Computers for music production

Refurbished workstations for Ableton Live, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Cubase and REAPER. A DAW lives on single-core speed, memory for your sample libraries and fast SSD storage: pick a class and configure it, or take a unit that ships today.

Compare machinesYour DAWPre-configured builds
What matters

Low latency comes from the CPU and memory

  • ProcessorHigh clock speedPlugin chains at low buffer sizes load one core at a time, so clock speed matters more than core count.
  • Memory64 GB for most studiosSample libraries load into memory. Puget recommends 64 GB, and 128 GB or more for large orchestral templates.
  • StorageSSD for system and samplesKeep the system and sample libraries on SSD, NVMe if you can; a hard drive is fine for archives.
  • GraphicsLight dutyThe graphics card only drives your displays. Pick one with enough outputs for your monitors.

Sources: Puget Systems hardware recommendations for Ableton Live and Pro Tools.

Compare by class

Machines that suit a studio

A DAW wants clock speed and memory: one fast Xeon W or a current Core desktop. Choose a pre-configured build, or build your own with the parts you need.

  • 1-year warranty, 90-day returnsParts, labor and shipping; up to 5 years
  • Tested in MichiganAssembled and tested before shipping
  • Free shipping in the lower 48Most builds ship in 1–2 business days

Single-socket Xeon W

1 × Xeon W-2100 or W-2200 Large sessions and sample libraries

Max coresIn stockPre-configuredBuild your own

Compact towers and SFF

1 × Core 8th Gen or newer, Xeon E or Xeon W-1200/1300 Home studio, smaller sessions

Max coresIn stockPre-configuredBuild your own

Xeon W with DDR5

1 × Xeon W-2400/2500 Current platform, faster memory

Max coresIn stockPre-configuredBuild your own
Outfitting a team or a lab? Tell us the seat count and the software.Request a quote
Pre-configured

Configured for recording and mixing, in stock today

Builds with memory and storage included, cheapest first.

By DAW

What your DAW asks for

DAWRuns onLeans on
Ableton Live 12Windows 10 (22H2) or 11 on a CPU with AVX2Single-core speed for live sets; memory for instruments
Avid Pro ToolsWindows on systems Avid lists as qualifiedClock speed and memory; check Avid's list before you buy
FL StudioWindows 10 or 11, 64-bitSingle-core speed; light on the graphics card
Steinberg CubaseWindows 10 or 11, 64-bitCores for large mixes, memory for VST instruments
REAPER, Audacity, ACID ProWindows 10 or 11Light on hardware; any class above is plenty

Ableton: Live system requirements. Avid: Pro Tools system requirements.

Questions

What makes a good music production computer?

A fast processor, enough memory for your sample libraries and SSD storage. Core count helps big mixes, but clock speed decides how many plugins you can run at a low buffer size. The graphics card matters little.

Do I need an audio interface?

Yes. Recording and low-latency monitoring need an audio interface with ASIO drivers; the computer's own sound output is not built for it. Any of these workstations takes a USB interface, and the towers have slots for a PCIe card.

Can I change the configuration?

Ready-to-ship units are sold as listed. To choose the CPU, memory and storage yourself, open a model in the table and pick a chassis under Build your own, or send us the spec and we quote it.

Is there a warranty?

Configured systems carry PCSP's free 1-year warranty covering parts, labor and shipping, extendable up to 5 years.

Building a studio or a post room?Tell us the DAW, the plugins and the track count; we spec a machine and quote it.
Request a quote
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