Lucy used her C-64 for knitting
 

Here is another one of old." />
 
 
 
 
Ok... it works....2mg hack, but it has to be resoldered to get that working again, at this time only 1mg works.

mixmkr
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-660/pd?oc=fddnrx508cm&model_id=inspiron-660 
wouldn't this run X3 just fine and for $500.  12 gig memory, Win8 and 1 tb hard drive ?

No matter what computer you buy, you can break it with Sonar...load up 30 or 40 softsynths, have a prochannel with a few effects on each one, and then try tracking four live tracks at 32/96 over the top. While this is a silly suggestion, it exhibits a point. If you are a 'lone musician', laying down a half dozen softsynth tracks with some automation and 'humanization' and then recording 3-4 live tracks with a half dozen takes before mixing and mastering, then most modern mid-level or above computers will work for you. But if you are doing a movie score with orchestra (i.e. 50 voices), sound effects, 5.1 output, and lots of resampling and tempo management, then you might be well-apprised to get something a little more robust, because it will break. 
 
The real key that I've found is that Sonar (and other programs like CAD, FEM, etc...) don't just let you know when they 'break'. They just get continually a little more flaky and less robust with more occasional crashes, a pop or click here and there, occasional "audio engine has stopped" messages, etc... Depending on how much you are willing to put up with this as your projects get more sophisticated vs. how much money you invest is a personal decision. You can also be completely anal about bouncing tracks to audio early in the creative process...this is a productivity choice. 
 

denverdrummer
I've recently gone to using laptops over desktops.  The power in most high end laptops is good enough for most everything I do, and add the portability, I need for working on other people's projects..........................
......................I'm a little unimpressed with some of the cases that are available.  I feel many of them are way too big and clunky, even some of the mid tower stuff.

I'm addicted to having two large screens, and haven't found a particularly affordable laptop that supports it. For me the best deal is a solid desktop, and a modest laptop that I only use for live tracking and mixing. 
 
Regarding the cases...it is worth spending a little extra money to get a good case with optimized cooling, speed-variable ultra-quiet fans, etc. There are some good choices out there in both rackmount (e.g. Athena Power) and compact desktop (Shuttle e.g.) configurations. 
 

Thanks Craig, I only just now found this :) 
For those that might question what we do here at PCAL to make a pro audio computer -- you can feel free to call me sometime to talk about what we do.  I have 20 years tech experience, my team has a combined over 100 years experience.  We do more, and go further, than anyone else in the business, and that's why we're really, really good at it ;) 
 
Feel free to call sometime.  818-986-2673, thanks! 
 

sharke
Lucy used her C-64 for knitting
 

Now I understand the results I get.
 
Here I thought I was making music.

bapu

sharke
Lucy used her C-64 for knitting
 

Now I understand the results I get.
 
Here I thought I was making music.

 
I wrote a driver for a coupler modem for my tandy TRS 80 when I was 13, I wish making a computer knit was still an amazing thing :P 
 

Anderton
I've often attributed my generally trouble-free history with software (not just Sonar, all my other programs as well) to using a PC Audio Labs computer that's integrated specifically for music. Of course PCAL isn't the only game in town - Jim Rosenberry and Scott over at ADK also have the recipe down - but PCAL went outside of their comfort zone several years ago to make me a laptop that was optimized for video production, and I've been using their gear ever since.
 
However, after a couple years of pretty continuous operation my desktop machine had developed a noise that had me concerned (CPU fan?) so I figured I better get it looked at, just in case.
 
Fortunately there's a PC Audio Labs office in Albuquerque, so I drove down and saw the tech (Brain Lorelle) do all the secret optimization stuff they do for hardware to keep noise down, run cool, etc. as well as some software tweaks he did. He also did in fact replace the CPU fan. I promised I wouldn't tell exactly what he did, trade secrets and all that, but I was kind of surprised at just how much stuff they do to optimize a system...when I first got it, as far as I knew it was Just a Box that Worked. Now I have a better idea of what goes into making a computer that's designed specifically for music production.
 
I solemnly swear I will never buy a $399 computer from Office Depot for doing music

I understand what you are trying to teach here but seriously, the author of the super-fuzz didn't know it was the cpu fan? c'mon man :-)

mettelus,
I think the reason for the Windows Experience feature was Aero.
So no it is not in win 8.1.

bitman
 
I understand what you are trying to teach here but seriously, the author of the super-fuzz didn't know it was the cpu fan? c'mon man :-)

When it's sitting next to hard drives and other fans, believe me, I wasn't going to disconnect it to find out for certain!

brianobedia
For those that might question what we do here at PCAL to make a pro audio computer -- you can feel free to call me sometime to talk about what we do.  I have 20 years tech experience, my team has a combined over 100 years experience.  We do more, and go further, than anyone else in the business, and that's why we're really, really good at it ;) 
 
Feel free to call sometime.  818-986-2673, thanks! 

 
What Brian didn't mention (so I will) is that he's a musician, so he better know how to make computers work well or his act is hosed.