Dell purchase

I use a dell and I have been doing quite a bit of vinyl recording, with great results. (Of course, I still prefer to listen to the vinyl!)

It has always been my contention that the cdr burner is of little importance. Either it will work correctly or it won't, and the Dell works correctly. An incorrectly working burner will produce a music cd with a lot of crackle and pop in it. A correctly working one will produce a cd with no added crackle and pop.

However, the sound card is a different matter. It is the sound card that converts from analog to digital and how it does it does matter. Also, because the sound card resides inside a computer box, it is bathed in RF and EM noise.

The cards you mention will only digitize an analog signal at 44kHz (or maybe 48). I'm not sure whether they do 24 bit. Shortly after I got my machine, I installed a Soundblaster Audigy, which I was not happy with. I then got a Digital Audio Card Deluxe, which is great. It does 24/96 and it is very quiet, especially for an internal unit.

good luck!

Gboren's advice is spot-on. For CD copying, it will work flawlessly - I've copied many hundreds of my CDs to load into changers. You get the occassional fault (which is immediately identified and you throw the blank away), but in general you get a perfect copy 99% of the time. For recording from vinyl, you'll want to buy a much better sound card. Buying the Dell and adding a high-end soundcard will get you exactly what you want. -Kirk

I have one word.... Macintosh

I've been more impressed with them. True, I am die hard mac fan, but my job requires me to use both mac and Dell burners. Actually, the mac is a dvd burner as well. (if you get the upgraded one)

here's another macaholic. "get a life, get a mac." -cfb

I have a Dell 8100 with the Turtle Beach sound card. Before I purchased, I was able to compare the two sound cards you mentioned and the choice was easy. The Turtle Beach is cleaner, clearer and more dynamic.