What's your best PC configuration?

I mean just CPU and drives. Your best experience.
I want to know how it would best work SONAR PE 6.2 in a machine.
Dual Core? 2G RAM? SATA HDs? XP or Vista?
What about using external FireWire drives (for clients)?

Just asking to know how can I build a PC capable to manage a very low latency, with a very good response of SONAR, and a loose and confortable workflow.

My regards!

Chino

I have an opteron 165 dual core on a gigabyte k8ns ultra 939 motherboard. 2 gigs of ram and a 80gb raid 1 volume for applications and OS, a 2nd 250GB raid 1 volume for audio.

about the USB vs firewire, I would really like to hear something substantiating that statement! From what I know firewire and USB 2.0 have nearly identical theroetical bandwidth. However firewire has less processor overhead and less going on at the protocol level compared to usb. USB is a much more "chatty" at the protocol level.
I think what is more relevant is what your setup is determines which interface to go with. I like to look at a block diagram of the PC and figure out where the audio gets into the computer, and how it gets to the disks. If I can I prefer for them not to cross paths. If the audio comes in on USB and goes straight to the north bridge or south bridge, bypassing the PCI buss then you can stick a firewire drive on a firewire controller hanging off the PCI buss. If your audio comes in by the PCI buss (either via a card or a firewire controller ON that buss) then connecting your drives to another device on the same buss may cause audio glitches, freezes and other issues. Be aware that because you have built in firewire, raid controllers or USB does not sidestep the PCI buss issue. Most often these are still accesing the PCI buss. Check the motherboard builders website for a PDF of the manual and look for a block diagram which illustrates connections.
In a lot of cases USB is integrated into the chipset so yes, it is free of the PCI buss. In which case you could stick your audio card on firewire and your drives on USB, or vice versa. I prefer firewire myself.

While the specs of USB 2.0 are faster than Firewire 400 there is a bit more to the story. The USB uses a burst method which makes it ideal for keyboards and mice but Firewire exceeds USB on sustained transfers and large files which make it more ideal for audio and video.

Personally, since enclosure cost is the same (or less) and drive cost is the same (or less) I would slap in a SATA card with an eSATA external connector for about 15 bucks and blow them both away with a SATA drive.

yesbut USB and 1394 beat SATA for cable length.
I also will always pick a mature technology over a new one anyday.
About data transfer rates not living up to spec. This is the fault of
A) windows crippling USB and firewire unless you do the workarounds.
B) cheap chips used in motherboards to keep costs down.
C) cheap chips used in peripherals to keep costs down.
D) file fragmentation.
E) above mentioned protocol overhead in USB.

ORIGINAL: calaverasgrandes ~ yes but USB and 1394 beat SATA for cable length.
I also will always pick a mature technology over a new one anyday.

Me too... give me a 5" floppy over a jump drive anyday (messin' with ya' calvera)

I agree on the cable issues. Not quite comfy either internally or externally with the SATA connectors. Once plugged, however, they seem fine if the length is suitable for your task.

I have to use USB and Firewire both daily for various task and each protocol has it's strengths and weakness.

I am real interested in you pointing me to learn about any USB work arounds for speed. Me and 14 workstations would appreciate it.