I was thinking of getting X3 producer...

That is fine for X3 as long as it is running Win7 or newer.

Core 2 Duo is an older processor which predates the i7. The clock speed is not an issue.

Good to see you back in the old neighborhood, Susan. I thought you'd gone over to Reaperland?
 
And yes, your laptop should handle X3 no problem.

Nice to see you're round Susan. Welcome back.

I've got a laptop with an i7. 720 cpu with only 4 gig ram (4 gig recently removed) and it runs sonar X3e Producer no problem even x64.

Hi Susan
 
Glad to see you post again. I have been away myself for a while
Regards
Stratman

That laptop should be great for handling Sonar.
 
You will want to remove a bunch of the bloat ware and free trial junk they load on those when you buy them, and don't forget to get some sort of antivirus software.  (I use and like Avast's free version - just read up on which features you end up installing, and it likes to ask you to upgrade to its paid versions, but registering with them is good for a year of free - then you register again to keep running the free version).
 
Also, MANY laptop Wi-Fi adapters/drivers spike something called DPC latency, and this badly affects applications that do streaming audio, like Sonar.  Fortunately, this is easily fixed.
 
Just prior to launching a session of Sonar, either turn off the Wi-Fi adapter (if there is a switch or function key), or go into Windows Device Manager and 'Disable' it.  (not delete).  Disabling it, or turning it off, will stop it from messing with Sonar, and after you finish your Sonar session, you simply turn the Wi-Fi adapter back on or go back into Windows Device Manager and enable it - to get the internet back and working.
 
The above looks scarier than it is - it is a simple matter to turn-off/disable and turn-on/enable, and lots and lots of folks with laptops do it all the time with no problems caused by doing so.
 
Lastly, you will want to go in and configure your Power Management options to: never let your laptop sleep or hibernate, set the minimum processor state to 100%, and turn OFF the Windows USB Selective Suspend.  (some of that will be in the Power Management Advanced Options.
 
Post here with any questions on any of the configuration or installation stuff, and lots of folks here will gladly and quickly help with any aspect of it.
 
Sonar X3e Producer Edition is a GREAT release, and quite well liked.
 
Bob Bone
 

Hi, Susan.  Nice to see you back.  Are you going to be using X3 seriously or just keeping up with the times?  How's the other side treating you?  I hope to see you around more often and I do hope you will be eligible for a free copy of SONAR X(4?) went it hits the streets.  We've been anticipating the next release and we are well beyond the annual announcement, so no one knows if or when it will be available.  Hopefully soon!
 
Oh, Happy New Year!
 
Take care,
 
Living Room Rocker

Make sure to download and run the X3e update http://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013361/SONAR-X3e-Update. If this pc has another version of SONAR installed, run a VST reset and rescan http://www.cakewalk.com/S...ommended-for-Upgraders

I doubt the reset/rescan will make a difference if the only other version was the X3 trial but it can't hurt. VST Inventories made with versions older than X3 are missing variables new to X3, this was the main reason for the recommended reset/rescan.

Hello Susan,
 
Well, this is certainly depressing. I haven't been on the Sonar forums in YEARS, because I don't use Sonar beyond version 8.5. I've kept current with the upgrades all the way up through X3. I just don't use them. It would appear that the instability issues that have kept me from using the X-series are still in existence. Since I run a complex environment - Creamware/SonicCore SCOPE as well as Sonar 8.5 - my two primary DAW requirements are sound and stability. In that order. I have read many instances of people saying X3e is as stable as 8.5. I have also read many instances of people saying there are still too many stability problems. DAMN! I had high hopes for X3e. I am, however, looking for a DAW with native VST support. I guess I'll give Reaper a shot.

Too bad. Maybe X4? :)

Hey earwax, why don't you give Sonar X3 a go in conjunction with Reaper?

MFanning
 
Hi Susan,  If you are using on board audio you might try installing and using Asioa4All to enable Sonar X3 to use Asio audio drivers if you haven't already.   I use Asio4All drivers for Sonar X3 on my laptop with no problems.
 

Hi MFanning-
 
I don't use the onboard audio at all. I'm using the Komplete Audio 6 with the latest ASIO drivers.
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan
 

Hi Earwax- [sorry for the length!]
 
I didn't upgrade after 8.5 because I didn't have the hardware to handle it. The laptop I have now I inherited from my Dad and it sounded like it could handle X3.
 
I still have no reason to think it can't, since I haven't done anything at all to push it. I've literally just been playing around with some features to get myself accustomed to the workflow and reacquaint or acquaint myself with some of the views, navigation techniques, et cetera.  I've done no audio recording at all, for example. All of the hangs I've gotten have been with tiny "That sounds interesting. I'll just try this" projects.
 
I'm running a clean Windows 8.1 install with none of the bells and whistles that came installed on the laptop.
 
I've been a Cakewalk user since the early DOS days and I was hoping to get back to it with X3e and my current setup, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. You shouldn't take my experience as any indication of what yours might be, however, since as you say, there are plenty of users who aren't running into any issues with X3.
 
It would be different if the hangs I'm experiencing were with projects with tons of effects and where I knew I was really pushing it, but they come up all the time doing the simplest things.
 
For example, tonight, going through the Browser tutorial in the Help file, I got to step 4: Click the Media button, point to Synth Preview Output and select Cakewalk TTS-1 1 on the submenu. Selected Bangin 10.mid and got a hang. That's just not right ;)!
 
As I said before, I'm sure I'll keep playing with it because I really like a lot about X3, but for whatever reason,  it's extremely fragile on my system. I've never had a hang or anything like a "motor boating" sound with my current primary DAW, so I'm not ready to chalk it up to inadequate hardware, settings, etc.
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan

Hi Susan, reading this I would make a guess that this is totally a hardware issue and nothing to do with Sonar.
 
I too stayed with 8.5 until I got a good deal on X3 studio. I've now run X3 studio on a number of different computers, first was only a dual core, 4 Gigs RAM and I never have had Sonar freeze or die. 
A few audio engine drop outs that were expected with an under powered machine and V vocal stuff.
 
Laptops are often the most finicky computers to use for DAW'S. There is a lot of set up needed compared to a modern desktop. Make sure and run Latency Mon.
  http://www.resplendence.com/latencymon
 
 It could also be the drivers for that interface and windows 8.1 as there's another thread with same set up having  issues. The NI website doesn't say much about the drivers and if they are 32 or 64 bit. 
 
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Sonar-X1-Studio-export-MIDIaudio-troubles-m3141900.aspx
 
 

Yah, welcome back to SONAR! You also get a complimentary admission to "Configuration Purgatory"...not as nice of a place. 
 
I'd pop open the Task Manager and see what's running in there. Laptops in particular, especially if it's still running with whatever it came installed with, tend to turn on gobs and gobs of things that don't need to be there. 
 
You may want to also pop open msconfig and see what's ticked off for startup.