win 7 64 everything else in 32...

This surely has being answered befored, but as lazy as I am, decided to ask again...

To handle more than 4gigs of RAM, Windows have to be 64 bits... If I run a 32 bits host, like Sonar, and all other components in 32 bits too (like instruments and plugins) I'll still have access to all the RAM I have in my system, is that correct?

What I am loosing if I run a 32 bit host in a 64 bit OS?

Yep, you're currently only utilising about 3.25Gb of your 8Gb of RAM

Wood67


Yes, but will that extra ram be utilised by the O/S?  So Sonar 32 may be restricted to 4Gb within it's own memory pool, but the excess will still be utilised elsewhere.  So in effect, Sonar will benefit because it will have access to a relatively higher amount of memory.

I upped my system memory from 4Gb to 6Gb.  Running 64-bit Windows and Sonar 32 and am anecdotally convinced it is performing better.  I may be simply be witnessing a placebo effect of course!

Wood... Nice beetle you have there...


I have to admit that am considering this strange combination...

To give you a crystal clear reason why you want to try to run on a 64-bit OS, such as Windows 7 x64 or Windows 8 x64:

1.  If the OS is 32-bit, the maximum memory that can be addressed as 4 Gigabytes, minus the overhead of the operating system itself and a few other things, leaving you with between 3 and 3.5 Gigabytes of usable space.

2.  If you on the other hand are running Windows 7 or Windows 8 in 64-bit mode, then there is a MASSIVE amount of memory you can then access - it is approximately 192 Gigabytes.

Memory is really cheap these days, you can buy 32 Gigabytes of memory (4 x 8GB strips) for $160.  You can also pick up an Intel i7 2600k CPU for about $300 and a great motherboard with USB 3.0 support and SATA 6.0 gbs support for between $150-$250, you can REALLY build a screaming machine that will last a good 4-5 years quite reasonably.  Hard drives are cheap too - a 2 Terabyte SATA 6.0 gbs 7,200 rpm drive runs just under $100.

Check out component prices at places like microcenter.com or tigerdirect.com, or even newegg.com and you will see what I mean.

My specs are in my signature below, with my computer, I NEVER have to even think about any memory or horsepower constraints when doing recording with Sonar.

If you want any additional private guidance, just shoot me a private message with your phone and I will call you to discuss any aspect of putting a new computer together.

Bob Bone

Stop monkeying around and go 64 bit ;)

To what purpose?

me in a whine-y voice: if I load a new 64-bit system then I'll have to spend hours reloading ALL of my programs, VSTs, licenses, etc.  WHAT A PAIN!

seems like not long ago I upgraded from XP to Win 7 and reloaded everything.  Now I have to worry about what will not work with 64 bit.


AND win 7 or 8?????

You brought it on yourself ;) For more pain later install on Windows 7 so you have to go through a Windows 8 upgrade later next year...