graphics Card
1GB AMD RADEON™ R5 230 - DVI,HDMI,VGA - DX® 11

1st Storage Drive
1TB SEAGATE BARRACUDA SATA-III 3.5" HDD, 6GB/s, 7200RPM, 64MB CACHE

1st M.2 SSD Drive
512GB INTEL® 660p M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD (upto 1500MB/sR | 1000MB/sW)

Power Supply
CORSAIR 350W VS SERIES™ VS-350 POWER SUPPLY

Processor Cooling
STANDARD AMD CPU COOLER

Sound Card
ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (AS STANDARD)

Wireless/Wired Networking
WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6 AX200 2,400Mbps/5GHz, 300Mbps/2.4GHz PCI-E CARD + BT 5.0
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Old 02-27-2020, 04:23 AM   #2
domzy
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Is it exclusively for reaper or will you be using it for other computing duties?
What do you want to do with Reaper? live instruments, soft synths, samples etc?
What audio &/or MIDI hardware are you intending to use?
windows or linux?

Last edited by domzy; 02-27-2020 at 04:28 AM.
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Old 02-27-2020, 07:41 AM   #3
Agwah
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- I will be using it almost exclusively for Reaper, with occasional word processing internet browsing etc
- I will be making electronic music, no real instruments, some samples, mainly VSTs I think (I know I will get Serum but not sure about anything else)
- I have a Nektar Impact LK49, and this is all I plan to use for now
- I plan on getting a focusrite scarlet solo, to use for output to monitors
- Will be running windows

Any advice would be great, thanks
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Old 02-27-2020, 10:21 AM   #4
toleolu
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Curious about your choices for storage.

Is the 1 TB drive Seagate spinner going to be your system drive, and the Intel SSD drive your data drive?
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Old 02-28-2020, 04:52 AM   #5
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toleolu View Post
Curious about your choices for storage.

Is the 1 TB drive Seagate spinner going to be your system drive, and the Intel SSD drive your data drive?
Honestly I have no idea. I put this machine together using PC Specialist which offers a shortlist of options for each component. A friend recommended arranging the storage this way, and I asked PC Specialist if this was good and they agreed.

Any thoughts on the processor/graphics card/motherboard?

Thanks
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Old 02-28-2020, 06:53 AM   #6
domzy
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i'm certainly not a computing expert, but my music making experience has been that practically all modern computers are fine for running Reaper.
It seems that you don't have any specific specialist requirements, so i'd think it would be ok for a beginner (apologies if that's not the case, just the impression i'm getting)
- you seem to be opting for low budget options, so i'd be curious about why get a made to order system if value for money is a factor and you don't know what you want, as i'd think you'd get more bang for buck elsewhere.
Also, why get a graphics card if it's primarily for Reaper, aren't the onboard graphics compatible with your screen(s)?
Hopefully someone with direct experience of these components will chip in if they've had problems with them, but i'm not sure how likely that is.
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Old 02-28-2020, 07:42 AM   #7
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by domzy View Post
i'm certainly not a computing expert, but my music making experience has been that practically all modern computers are fine for running Reaper.
It seems that you don't have any specific specialist requirements, so i'd think it would be ok for a beginner (apologies if that's not the case, just the impression i'm getting)
- you seem to be opting for low budget options, so i'd be curious about why get a made to order system if value for money is a factor and you don't know what you want, as i'd think you'd get more bang for buck elsewhere.
Also, why get a graphics card if it's primarily for Reaper, aren't the onboard graphics compatible with your screen(s)?
Hopefully someone with direct experience of these components will chip in if they've had problems with them, but i'm not sure how likely that is.
Definitely am a beginner, no need for apologies.

I was referred to the build-a-pc type option by a couple of different sources. Should I get a ready made system? I do have a low budget, but dont want to go too cheap and have to upgrade before long

With the graphics card I was referred to this:

https://audiosex.pro/threads/graphic...n-a-lot.32237/

Thanks
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Old 02-28-2020, 08:23 AM   #8
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i certainly don't want to tell you what to buy, just commenting that normally a specialist build comes with a bit of a price premium - whether this is worth it or not very much depends on your personal requirements / expectations. Most people on here will probably say it is, if it means avoiding bloatware, getting components that are proven to work in particular combinations etc. but if you're on a tight budget and you just want to get started with Reaper etc. it might not be.
With regards to graphics cards - it does seem to be a general consensus that Nvidia cards can cause dpc latency problems with certain audio configurations, so i'd agree that that's probably good advice to avoid them, but i don't know how much benefit Reaper would have from a dedicated card over onboard graphics - again personal choice depending on your budget & expectations etc.
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Old 02-28-2020, 10:37 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Agwah View Post
With the graphics card I was referred to this:

https://audiosex.pro/threads/graphic...n-a-lot.32237/

Thanks
Which despite it's misleading title is only listing issues with Nvidia graphics cards so absolutely nothing to do with your build. Even the Nvidia problems listed there are mostly mitigated using a simple tweak in recent drivers.

And if you really want to use a separate graphics card why wouldn't you choose the similarly priced Ryzen 3600x with no integrated graphics but higher core speed and count??

Last edited by Stella645; 02-28-2020 at 10:47 AM.
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Old 02-28-2020, 10:39 AM   #10
toleolu
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Perhaps it might be best if you let us know how you plan on using Reaper, per Domzy's point, hardware today is pretty much rock solid so the consideration should be what you plan on doing.

If you'll take a minute and post something about how you plan on using Reaper I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses from people who are doing pretty much the same thing and they can let you know what they are using.

Don't get all caught up in the computer techy stuff, stay focused on what you are trying to do. In audio, your interfaces, speakers, mics, headphones, stuff like that are more critical to producing quality results than computer hardware is.

