You don’t need a top-of-the-line computer to produce excellent music, but it sure does help. A high-quality system makes production both faster and more enjoyable. That is why we created this handy guide, to help you discover which device may be for you.
The following sections outline the best monitors for music producers and explain the attributes that put them over the top. If you’re looking for a great device to get your music to the next level, you’ve come to the right place.
Contents
Quick Summary
- If you’re looking for the best all-around experience at an affordable price, the HP Pavilion 590-p0060 is a good choice. It has a powerful processor and enough memory to perform any task you throw at it.
- If you want your computer to double as a gaming machine, the SkyTech Oracle X Gaming Desktop is a great choice. It has powerful internal components that will breeze through your music and games.
- If you want an affordable model, check out the Dell Optiplex 9020. It’s an extremely powerful computer at a highly discounted price.
- If you are looking for a small form factor computer that will not take up much room in your office, go for the Lenovo ThinkCentre M920. It’s small, but comes with powerful specs that can easily run any music production software.
Who Should Buy This?
If you own a music production company or recording studio, these computers are great options. While many choose to go with Apple here, Windows-based computers are gaining in popularity for good reason. Though not quite as powerful, they do quite a bit for a much more affordable price.
The following products are also great for home computer use. Maybe you want a computer that the entire family can use for homework or browsing the internet, but also want to produce some music on the side. These are great towards that end.
Best Desktop Computer for Music Production: Our Picks for 2022
1. HP Pavilion 590-p0060
If you want a great music production computer that can also be used by your whole family, look no further than this Pavilion desktop. It looks like your typical family computer, but has a fast processor inside.
It also features 12GB of memory, a true step up from this class of desktop which normally features either 4 or 8GB. Overall, this is a strong, versatile system.
What We Like:
- Fast processor
- Clean exterior design
- Has a dedicated GPU
What We Don’t Like:
- Build quality is underwhelming
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 1700
- Memory: 12GB
- Storage: 1TB HDD
2. SkyTech Oracle X Gaming Desktop
SkyTech is known for making gaming computers like this Oracle X, but gaming computers also make fantastic music production computers.
This product features an AMD Ryzen 7 processor alongside 16GB of memory. Since it is a gaming machine, it also features a dedicated Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card. That gives you plenty of power to play your favorite games and then switch over to music production when you need to.
What We Like:
- Ryzen 7 processor
- SSD and storage drive offer plenty of space
- Doubles as a gaming computer
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
- Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 240GB SSD + 1TB HDD
3. Dell Optiplex 9020
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a good music production computer, as shown by the Dell Optiplex 9020.
While the i7 processor is a few years old, it can still easily run even the most expensive music production software. You also get 16GB of RAM, but without a lot of storage space. If you pick this option, you’re going to need an external hard drive.
What We Like:
- Fast processor
- Plenty of RAM
- Compact size
What We Don’t Like:
- Small hard drive space
Specs:
- Processor: Intel i7 4770
- Memory: 16GB
- Storage: 240GB SSD
4. Lenovo ThinkCentre M920
Lenovo has been making business and server class computers for years, and their ThinkCentre M920 is an engineering masterpiece.
The fact that they can fit an i7 processor and a whopping 32GB of memory inside this tiny machine is a miracle. It also has a full terabyte of SSD storage, which gives you plenty of hard drive space to store both your programs and music files.
What We Like:
- Extremely compact
- Fast processor
- Huge amount of memory
What We Don’t Like:
- Can run hot during intensive tasks
Specs:
- Processor: Intel i7 8700T
- Memory: 32GB
- Storage: 1TB SSD
Best Desktop Computer for Music Production: What to Consider in 2022
Processor
In order to have your programs run as fast as possible, you will need a powerful processor. Getting either an AMD Ryzen 7 or an Intel i7 is preferred here. Anything less than that can slow down under heavy workloads.
Memory
You want to make sure you get at least 8GB of RAM in order to run most music production software on top of Windows tasks. Strive for 16GB, but know that you can get away with 8GB if that’s all you have access to.
Storage Space
You need a place to save all of your awesome songs, which is why a high-capacity hard drive matters so much. If the base computer doesn’t have one, you can always get an external drive for extra storage.
The processor is the most important thing on this list, with memory running a close second. As mentioned above, you can always increase your hard drive space quite easily, which is why it isn’t as big of a deal when getting a monitor. Prioritize the processor above everything else.
Useful Tips and Resources
If you’re going to be doing music production on your new desktop PC, make sure you buy a good widescreen monitor. That will give you more screen real estate to work with, allowing for seamless multitasking. It can also speed up your workflow and give you the ability to get more done..
Another important item is a professional set of headphones. That will allow you to hear the music clearly, giving you a better end result. If you skimp and buy some cheap headphones, you will not hear the true sound. That can then cause problems down the line.
Final Words
Finding a good computer for music production is no easy task. The four computers we have listed here are all great choices that ensure your work will be a productive day in and day out. Go through each one, see which one suits your specific needs, and pick based on your preferences.
What music production software do you use? Why do you use it? Let us know in the comments below!
