Need computer advise

Eric5273 · #1 01-29-2008, 08:06 PM

Perhaps some of you IT guys can give some advise....

I'm getting a new Dell PC for my office. The only purpose of this computer is to rip MP3 files. We need to rip over 1500 CDs to MP3 over the next several months, and the quicker this happens, the sooner we can launch our new website.

So I need help deciding the specs for this machine. Obviously I want their fastest CD-ROM drive. But what else? Does processor speed and/or RAM affect the speed at which the MP3's are ripped? I'm guessing a higher speed hard drive could make a difference since the MP3's are written to the hard drive. Is that correct? I don't want to get any upgrades that are not going to have an impact, because this machine will only be used for this purpose. So for example, if you were to tell me that processor speed will make no difference, I will probably opt for the least expensive processor they offer.

Any advise is appreciated.

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MrLabGuy · #2 01-29-2008, 08:14 PM

I would suspect you could use multiple CD-ROM drives and burn several disks at once.

Eric5273 · #3 01-29-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

I would suspect you could use multiple CD-ROM drives and burn several disks at once.

I suppose it's possible, but in our case the program we are using only allows for one at a time. We can't change programs as the one we are using was custom made for our purposes and for our website.

Quicksilver · #4 01-29-2008, 08:59 PM

Which program are you using?

EDit: and what storage media??

trueX5er · #5 01-29-2008, 09:03 PM

It may be more economical to use a commercial ripping service. There are many.
http://www.ripdigital.com/

Eric5273 · #6 01-29-2008, 09:14 PM

Can't use another program or service. We use a program called "MusicSource" which is specific to our industry.

http://www.counterp.com/products/musicsource/index.cfm

The metadata burned to the MP3 file is pulled from a seperate database and allows the music files to work with their online search & download system.

I just need help configuring the machine that is going to do this. As nobody is going to be physically working at this machine, except for pulling out one CD, putting in the next one, and clicking "go", I don't want to spend a lot of money on features that will have no effect on speed.

As for storage media, we are not using any. The MP3 files are uploaded to our web server as they are ripped. The music is being taken off of regular music compact discs.

Thunder22 · #7 01-29-2008, 10:17 PM

just get the fastest cd reader you can and put a couple of gig of memory in the machine. Processor speed doesn't matter. it's all about the speed of the cdrom and *MAYBE* the hd in the machine if the program needs to swap to disk if it runs out of RAM, which you can avoid by installing the proper amount of ram.

Eric5273 · #8 01-29-2008, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch

just get the fastest cd reader you can and put a couple of gig of memory in the machine. Processor speed doesn't matter. it's all about the speed of the cdrom and *MAYBE* the hd in the machine if the program needs to swap to disk if it runs out of RAM, which you can avoid by installing the proper amount of ram.

Thanks!

That's exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

lakai · #9 01-30-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch

just get the fastest cd reader you can and put a couple of gig of memory in the machine. Processor speed doesn't matter. it's all about the speed of the cdrom and *MAYBE* the hd in the machine if the program needs to swap to disk if it runs out of RAM, which you can avoid by installing the proper amount of ram.

That is somewhat incorrect. CPU IS just as important as RAM since the processor is needed to compress what is ripped (usual wav), into MP3. You'll see a big difference in compression speed when using a c2duo or p4 compared to celeron. 1 gig of ram and a non-celeron processor is all you need, and more than that shouldn't be a noticable difference.

Eric5273 · #10 01-30-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakai

That is somewhat incorrect. CPU IS just as important as RAM since the processor is needed to compress what is ripped (usual wav), into MP3. You'll see a big difference in compression speed when using a c2duo or p4 compared to celeron. 1 gig of ram and a non-celeron processor is all you need, and more than that shouldn't be a noticable difference.

Yes exactly. The program loads the music CD into WAV files, then reads the database for the metadata and rips the WAV files into MP3s.

Thanks for the info.

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