In this article we discussed about Are Gaming Computers Good For Music Production? The name “gaming computer” comes from the first ones made to run high-end graphics games.Then, what about how they can be used to make music? If you’re like most people, you might think, Isn’t it the same thing? So, both yes and no! A gaming computer can run complicated music software to help you make great music, but not everyone needs or should have such a powerful machine.
Find out if your gaming computer is good for making music by reading on it.
Going for a Gaming PC
A gaming PC can be great because most of its specs can fit into making music with little trouble. But I would tell you to go to a store and tell them you want a gaming PC with the specs you think are important for music production.
If that doesn’t work, I’d tell you to order the parts and build the PC for music production from scratch. I’ve always found that building PCs from scratch makes them more effective and focused on the needed processes.
GPU
Let’s talk about what the GPU is.
A Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU, is an electric circuit that can quickly change and manipulate memory to create images in a frame buffer meant to be sent to a display device.
Gaming PCs mostly focus on the GPU, but they have a lot of power and RAM and don’t care much about storage.
This is why you need to look at the specs and ensure they are good enough for music production and not just focus on handling game features.
Also, check how loud the gaming PC is because some people have had bad experiences where the noise from the PC leaked into recordings.
But this shouldn’t stop you from buying a gaming computer because it can help you in the long run, especially if you’re a producer who does a lot of multi-track recording with plugins that use the computer’s processing power.
RAM
Random access memory is a type of memory that your computer’s OS (Operating System) uses to access files and data stored on your computer.
If you have a lot of RAM, you can quickly run and open large project files. The more RAM your computer has, the faster it can do things.
You should have at least 8GB RAM for music production, but if you are a serious music producer, I recommend 16GB RAM or more. Even though I have 32GB RAM, I sometimes wish I had gone with 64GB.
RAM is one of the most important parts of a laptop for making music. In addition, most gaming laptops have a lot of RAM.
Internal Storage
The amount of space on your computer’s hard drive that can be used to store files, projects, data, etc., is called its internal storage.
When gaming, you need a lot of SSD storage on your computer to store all of your games and other things. The same holds for making music. The storage space is important!
I suggest, you give your computer at least 1TB of space for making music. But if you make music a lot, I would suggest something like 2TB or more.
I used 1TB of SSD storage when I bought my current computer. I wish I had gone with 2 or 3TB instead because it’s filling up fast!
Most gaming laptops have a lot of storage space inside, which is also important for a laptop used for making music.
Battery Life
Looking for a music production computer with long battery life is important, especially if you want to make music when you’re not near an outlet.
Having a laptop that seems to die as soon as you start using it is the worst thing that could happen.
Since most gaming laptops have pretty good battery life, they can also be used to make music.
Music Production PC Needs
Almost everything in a gaming PC is good and can be used for music production, except for the graphics card. You don’t need a high-end graphics card for music production because it will mostly use your CPU power.
So, if you can afford an i7 processor, you should get one, but if you can’t, an i5 will work just as well.
Your CPU will be used by sample libraries, plugins, and software on a computer for making music.
An i5 is a good choice that can get the job done.
I recommend pairing that processor with 16Gb of RAM to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Even though 8GB RAM will work, you will eventually want to upgrade to at least 16GB.
You can also get anything bigger than 16GB if you want to.
Keep in mind that the more RAM you get, your computer can easily and quickly store and process different tasks.
Keep in mind, though, that RAM and your CPU work together. It means you have to do your best at both and not just focus on one.
Separate Hard Drive
Gaming PCs are powerful machines that can easily run software and many other things. I recommend you should have two hard drives, one for your operating system (OS) that spins at about 7200 RPM and the other for your projects.
You can also use an external hard drive for backups, sample libraries, loops, midi kits, and other instruments.
Mac vs Windows: Which is the Best?
Choose a laptop based on the software you want to use and how much money you have. for instance, many professional studios use MacBook laptops and Mac towers. So, a Mac would be a good choice if you want to work with professional studios or hire a professional to mix and master your projects. Audio files can also be moved from Windows OS to Mac OS.
But graphic cards on Windows computers are usually better than those on macs. So, if you’re going to be doing a lot of graphic work, you might want to choose a Windows laptop with a powerful graphics card.
You can’t go wrong with either choice. Every year, both PCs and Macs get better. If you only want to use your computer for making music, get a Mac. The features that come with it will be helpful.
