Buying Used HP Server - What Matters Most?
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2013 10:07 am
I'm trying to help a non-profit theater spec an affordable PC that would be capable of running Scope and Pulsar PCI cards (v 3.1C) together with the Dante Virtual Soundcard (connected via CAT 5e or CAT 6 to an Allen & Heath iLive fixed series Mixrack).
I first saw favorable mention of the HP XW4600 Workstation here and I've been looking at eBay as a result. Lots of choices, though.
Most have an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. The most expensive tend to be the ones with a 3.16 GHz CPU, 4 or 8 Gigs of RAM, a 512 MB video card with dual display, a big HD, and Windows 7 Pro. A common configuration is a 3.0 GHz CPU, a medium or small HD, an unspecified video card, 2 (or 4) Gigs of RAM and some variation of Vista. And the cheapest seem to be the ones with a ~2 GHz CPU, 1 or 2 Gigs of RAM, an unspecified video card, and no OS (there may or may not be a small HD). And there's an interesting (to me) outlier that uses a Xeon 2.4 GHz.
All the models listed have a built-in Intel Ethernet port (1 Gigabit) which A&H and Audinate (the Dante company) spec as being able to run 64 channels (twice as many as needed) of 24 bit 48K audio both ways. The Dante Virtual Soundcard on the PC can output to ASIO or (in the most recent version) to Windows WDM.
The computer would be used during shows for primary or secondary in-box multitracking, external multitracking via LightPipe, and for primary distro of a L+R 'tapers' signal. After-show uses are far less important but might include converting .wav files to .flac, transferring files to a band's USB stick, converting 48k to 44.1k, and maybe some video post functions. Several instances of XP Pro are available. The cost of Scope 5.1 would put that out of the picture until we can be sure the pieces all work together, and if VDAT under 5.1 can't go over 32 channels, would be unneeded anyway.
My questions are about the suitability of the XW4600 and (if suitable) which of the various XW4600 options would represent the most bang-for-the-buck. The goal is a well-balanced machine that does the job. Your opinions are welcome. So please speak out. Recommendations for similar performing machines are welcome, but the corporate computer buying cycle seems to have put a lot of XW4600s on the market right now, so there is some price competition.
best,
john
I first saw favorable mention of the HP XW4600 Workstation here and I've been looking at eBay as a result. Lots of choices, though.
Most have an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. The most expensive tend to be the ones with a 3.16 GHz CPU, 4 or 8 Gigs of RAM, a 512 MB video card with dual display, a big HD, and Windows 7 Pro. A common configuration is a 3.0 GHz CPU, a medium or small HD, an unspecified video card, 2 (or 4) Gigs of RAM and some variation of Vista. And the cheapest seem to be the ones with a ~2 GHz CPU, 1 or 2 Gigs of RAM, an unspecified video card, and no OS (there may or may not be a small HD). And there's an interesting (to me) outlier that uses a Xeon 2.4 GHz.
All the models listed have a built-in Intel Ethernet port (1 Gigabit) which A&H and Audinate (the Dante company) spec as being able to run 64 channels (twice as many as needed) of 24 bit 48K audio both ways. The Dante Virtual Soundcard on the PC can output to ASIO or (in the most recent version) to Windows WDM.
The computer would be used during shows for primary or secondary in-box multitracking, external multitracking via LightPipe, and for primary distro of a L+R 'tapers' signal. After-show uses are far less important but might include converting .wav files to .flac, transferring files to a band's USB stick, converting 48k to 44.1k, and maybe some video post functions. Several instances of XP Pro are available. The cost of Scope 5.1 would put that out of the picture until we can be sure the pieces all work together, and if VDAT under 5.1 can't go over 32 channels, would be unneeded anyway.
My questions are about the suitability of the XW4600 and (if suitable) which of the various XW4600 options would represent the most bang-for-the-buck. The goal is a well-balanced machine that does the job. Your opinions are welcome. So please speak out. Recommendations for similar performing machines are welcome, but the corporate computer buying cycle seems to have put a lot of XW4600s on the market right now, so there is some price competition.
best,
john