How many tracks do you think you'll have in a typical project, what are you recording, will you be recording live, how many inputs will you be recording at the same time. That type of stuff.

Last edited by toleolu; 02-28-2020 at 10:55 AM.
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Old 02-28-2020, 12:47 PM   #11
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stella645 View Post
Which despite it's misleading title is only listing issues with Nvidia graphics cards so absolutely nothing to do with your build. Even the Nvidia problems listed there are mostly mitigated using a simple tweak in recent drivers.

And if you really want to use a separate graphics card why wouldn't you choose the similarly priced Ryzen 3600x with no integrated graphics but higher core speed and count??
Ok thanks.i can't state enough how much I don't know about computer components. I added a graphics card as I may want to use 2 screens, then was advised of the Nvidia issues. If I don't need a graphics card it will save me moneu.
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Old 02-28-2020, 01:28 PM   #12
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toleolu View Post
Perhaps it might be best if you let us know how you plan on using Reaper, per Domzy's point, hardware today is pretty much rock solid so the consideration should be what you plan on doing.

If you'll take a minute and post something about how you plan on using Reaper I'm sure you'll get a lot of responses from people who are doing pretty much the same thing and they can let you know what they are using.

Don't get all caught up in the computer techy stuff, stay focused on what you are trying to do. In audio, your interfaces, speakers, mics, headphones, stuff like that are more critical to producing quality results than computer hardware is.

How many tracks do you think you'll have in a typical project, what are you recording, will you be recording live, how many inputs will you be recording at the same time. That type of stuff.
Thanks, I am clueless about the techy stuff, has been information overload.

I will making electronic music (techno/house/DnB), using only a nektar impact as an input, focusrite Scarlet solo interface to 5 inch monitors. No real instruments just VSTs, some samples. I have no idea about number of tracks.
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Old 02-28-2020, 01:39 PM   #13
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i think this is the whole chicken & egg conundrum thing that everyone probably goes through at some point.
You don't know what's going to be needed until you get start making tunes.
You don't want to make tunes until you have what you need.

A specialist build is usually a good idea for someone who knows what they need, so research & the accompanying information overload are part of the territory.
You've opened a bit of a can of worms haven't you

If i were you and i was just starting out, i'd just get any old machine, maybe second-hand, and learn a bit more about stuff as i go along.
As i said before, pretty much any computer from the last 5 years is going to be fine to get started on.
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Old 02-28-2020, 03:06 PM   #14
toleolu
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Have to agree with Domzy, for what you're wanting to do, pretty much anything will work.

I'm still running an old Intel i5 with 8Gb of RAM and a spinner for my system drive and a SSD for my data. My projects are small, typically 12 to 15 tracks and I never have any performance problems running Reaper.

I feel for ya brother, all this tech stuff can get a bit overwhelming. By any chance is there a PC store or something like that near where you live?

I suspect for around 200 to 300 dollars US, you can get a really good refurb computer that will more than handle what you need. Maybe a local tech store can hook you up with something. Don't go in saying I want this type of CPU, this type of SSD, blah blah blah. Just go in and say you want to record music, post what they recommend, and people here will be able to look at that and make sure you're not getting hosed.
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Old 02-28-2020, 07:01 PM   #15
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I'd drop the discrete graphics card and put the money into having a big enough SSD that you don't need an old fashioned spinning rust HDD.

Even slow SSD's are much much faster than old fashioned HDD's. I'd rather a big "slow" SSD, than a fast small one teamed up with a traditional really slow HDD.
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Old 03-01-2020, 01:18 PM   #16
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by domzy View Post
i think this is the whole chicken & egg conundrum thing that everyone probably goes through at some point.
You don't know what's going to be needed until you get start making tunes.
You don't want to make tunes until you have what you need.

A specialist build is usually a good idea for someone who knows what they need, so research & the accompanying information overload are part of the territory.
You've opened a bit of a can of worms haven't you

If i were you and i was just starting out, i'd just get any old machine, maybe second-hand, and learn a bit more about stuff as i go along.
As i said before, pretty much any computer from the last 5 years is going to be fine to get started on.
My original intention was to get a 2nd hand pc to figure out what I'm doing, but as soon as I started asking around about this I got referred to sites for new PCs... I think I will have a look again. Thanks
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Old 03-01-2020, 01:20 PM   #17
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by toleolu View Post
Have to agree with Domzy, for what you're wanting to do, pretty much anything will work.

I'm still running an old Intel i5 with 8Gb of RAM and a spinner for my system drive and a SSD for my data. My projects are small, typically 12 to 15 tracks and I never have any performance problems running Reaper.

I feel for ya brother, all this tech stuff can get a bit overwhelming. By any chance is there a PC store or something like that near where you live?

I suspect for around 200 to 300 dollars US, you can get a really good refurb computer that will more than handle what you need. Maybe a local tech store can hook you up with something. Don't go in saying I want this type of CPU, this type of SSD, blah blah blah. Just go in and say you want to record music, post what they recommend, and people here will be able to look at that and make sure you're not getting hosed.
Thanks for the advice, I think visiting a local store may be a good option. The reality is I prob will be ok with something like you have
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Old 03-01-2020, 01:21 PM   #18
Agwah
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drumphil View Post
I'd drop the discrete graphics card and put the money into having a big enough SSD that you don't need an old fashioned spinning rust HDD.

Even slow SSD's are much much faster than old fashioned HDD's. I'd rather a big "slow" SSD, than a fast small one teamed up with a traditional really slow HDD.
Thanks, not 100% sure on the technical details but it's a good pointer
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Old 03-01-2020, 01:23 PM   #19
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Good idea, let us know what they recommend.
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