On the other hand, if you want to do more than just make music on your computer, you should buy a PC and upgrade its features. The war between PC and Mac is still going strong, but in the end, the users are the ones who win.
Best Computer for Music Production and Gaming?
As I’ve already discussed, gaming PCs usually have better specs, which can come in handy when making music.
Here are a few of the best computers for playing games and making music.
1-Flagship Dell XPS 8940 Tower Desktop Computer
Computer Features:
- 16GB DDR4 I 1TB HDD
- Equipped With The Most Powerful and Fast 10th Gen Intel Hexa-Core i5-10400 (Base Clock 2.9GHz, Max Boost Clock Up to 4.3GHz, 12MB Smart Cache, 12 Threads)
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 7 x USB-A 3.1, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x USB-C 3.1, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x SD Card Reader, 1 x Headset Jack, 1 x Microphone Jack, 1 x Audio port (5.1 channel 3 jack), 1 x 10/100/1000 RJ-45 Ethernets
- Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit), Bluetooth 4.1
You don’t have to worry about audio rendering if you have the latest DDR4 RAM, which can be upgraded to 32GB.
DELL has come out with UHD graphics, which make up for all the work with videos. The clock speed can also be increased up to 4.3GHz, which is very impressive.
The most you can store on an SSD is 512GB, while the most you can store on an HDD is 1TB.
My Pros With this Computer:
- Upgradable device
- DDR4 latest RAM (16,20,32)GB
- Processing very quickly
- Very fast time keeping
- 1TB HDD, 512GB SSD
- UHD 630 Graphics that pop
- UHD 630 Vibrant graphics
My Cons With this Computer:
- Visuals with graphics are not as impressive.
- Takes up more space’
2- 2022 Newest HP Victus 15L Gaming Desktop
Computer Features:
- 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700 Processor
- HP Pavilion 690-0084 Gaming PC
- Intel Core I5-8400/2.80Ghz Six Core CPU
- Realtek Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2 combo
- 3 X DisplayPort
If you are just starting out and want to set up a home studio, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of money. If this is the case, the Pavilion series will do a great job.
The Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GTX 6GB Graphics card in this tower machine keep things running smoothly.
It also has 1 Terabyte of HDD and 8GB of RAM, both of which can be upgraded.
My Pros With this Computer:
- Upgradable
- Ideal for Beginners
- Core i5
- NVIDIA Graphics
- 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD
My Cons With this Computer:
- The device does not feature an integrated card reader
3- Microsoft Surface Studio
Computer Features:
- Intel Core i7 CPUs, NVIDIA GeForce GPU, and SSD storage.
- The 28″ PixelSense Display has 13.5 million true-to-life colour pixels.
When all the other tech giants are competing to make the fastest computers, there is no reason for Microsoft to stay behind.
The Surface Studio 2 is an all-in-one device with a beautiful 28-inch screen that holds all of its hardware.
This computer can be upgraded up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of SSD storage.
It also has an NVIDIA 1070 8GB graphics card that can quickly handle tasks like audio processing.
My Pros With this Computer:
- Very powerful
- All in one computer
- Upgradable
- 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD
- 8GB NVIDIA graphics
- 28-inch vibrant display
- A touch screen features
My Cons With this Computer:
- Dedicated for designing purpose
FAQs: Are Gaming Computers Good For Music Production?
Should I stay away from Windows computers for making music?
You shouldn’t be afraid to use Windows computers to make music because you can always get a good computer at a low price. Windows computers also work with a huge number of programmes and games. In addition, they work with printers, scanners, and other devices.
Which software for making music is good for Mac computers?
Logic Pro and Ableton Live are the best programmes for making music on a Mac. Many things about Logic Pro and Garage are the same, but Logic Pro is more advanced. All of the most recent Mac computers come with GarageBand software for making music. But you can use other software to make music instead of these.
Conclusion About Are Gaming Computers Good For Music Production?
In conclusion, a gaming PC can be a big plus for someone who wants a computer for making music.
In this post, we talked about some changes and things to think about that can help you improve your music production process.
One more benefit of gaming PCs is that they have good processors that make playing games much easier and less complicated. It’s fine to use an i5, i7, or i9 processor as long as you pair it with a good amount of RAM, like 16GB.
